Magnificent France

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Castles of Loire. A day to learn more about the Loire region. First a stroll through Amboise in the early hours to the Clos Lucé mansion where leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. Exploring the Loire region in a little more depth, we visit CHENONCEAU CASTLE (tickets included), built like a bridge over the River Cher. We continue to CHAMBORD, the largest castle of Loire (entrance to the park included). We will then travel to the centre of France, making a stop for coffee in ARGENTON SUR CREUSE, a small medieval town on the banks of the Creuse River. We continue to LIMOGES, a city known for its porcelain, where we recommend a stroll in the centre to see its cathedral.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Dordogne Valley of unforgettable villages. Lascaux cave museum. Beynac medieval castle. Dinner included.We will leave Limoges for the Dordogne. Few regions contain so many villages full of charm and unforgettable countryside. We arrive at LASCAUX, we will include admission to the museum and replica of the caves, we will learn about the site’s prehistory with the magnificent cave paintings. After that we see SARLAT, a world heritage town with an incredibly well-preserved Renaissance historic centre, where there will be time to stroll and have lunch. In BEYNAC we see a medieval castle overlooking the river (admission included). ROCAMADOUR, a beautiful medieval village with an important sanctuary “hung” over a ravine; we suggest you walk down the via crucis and come back up in the lift. Dinner included.

HIGHLIGHTS: Padirac Caves, Midi Region and winemakers. We will go to the impressive PADIRAC caves, where we include a boat ride on the river 75 metres underground. A stop at COLLONGE LA ROUGE, a very picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St James. Time for lunch. After lunch we travel to ST. EMILION, at the heart of the Bordeaux wine producing region. Time for a stroll. BORDEAUX, arrival at the end of the afternoon.NB: The caves may be closed in November or due to the weather conditions.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Cite du Vin in Bordeaux. Lourdes. Dinner included. The entire centre of Bordeaux has been declared a world heritage site. You will be amazed by the “water mirror” and stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th century cathedral. We will include admission (free visit with audio information in Spanish, French or English) to the CITE DU VIN, an impressive interactive museum that recounts the history of the wine and its production; wine tasting included at the viewpoint over Bordeaux. You will have free time later to stroll and have lunch on the banks of the Garonne River, an area full of small restaurants.We continue our way towards the Pyrenees, arriving to LOURDES in the mid-afternoon. We have time to see the sanctuary (we recommend attending the candle procession). Dinner included.

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: Medieval villages of S. Bertrand or Carcassonne.Following the Pyrenees, we stop at SAINT BERTRAND, a medieval town hung on the mountainside, dominated by its great cathedral. Time for a stroll before continuing to CARCASSONNE, a city surrounded by the most beautiful walls in Europe. Time to stroll and have lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to MARSEILLES, France’s second city, to see its vibrant “Vieux port” (old port). Note: If the group is small, the section from Carcassonne to Marseilles may be done by train (our guide will give you the tickets and inform you, and another different guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival in Marseilles).

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Provence region. Carrieres de Lumiere in Les Beaux. Villages, landscapes, history, today we see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. ARLES, a world heritage city, shows us its legacy of the Roman and medieval times and reminds us of Van Gogh. In LES BEAUX, we have the chance to visit this small medieval village and we will include admission to the CARRIERES DE LUMIERE, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in some former quarries. Time for lunch and stroll in AVIGNON, with its immense Palais des Papes. We continue to LYON, where we can walk through the World Heritage Site old town and we will include the cable car to climb Notre Dame de Fourviere, a huge basilica from where we have a great view over the city.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Burgundy region. Rochepot Castle. We will leave Lyon for Burgundy. We stop at TOURNUS, a nice little town with its huge stone door and large abbey. After this, on small roads we travel through beautiful vineyards and countryside to LA ROCHEPOT, we include admission to its powerful medieval castle. BEAUNE, time for lunch and stroll in the wine capital of Burgundy; you can visit the wine museum or see the historic hospice. In the early afternoon, arrival in DIJON, the capital of Burgundy, with its lively streets, magnificent urban complex and many medieval and Renaissance buildings, particularly the Ducal Palace.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Burgundy region. Admission to Fontenay abbey. We leave Dijon for FONTENAY ABBEY, a world heritage site, where we include admission to this Cistercian centre. After this, a stop in SEMUR EN AUXOIS, a medieval city surrounded by impressive walls. Still in Burgundy, we will have time for lunch and a stroll in VEZELAY, one of France’s most beautiful villages, where its immense basilica was one of the starting points of the Way of St James. In the afternoon we continue our route to PARIS. Arrival mid-afternoon.End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.