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Discover the three magnificent regions of Western France in this enriching and well-paced small group escorted vacation. You will first visit Normandy, a land rich in history, tradition and gastronomy. From Monet’s garden in Giverny to the Mont St. Michel you will discover a varied landscape of dramatic seacoast of high chalky cliffs, pretty fishing villages, towns with rich architectural heritage, apple orchards and lush gardens. The tour will then continue to picturesque Brittany where you will explore the Corsair town of St. Malo and the charming medieval alleys of Dinan. Rounding up the journey you will explore the romantic Loire Valley where the Renaissance castles built by the Kings of France will enchant you. In this tour you will have a chance to taste the gastronomy and the specialties of three regions—superb fish and shellfish in Normandy and Brittany; cider and cheese in Normandy; crepe in Brittany and the velvety wines of the Loire Valley.
Highlights:
Normandy: Monet’s garden in Giverny; Rouen’s cathedral; picturesque fishing harbor of Honfleur, the dramatic cliffs in Etretat; Bayeux and the 11th century tapestry of Queen Matilda; D-Day Landing sites including Omaha Beach, American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc; Abbey du Mont St. Michel - A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Brittany: The rampart town of St. Malo; medieval Dinan and picturesque fishing harbor of Cancale
Loire Valley: castles of Amboise, Chenonceau, Azay le Rideau, Chambord and Villandry; the picturesque town of Chinon and the manor house of Leonardo da Vinci in Clos Luce.
Plus: Chartres cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and A UNESCO World Heritage site and Paris, the City of Light.
Regional specialties: Wine tasting in the Loire Valley; cider and cheese tasting in
Normandy; crepe in Brittany and delicious and authentic regional gastronomy throughout.
Date: Upon Request
Price: starts at $4100 per person double occupancy Land Only
Single supplement: $800
Limited to 20 people
Includes:
- 11 nights accommodation double occupancy
- Breakfasts
- 4 dinners and 4 lunches
- Transportation by comfortable mini-coach throughout
- Transfers to and from airport
- Museums and all visits with entry fees
- Professionally guided tours
- Professional tour leader at your disposal
- Gratuities
- Paris map with subway tickets
- Taxes
Transfers and additional nights in Paris or beyond can be arranged through Enchanted France.
Itinerary of Land Tour
Day 1: Bonjour! Let’s Meet in Paris
Upon your arrival in Charles de Gaulle airport, transfer to you hotel in the heart of the city. With your complementary subway tickets and map some of you may decide to enjoy the city or see a museum; some of you might want to rest. A welcome dinner to get acquainted is planned for the evening. BD
Day 2: Normandy-Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur
After breakfast you will start your journey to Normandy. We will board a comfortable mini-coach, and head for Giverny where we will visit Claude Monet’s garden in its full spring splendor. Our tour will continue to Rouen, the capital of Normandy where we will enjoy lunch. Afterwards, we will be led on a guided tour of the historic center to visit the Cathedral Notre Dame whose façade was made famous by the impressionist painter Monet. On our walk you will admire the quaint medieval streets lined with half-timbered houses some dating from the Renaissance period; Place du Vieux Marché–site of Joan of Arc’s execution in 1431 and the Gros Horloge an impressive astronomic clock clicking time since the 14th century. Night in Honfleur. B/L
Day 3: Normandy-Honfleur, Etretat and Bois des Moutiers
Our day will start with a guided tour of the picturesque fishing harbor of Honfleur. You will note the colorful houses lining the port, see the Cathedral Ste. Catherine, and enjoy a walk along the medieval alleys lined with shops. Enjoy free time for lunch in town. In the afternoon, we will go on an excursion along the Alabaster Coast, which gets appropriately its name from the color of its chalky cliffs and get a view of the famous Falaise d’Aval near Etretat. Evening at leisure in Honfleur. B
Day 4: Normandy- Pont L’Eveque and Bayeux
Today we will explore the riches of the land. Normandy’s Pays d’Auge is famous for its cheeses like Camembert and its apple orchards, which produce cider and a traditional drink called Calvados (apple brandy). First, we will tour a local cheese factory followed by a Calvados cider manufacturer. We will continue on to Bayeux where we will have a tour of the well preserved 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, which recounts the conquest of England by William the Conqueror. Dinner and lodging in Bayeux. B/D
Day 5: Normandy- Bayeux and WWII D-Day Landing Sites
Bayeux will serve today as our base to tour the WWII D-Day landing sites including: Pointe du Hoc, American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, Omaha Beach and Arromanches. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant. Evening will be at leisure in Bayeux. B/L
Day 6: Mont St. Michel and Dinan
Today we will travel to the Mont St. Michel, one of the World’s 7th Wonder and UNESCO World Heritage site. In the middle ages, the Mont St. Michel with its Benedictine Abbey was a major pilgrimage site. We will climb on foot the flight of stairs leading to the abbey where we will go for a privately guided tour. After lunch, we will continue to Dinan in Brittany. A walking tour will highlight the history of this Breton’s gemlike town situated on the Rance River. Lodging in Dinan. B
Day 7: Brittany—St. Malo, Cancale and Dinan
Our group today, will explore the famous Corsair town of St. Malo whose forebears roam the seas far and wide. Jacques Cartier in particular settled the city of Quebec in the 16th century. We will walk along its ramparts and stroll its cobblestone streets lined with 16th century houses. We will continue with a visit to the pretty fishing village of Cancale renowned for the cultivation of oysters. We will return in Dinan in the afternoon for a leisurely evening. B/L
Day 8: Drive to the Loire Valley and Amboise
Enjoy a scenic ride through Brittany to the Loire Valley. Our destination is Amboise where we will arrive in early afternoon for a tour of King Francis I’s renaissance castle and of Clos Luce, Leonardo Da Vinci’s manor house. Dinner and lodging in Amboise. B/D
Day 9: Loire Valley-Villandry, Azay le Rideau, Chinon
We will explore the Loire Valley castles today starting with the 16th century Chateau de Villandry and its beautifully landscaped French-styled gardens. You will admire the symbolic Garden of Love; Water Garden, the Kitchen and Herb gardens. Continue with a tour of the Renaissance castle of Azay le Rideau. Situated on an island in the Indre river, Azay-le-Rideau was built under King François I by Gilles Berthelot, a financier in his state. Azay le Rideau features a harmonious combination of French and Italian Renaissance architecture and is one of the most romantic castles in the Loire Valley. Lunch will be in a restaurant in Azay le Rideau. We will then continue with a visit of Chinon, the wine town in the Province of Anjou, which was once part of the Kingdom of England. Richard the Lionheart died here and it is where Joan of Arc pleaded with the dauphin Charles VII to give her an army to fight the English during the Hundred Years War. Return to Amboise for the night. Evening at leisure. B/L
Day 10: Loire Valley-Chambord and Chenonceau
Today we will visit two of the Renaissance jewels—the grandiose Chateau de Chambord and the romantic Chateau de Chenonceau. Back in Amboise for the night, we will enjoy a dinner in town. B/D
Day 11: Chartres and Paris
On our return to Paris through the wheat fields of the Beauce region, we will stop for a visit the 13th century Chartres Cathedral- a masterpiece of gothic architecture. Enjoy dinner and evening at leisure in Paris. B.
Day 12: Return home or extend your stay in Paris.
* These rates are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Single supplement: $800.
Flight arrangements to any city can be arranged. Extra days in Paris and beyond can be arranged.
B= breakfast; L: Lunch: D= Dinner
For these and other specialized tours call us at 866-313-2856 or email us at contact@enchanted-france.com
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