Day 1: Arrive Paris, France
On arrival, you are met and privately transferred
to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may wish to take in the
iconic sights of the city on your own: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and
the Champs Elysées. Consider visiting the Ile de la Cité, home to Notre Dame
Cathedral with its famous gargoyles that adorn the gutters. As you walk, pass
boulangeries and pâtisseries that lure you inside with their inviting aromas. Later,
attend a welcome dinner at Le Vaudeville. On the corner of Rue Vivienne and Rue
de la Bourse, Le Vaudeville was originally the bar of the theater of the same name
that saw the 1852 triumph of The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas.
Day 2: Paris
This morning, discover Montmartre, one of the best-loved
Bohemian quarters in Paris. A picturesque route takes you to see the vineyard, old
cobbled streets and artists’ studios where Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and van Gogh
painted; quiet gardens; the oldest cabaret in Paris; the lively place-du-Tertre; and
the famous Basilica of Sacré-Coeur. You also have a wonderful view over the city.
Later, visit the recently re-opened Musée de l’Orangerie, which houses Monet’s
magnificent Water Lillies paintings and enjoy a talk by the museum’s lecturer
before your tour. Afterward, embark on a River Seine cruise, enjoying lunch as
you pass the famous monuments, such
as Notre Dame Cathedral, that adorn
the banks of the river. The remainder
of the day is at leisure to explore
independently.
Day 3: Paris/Loire Valley
Just outside
the arms of Paris, the world seems
to change from crowded, balconied
apartments and endless traffic to
tranquil, flowing fields dotted with
magnificent châteaux. This is the Loire
Valley, close in distance but miles apart
in flavor, and the only area in France that
produces every variety of wine: white,
red, rosé, sparkling, still, dry and sweet.
Visit Fontainebleau château, home to
French kings since the 12th century;
Napoleon looked upon it as his true
royal home. With a humble beginning
as a royal hunting lodge, Fontainebleau
became fortified. In 1528, François I
commissioned a massive construction
program. Scores of Italian artists and
craftsmen built and decorated two
groups of buildings joined by a gallery,
making the château the size of an entire
town. Continue to Orléans, the town
where Joan of Arc achieved her first
military victory. It attracted artists,
poets and troubadours to the royal
court, making Orléans the intellectual
capital of France in the 13th century.
Pause for photos at the largest of the
Loire châteaux, Château de Chambord,
described by the author Henry James as
being “royal in its great scale, its grand
air and its indifference to common
considerations.” Reach your Loire Valley
hotel later this afternoon.
Day 4: Montbazon/Chenonceau/
Amboise/Montbazon
Explore the
scenic Loire Valley and its plethora
of châteaux. Your first stop is at the
delightful Château de Chenonceau,
once owned by Catherine de Medici.
Its beautiful white spires, towers and
arches form the Pont de Diane over
the River Cher. It is perhaps the most
photographed Loire château and is
known as the “Castle of Five Ladies”
for its intriguing story of jealous royal
mistresses. You have time to wander its
rooms and stroll through the impressive
formal gardens. Continue to Amboise,
where you visit the Royal Château and
Clos Lucé, a handsome Renaissance
manor where Leonardo da Vinci
spent the last four years of his life. The
museum contains working models of
some of da Vinci’s inventions. Conclude
your sightseeing at a local wine estate
for a wine tasting. Return to your hotel
for leisure time to relax and enjoy the
wellness facilities.
Day 5: Loire Valley
Visit the elegant
Renaissance château of Azay-le-Rideau.
It is surrounded by water and poised
against the backdrop of an English-style
garden and is one of the most graceful of
early Renaissance buildings. Continue
to the beautifully restored Château
de Villandry, which is owned by the
Carvallo family of Spain. They have filled
the interior with a remarkable collection
of Spanish furniture and paintings and
have carefully restored the gardens
to 16th-century style. Beyond the
geometric ornamental garden depicting
symbols of love, find the château’s
potager (traditional kitchen garden) and
the French-styled garden where colorful
blooms are set into patterns by box
hedges and paths.
Day 6: Loire Valley/Libourne/SaintÉmilion/
Bordeaux
Take the morning
train to Libourne and transfer the short
distance to Saint-Émilion. Enjoy lunch
and a walking tour of the medieval
town, which is dominated by a bell
tower. Continue to Bordeaux, the world’s
wine industry capital, arriving at your
hotel late this afternoon. You have the
evening at leisure to relax.
Day 7: Médoc
Drive along the
beautiful Route du Médoc for an
introduction to a traditional winegrowing
land where more than 800 crus
and eight appellations of controlled
origin wines are produced. Appreciate
the skillful cultivation of Médoc wines
during a cellar tour and wine tasting
at a top estate. Cross the Gironde on a
small ferry and stop in Blaye to visit the
fortress built by Vauban, a 17th-century
military engineer. This network of
forts and defenses is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Day 8: Bordeaux/Toulouse/
Carcassonne
Travel to Toulouse for
a sightseeing tour of the Old Town, a
web of narrow lanes and small squares
dominated by the St. Sernin Basilica. The
largest Romanesque basilica in Europe,
St. Sernin was built in the 11th and 12th
centuries to accommodate pilgrims on
their journey to Santiago de Compostela.
Visit the 18th-century Capitole (city
hall), with magnificent murals, and the
superb fan-vaulted Jacobins Church
containing frescoes of the Apocalypse.
From there, head to the Hôtel d’Assézat,
a sumptuous 17th-century mansion that
is now home to the Fondation Bemberg.
It features one of the most outstanding
private collections of art in France,
with works ranging from Canaletto
to Matisse. After lunch, continue to
Carcassonne and your hotel.
Day 9: Carcassonne
Join your
local guide for a tour of Carcassonne,
Europe’s largest fortified citadel. The
medieval section known as La Cité
stands on top of a hill above the River
Aude completely separate from the
rest of the town; it overlooks the valley
of Laurageais and the lush Minervois
vineyards. Visit the fortified upper town
and the 12th-century Château Comtal,
the last inner bastion of the city. Admire
the elaborate fortifications of the two
castellated walls, the 54 towers and
the two gates. The views toward the
Pyrenees are splendid. You can stroll
along the medieval streets lined with
souvenir shops and craft boutiques.
The balance of the day is leisure until
you gather for a farewell dinner in the
hotel’s restaurant.
Day 10: Depart Toulouse
Transfer to
Toulouse airport for your onward flight
home.