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Semi-Private Overnight Package Tours
from Paris to Normandy or Loire Valley
Loire Castles
Historic Normandy
Impressionist Normandy
Let us
whisk you away from Paris to the beautiful French countryside of
Normandy or the Loire Valley. Enjoy the best of the French
Provinces close to Paris at a great value, with charming 3-star
hotels, an experienced guide-driver and deluxe air
conditioned transportation, including hotel pickup
and drop off.
Guaranteed departure with 2 guests. Maximum
of 8 guests.
Loire Valley
Castles
 The majestic royal
castles like Chambord (right), Amboise
and Chenonceau are legendary, world-renowned for
their beauty and historical importance. The
Loire Valley is the ultimate in romance, with its beautiful, rolling countryside
and castles dotting the landscape along the Loire
River. You'll also enjoy a visit to one of the Loire's
most beautiful gardens
at
the Chateau of Villandry,
and spend the night in royal splendor at a
historic chateau.
 DAY 1:
7:00am - Meet
your English speaking guide driver
at your hotel in Paris. Then you will be driven to the Loire
Valley where you will discover three of the most famous
Renaissance castles, each with its own unique story and
architecture: Chambord,
Amboise and
Chenonceau (right), all three once home to
French kings and queens.
Chateau
Hotel
de Chissay***
Near
the castle of Chenonceau, spend the night at the castle of
Chissay, an ancient royal residence.
Enjoy its personalized and elegant rooms, with view
of the magnificent park and woods, the
swimming pool and the elegant courtyard dating from Rennaissance
times.
   
In
the evening, the
vaulted Gothic dining room "La Table du Roy " proposes
delicious dishes of regional inspiration.
DAY 2: Your
guide driver will meet you at your hotel at 9:00 am for your
second exciting day in the Loire Valley.
Your first stop and visit will be the castle and gardens of Villandry.
The Chateau was completed in 1536, and was the last large chateau built in the Loire Valley during the Renaissance.
The traditional gardens were destroyed in the 19th century to
create an elaborate English-style park with
themed gardens that have become a favorite of garden enthusiasts
the world over.
Break for lunch on your own in
the charming, historic nearby city of Tours.
 A
visit to another of the region's fabulous castles awaits you
this afternoon, like the Castle of Chaumont (left).
At the end of this wonderful day, you will return to Paris in
the late afternoon where you will be dropped off at your
downtown hotel.
Price: 894€ per person
The package includes:
-
Transportation in air conditioned deluxe
vehicle
- Pick up and return to your hotel in Paris
- 2 days with the services of an English
speaking guide driver
- Half board accommodation in a 3-star hotel:
1 night double occupancy, with breakfast
and dinner “Menu Bord du Cher” (without
beverages) included
- Admission to the three castles (Chambord,
Chenonceau, Amboise)
- Admission to the gardens at Villandry
The package does not include:
Any other personal expenses
Lunch and beverages
Gratuity for the guide
Guaranteed departures with minimum of 2 guests – All
departures are on Sundays.
8 guests maximum.
Booking confirmation 35 days prior to the tour
departure.
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Departure Calendar for 2008 |
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Coming soon - please
contact us! |
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Book this tour!
For larger groups, contact
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Historic
Normandy
Discover Normandy with its many sights of
historic significance and natural beauty. Begin
your visit at the amazing Mont St. Michel, one of the seven wonders of the
world; then on to the
D-Day beaches, including
Omaha Beach,
where Allied forces invaded occupied France, and
the famous
American Cemetary at Colleville sur
Mer. Drive a bit inland through the beautiful
rolling countryside with its many farms and
thatched-roofed, half-timbered houses to discover
the charming town of
Bayeux and the famous medieval
Bayeux Tapestry,
and centuries-old lace-making tradition and
Lace Museum.
 DAY 1:
7:00am - Meet your English speaking guide driver
at your hotel in Paris. Then you will be driven to the coast of
Normandy. Your first stop is the breathtaking Mont Saint
Michel,
considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world.
Looming out of the bay like an apparition, it is an
unforgettable sight, and a fascinating place to visit. You'll
visit the famous abbey at the top of the mount, a wonderful
example of ancient architecture. Enjoy the spectacular views
out over the bay where the tide is said to come "galloping in
like horses", and the charming medieval village with its many
shops and restaurants.
 Then
on to Bayeux, with its well-preserved medieval architecture. Its exceptional architectural heritage emerged
miraculously unscathed from the Allied bombing raids of 1944.
You'll visit the lovely Cathedral, solemnly
consecrated in 1077, in the presence of the Duke of
Normandy and the King of England. The Cathedral later underwent all
kinds of extensions and embellishments from the 13th to the 15th
century.
Hotel La Ferme
de la Ranconniere***
 
