Impressionism
20 days / 19 nights
Paris, Champagne, The Loire Valley, Bordeaux
PARIS, CHAMPAGNE,
THE LOIRE VALLEY, BORDEAUX
15 days / 14 nights
Programme
An important place is given in this tour to gastronomy and wine.
Day 1 - Paris (5 nights)
- Late afternoon meeting of the Group at the Hotel.
- Programm overview and Questions / Answers
- Group Dinner at the Hotel
Day 2 - Private coach guided visit of World Heritage sites in Paris
Morning: Left bank.
Afternoon: Right bank.
- Evening: Cruise Group Welcome Dinner.
Embark on a boat-restaurant for a romantic and gourmet dinner-cruise on the Seine.
Day 3 - Champagne
Morning: By TGV to Reims and coach to Ay en Champagne for an introduction to Champagne : École des vins de Champagne.
Champagne Lunch at winegrower’sAfternoon : to Reims for a guided visit of the World Heritage Cathedral, one of the largest in the Christian world and famous for its beauty and its historical importance : it was where the kings of France were crowned.
Return to Paris by TGV.
- Evening: Free.
Day 4 - Paris guided visit
Morning: Guided walking tour : Ile St Louis and Le Marais.
Afternoon : Guided visit of the Invalides
- Evening : Group dinner in a parisian restaurant
Day 5 - Paris guided visit
Morning: Guided visit of the Sainte Chapelle
Group lunch in gastronomic restaurant (1 star Guide Michelin).Afternoon & Evening: Free.
Day 6 - The Loire Valley (World Heritage) 4 nights
- Morning: On the way to Tours guided visit of the Château of Chambord.
Lunch : Free. - Afternoon : Visit of the famous royal Château of Blois
- Transfer to your Hotel in Tours.
- Evening : Group dinner.
Day 7 - Cours de cuisine & visit of Château de Chenonceau
Morning : Cours de cuisine (cuisine of the Val de Loire) followed by a lunch prepared by yourself.
Afternoon : Guided Visit of Château of Chenonceau.
Evening : Free.
Day 8 - Amboise, Clos Lucé & visit of cellars
-
Morning : Visit of Amboise, guided visit of the Clos-Lucé (da Vinci’s last home).
Visit of the cellars of a Montlouis wine grower..
Lunch accompanied by his various wines.
-
Afternoon : guided visit of the Château de la Bourdaisière : the National tomato conservatory (700 variaties of tomatoes)
-
Evening : Free.
Day 9 - Abbaye de Fontevraud, Château de Villandry
Morning : guided visit of Fontevraud Abbey : famous for the beauty of the 12th century architecture of its church and buildings. Its kitchens are particularly important : the most beautiful romanesque kitchens which can be seen. It is also the burial place of many Plantagenet kings and queens.
Lunch:Free time for lunch in the lovely town of Chinon
Afternon :Visit of the Villandry château gardens
Evening : Dinner at one of the best chefs of the region in a remarquable site
Day 10 - to Bordeaux, a World Heritage city (5 nights)
Morning: On the way, stop to visit St Pierre d’Aulnay de Saintonge church, a magnificent romanesque church, classified World Heritage on the Pilgrim way from Paris to Santiago de Compostella.
Afternoon : Guided visit of Bordeaux.
Evening : Group dinner.
Day 11 - Ecole des vins de Bordeaux
Morning : Ecole des Vins de Bordeaux.
Afternoon: guided visit of the World Heritage citadelle of Blaye, built by Vauban 1685 to completely lock the entrance of the Gironde estuary.
Evening : Group dinner.
Day12 - Saint Emilion
Morning : Guided visit of the World Heritage town of St Emilion, not only famous for its wine but one of the prettiest cities in Aquitaine, selected Unesco as « an exceptionnal cultural countryside ».
Lunch in a winery.Afternoon: Visit of its cellars and its wineyards, with wine tasting.
Evening : Free.
Day 13 - Whole day in the World Heritage Valley of the Vézère
Morning: Guided visit of Les Eyzies de Tayac (the national prehistory museum)
Afternoon: Guided visit of Lascaux (the Sixtine chapel of Prehistory).
Evening : Group dinner.
Day 14 - Musée du Vin
Morning: Guided visit of the Quai des Chartrons and the Musée du vin et du négoce du vin.
Farewell group lunch: Cruise lunch on the river.
Afternoon & Evening : Free time for shopping.
Day 15 - Paris
- Morning: Return to Paris by TGV.
Service
The price includes
- Accompanied by Tour Leader/Tour Manager throughout the tour.
- Ground transport : Trains first class, Luxury coaches.
- 4 star hotel accommodation, breakfast included.
- One main meal a day : lunch or dinner including a few gastronomic meals.
- All expenses related to entries, guided tours and visits.
The price does not include
- One meal a day
- Personal charges and expenses
- Insurances
- Travel to and from France
