France

Not only Paris, the exciting French capital with its famous river Seine, will be one of the highlights you will experience along this journey. Also the historical sites of Normandy, the rough countryside of Brittany or the Loire with its interspersed valleys and world known castles are on our itinerary, and that still is not everything!

Day 1: Paris

Bienvenue à Paris! Transfer to the hotel. We will make our way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower and enjoy the amazing views. All other activities depend on your time of arrival.

B/ Paris

• A welcome by your tour guide
• Check in at hotel
• Eiffel Tower

Day 2: Paris

To get a broad impression of Paris, we will go on a sightseeing tour. Here, we will pass popular churches, famous squares and historical monuments, such as the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, Dome des Invalides, the Madeleine, the Opera Garnier, the Louvre and many more. After lunch, we will visit the most beautiful gardens of the Palais Royal with their unique landscape architecture and stroll along their romantic passages.. We will also pass boutiques and cafés, all of them characteristically French! In close vicinity to the Place des Victoires, one of five Royal squares of the metropolis, we will enjoy our dinner in a traditional Paris Bistro.

B/B Paris

• City sightseeing tour
• Gardens of the Palais Royal
• Galleries as Vivienne etc.
• Place des Victoires

Day 3: Paris

Today, first we will contemplate Mona Lisa's smile in the Louvre and afterwards look at all the masterpieces of art, which the Musee d'Orsay has to offer. Pont-Neuf is known to be the oldest stone bridge in Paris, and we will be crossing it, heading towards the Rive Gauche. Along the quays, we will finally make our way to the Musee d'Orsay. Once, the place was used as an important railway line and train station. Recently, there were unique paintings found from Cezanne, Manet, van Gogh and Monet. In the afternoon, we will explore and investigate the bohemian myths of the Quartier Latin, Saint Germain des Pres, as well as Montparnasse. Those areas have always been home to the intellectual circles of Paris, and up to this day, the avant-garde is found here. Café Flore is the perfect setting for us to relax and have an authentic café au lait, while watching the bustling activities on the streets.

B/B Paris

• Louvre
• Musee d'Orsay
• Left Bank of Paris
• Café Flore

Day 4: Paris

This morning, we are going to explore a totally different side of Paris. We will visit the graveyard "Pere Lachaise", where numerous famous artists of all decades found their final resting place - such as Honore de Balzac, Oscar Wilde, Frederic Chopin or Edith Piaf - to only name a few. Pere Lachaise is a green oasis in the middle of a huge city, measuring 44 ha in size and was inspired by traditional English garden architecture.

The cemeteries romantic pathways present the tombstones in a sophisticated manner. But our expedition has not ended yet! Straight afterwards we will hit the Bastille as well as the Place de Vosges - a stately home in the heart of Marais with its noblesse palaces in the style of the 17th century. Close by, we will find ourselves under the spell of the Ile de la Cite with the patriarchal Cathedral Notre Dame.

B/B Paris

• Cemetery Pere Lachaise
• Marais quarter
• Place des Vosges
• Notre Dame

Day 5: Paris

Starting at the Jardin de Luxembourg, we are going to pass the Rue Mouffetarde and will not only be amazed be the Pantheon, but also by the plentiful store window displays, showcasing everything from fresh fish and vegetables, to meat and poultry. Montmatre is well known as an artist area, and in the afternoon we will enjoy the view of the metropolis from the top of Sacre Coeur. On the Place du Tertre, a small spot on top of Montmartre hill, a wide variety of painters are displaying their paintings , and portrait artists are happy to be of service to you. I recommend one of those drawings as a very special memory of our journey!

B/B Paris

• Jardin de Luxembourg
• Pantheon
• Rue Mouffetarde
• Montmartre
• Sacre Coeur
• Place du Tertre

Day 6: Paris – Giverny - Honfleur

For now, we say goodbye to Paris and make our way to Giverny: Here we learn a lot about Claude Monet's former residence and the way of life. Rouen will be our next stop. We will be standing on the exact same place, where in 1431 Jeanne d'Arc was burned on the stake. On a lighter note, we will be visiting Notre Dame. In the little picturesque harbour town, Honfleur, we will find accommodation that night.

B/B Honfleur

• Maison of Claude Monet's
• Rouen Cathedral
• Honfleur

Day 7: Honfleur – Bayeux - Avranches

We will drive to Bayeux with its stunning historical city centre and romantic structures, streets and astonishing cathedral. Apart from its historical architecture, the little town is famous for its "Tapisserie de Bayeux" - a tapestry, measuring 70 meters in length and 50 cm in height. The handmade creation derives from the early medieval times and tells the story about the conquest of England.

B/B Avranches

• Tapisserie de Bayeux
• Walk through the historical centre of Bayeux

Day 8: Avranches – Mont-St-Michel – Cancale – St-Malo

Our next stop will be one of the most famous buildings in France, Mont St. Michel, a monastery on top of a hill right in the tidelands in the center of Normandy, which is the area's landmark (hill and bay belongs to the UNESCO-World Heritage Site). For lunch, we will relax in the pretty, small harbour town, Cancale, before heading towards Dinard and St. Malo, an old buccaneer town.

B/B St. Malo

• Visit Mont-St.Michel
• Cancale

Day 9: St-Malo – Fontevraud D'abbay

We will drive through the lovely Loire Valley, also named, the "Cradle of France". Among many other places, we will pass Le Mans and Angers. Next to the river Loire, some of the most beautiful castles worldwide are to be found. In the 16th and 17th century, British kings and nobility were establishing some of the most attractive buildings of the Renaissance, to leave Paris for the summer months and be able stay along the beautiful riverside. Once we have reached Fontevraud L'abbaye, we will explore the little town and stay here for the night.

B/B Fontevraud L'abbay

• Drive to the Loire Valley

Day 10: Fontevraud l'abbay –Azay-Le-Rideau

This morning, we will go back in time even further and visit the Abbey of the Benedict, founded anno 1099 by famous preacher Robert D'Arbrissel - "Fontevraud L'abbaye". Afterwards, via Chinon we finally get to "Azay-Le-Rideau. For many of its visitors, this castle is considered to be the most beautiful of all castles along the Loire. Whoever wants to know even more, should just read Honore de Balzac: The renaissance building is described in detail in his novel "The lili in the valley".

B/Fontevraud L'abbay

• Visit of the monastery
• Castel Azay-Le-Rideau

Day 11: Fontevraud L'abbay – Chenonceau - Blois

After breakfast we will visit the gardens of Villandry. Artistic ornaments made of flowers and vegetables, will astonish your senses. The Castle of Amboise will be our next stop. None other than Leonardo da Vinci was invited by King Franz I, to spend his last years there. Afterwards we drive through to the pleasure palace Chenonceau. We will stay overnight in Blois.

B/B Blois

• Drive to the Loire Valley
• Castle of Amboise
• Castle Chenonceau
• Lightshow of the castle Blois (optional)

Day 12: Blois -Paris

Before we finally hit Paris, we will walk through the historical city centre of Blois. Here, a visit to the most famous chocolatier in the area is a must, and obviously a tasting of some of his delicious sweets too! Once back in Paris, we have to say goodbye. More possible activities depend on your departure time in Paris. If you want to extend your stay in Paris, we will be happy to do your bookings.

• Walk through the historical centre of Blois
• Drive to Paris