Spend
the night
in a seigneury (noble house) dating
from the 13th and 15th centuries, that has been
beautifully restored and converted into a charming hotel.
The rooms have beamed ceilings and
are furnished
in an authentic, rustic Normandy style. Completely equipped, you will find
comfort, peace and tranquility here. The
warm, inviting restaurant serves delicious, well-prepared
cuisine typical of the region.
DAY 2:
Your
guide driver will pick you up at your hotel at 9:00 am for your
second exciting day in Normandy. Today, you'll relive the historic invasion of Normandy by Allied troops during
World War II at the D-Day museums, battlefields and monuments along
the beautiful Normandy coast.
 Begin
at the American Cemetary at
Colleville sur Mer. Overlooking
Omaha Beach, the
American cemetery contains over
9,000 white crosses
perfectly aligned on a 170
acre plot which is conducive to meditation and remembrance. A
chapel and a
memorial add the
finishing touch to this moving scene.
 La
Pointe du Hoc is the
symbol of the gallantry of the young American soldiers who fought against one of the strongholds
of the German fortifications. The Pointe du Hoc was taken
by storm by Colonel Rudder's
Rangers on the morning of the
June 6, 1944.
 Battery of Longues
sur Mer:
this German artillery battery,
which gave the allied ships a pounding on the morning of June 6,
1944, is the only
coastal battery to have kept its guns, giving an impressive picture of
what an Atlantic Wall gun
emplacement was really like.
Your
final stop is the Caen Peace Memorial, with
its inspiring World War II history exhibits and
artifacts. Take some time to visit this moving
museum and memorial on your own.
At the end of this wonderful day, you will return to Paris in
the late afternoon where you will be dropped off at your downtown
hotel.
Price:
837.50 euros per person
The package
includes:
- Transportation in air conditioned deluxe
vehicle
- Pick up and return to your hotel in Paris
- 2 days with the services of an English
speaking guide driver
- Half board accommodation in a 3-star hotel: 1 night
double occupancy (breakfast &
dinner included)
- Admission to the Abbey at the Mont Saint
Michel
- Admission to the Caen Peace Memorial
The package doesn't include:
Any other personal expenses
Lunch and beverages
Gratuity for the guide
Guaranteed departures with 2 guests – All
departures are on Mondays.
8 guests maximum.
Booking confirmation 35 days prior to the tour
departure.
|
Departure
Calendar for 2007: |
|
Coming soon - please
contact us! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book this tour!
For larger groups, contact
us.
Top of Page
In
the Footsteps of the Impressionists in Normandy
 For more than half a century the
beauty of the coast of Normandy
and the cities of Deauville, Trouville and Rouen
inspired many painters, particularly the great
Impressionists. Eugène Boudin, Nicolas Poussin, JF
Millet and Raoul Dufy were all
Normans. Many other painters were also
seduced by Normandy, and left their works to the
region, including Valloton, Gerney, Monet, Gericault,
Friesz, Van Dongen, Braque, and Jongkind. See the breathtaking
landscapes that inspired them as you explore some
of the most beautiful parts of Normandy.
DAY 1:
7:00am - Meet your English speaking guide/driver
at your hotel in Paris. Your explorations of
Normandy begin in the Seine Valley with its
beautiful light - this is the birthplace of
Impressionism.
Claude Monet
was the leader of this movement and is the father
of modern painting. You'll visit
Monet's home and
gardens at Giverny, where he lived for 40
years until the end of his life.
Next, visit the twin seaside resort cities of
Deauville and
Trouville. Many
impressionists painted this charming area; Eugène Boudin died in
Trouville.
 When
he was 16 years old, Monet met Eugène Boudin, who was from the
lovely port town of Honfleur. This painter was already
well established. Jongkind was also staying in the same area and
he worked with them. During his studies in Paris, Monet got to
know the "unruly children" of painting: Courbet, Corot, Sisley,
Pissarro, and Renoir and he brought them to Honfleur to the
Saint-Simeon Farm to paint with him there.
Hotel
Les Maisons de Léa***: In the heart of old Honfleur,
this magnificent building brings together an old salt warehouse
and three XVIth century houses, lovingly restored into one
charming hotel. The cosy and refined atmosphere, the careful eye
for details, antiques, colorful fabrics and beautiful furnishings
provide a peaceful sense of well-being for every guest.
 
 DAY 2:
Your guide/driver will meet you at your hotel at 9:00 am for
your second day tour in Normandy. You will have the opportunity
to cross the sea using the amazing Normandy Bridge (right) to
arrive in Le Havre. Monet grew up in Le Havre, and
went frequently to nearby Sainte-Adresse to paint. You'll
also see Etretat, famous for its cliffs painted by all
the Impressionists. Break for lunch here on your own
before continuing on to Rouen, the city where Joan of Arc was
burned at the stake. For two consecutive winters, Monet
rented rooms in Rouen, located opposite the Cathedral,
and painted the Cathedral's lace-like Gothic facade bathed in
the light of different times of the day. These are among his
most famous paintings.
At the end of this wonderful day, you will return to Paris in
the late afternoon where you will be dropped off at your
downtown hotel.
Price = 819 euros per person
The package includes:
- Transportation in air conditioned deluxe
vehicle
- Pick up and return to your hotel in Paris
- 2 days with the services of an English
speaking guide driver
- Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a 3-star hotel: 1 night
in a double occupancy (breakfast
included)
- Admission to Giverny (house and
gardens)
The package
doesn't include:
Any other personal expenses
Lunch, dinner and beverages
Gratuity for the guide
Guaranteed departures
with 2 guests – All
departures are on Wednesdays.
8 guests maximum.
Booking confirmation 35 days prior to the tour
departure.
|
Departure Calendar for 2007 |
|
Coming soon - please
contact us! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Book
this tour!
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