| Heart of France
- Holiday Itinerary |
DAY 1:
UK to N. France
To
Dover for the ferry to Calais and on to our
overnight hotel in Northern France for dinner. (D) |
DAY 8:
Bergerac to Carcassonne
A morning
of scenic delights in the Dordogne with hills and forests,
dramatic gorges tumbling into meandering rivers, sunny valleys,
picturesque castles and country houses. We stop at Rocamadour,
set in a narrow gorge and clinging to the cliffs, high above
the River Alzou. Leaving the Dordogne we head for Carcassonne,
whose fairytale style turreted fortress and ramparts can be
seen for miles, particularly at night when it is floodlit.
We spend the night at the Hotel des Trois Couronnes, Carcassonne
(3*). (B,D) |
DAY 2: N. France to Paris
Our journey takes us to
Epernay. We visit the renowned Mercier champagne cellar to
learn about the production of this famous bubbly and sample
some for ourselves. Our day concludes at Paris with two nights
spent at the Country Inn & Suites, Roissy (3*). (B,D) |
DAY 9: Carcassonne to Orange
On to Avignon, an immaculately
preserved medieval town with a centre enclosed by walls and
home to the magnificent Popes Palace. You can join our optional
excursion to the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct spanning the
River Gardon. Our journey finally brings us to Orange staying
two nights at the Park Inn (3*). (B,D) |
DAY 3: Paris
In the morning we take a trip to the historic
Palace of Versailles commissioned by Louis XIV, who spared
no expense in creating one of Europe’s finest monuments
with beautifully landscaped gardens to match. The afternoon
is spent in the romantic French capital with an endless list
of sights from the glamorous Champs Elysées to the
spectacular Eiffel Tower as well as many other hidden treasures.
We have included a guided city tour and a trip to the top
of Montparnasse Tower with a splendid panorama. (B,D) |
DAY 10: Orange
Today is spent exploring
scenic Provence with astop at Aix-en-Provence boasting numerous
ornate fountains and aqueducts. We also visit Arles, famous
for its well-preserved Roman amphitheatre and its beautiful
surrounding landscapes which inspired Van Gogh to produce
some of his finest works. (B,D) |
DAY 4: Paris to Tours
Leaving Paris behind we
travel to the Loire with an en route visit to Blois, dominated
by its impressive château. Our final destination today
is Tours, where we stay at the Holiday Inn, Tours (3*) for
two nights. (B,D) |
DAY 11: Orange to Mâcon
We spend some free time
in Orange with a wellpreserved Roman amphitheatre containing
one of the few statues of Emperor Augustus in existence. We
then begin our northwards journey to explore the gentle rolling
vineyards of Burgundy with a visit to Mâcon, situated
on the banks of the River Saône. Our overnight is the
Novotel, Mâcon Nord (3*). (B,D) |
DAY 5: Tours
Rich in
both history and architecture, the Loire Valley is renowned
for its sumptuous châteaux and today we visit an outstanding
example at Azay-le- Rideau. On to Saumur with its imposing
château and the famous Cadre Noir cavalry centre. (B,D) |
DAY 12: Mâcons to Paris
The homeward journey allows
us to enjoy a visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th century castle
renowned for its gardens with stunning terraces, ornamental
lakes and fountains. Tonight we stay once more at the Country
Inn & Suites, Roissy (3*) and this evening you can join
an optional guided tour of Paris by night. (B,D) |
DAY 6: Tours to Bergerac
Our journey
brings us to Limoges, home of the world-renowned colourful
porcelain, with an included visit to a Porcelain factory.
We continue to the Dordogne and spend two nights in Bergerac
at the Hotel de Bordeaux (3*). (B,D) |
DAY 13: Paris to N. France
Continuing northwards we
stop in Arras with an optional World War I battlefields tour.
We spend the evening in an overnight hotel in Northern France.
(B,D) |
DAY 7: Bergerac
We relax
with a free day in Bergerac. Join our optional excursion to
Bordeaux with a wine tasting at a local vineyard. (B,D) |
DAY 14: N. France to UK
We travel from Calais to
Dover and home. (B) |
Optional Excursions
•
Paris by night tour & Seine cruise • Bordeaux &
wine tasting • Pont du Gard • Battlefields guided
tour |
