Provincial French Countryside

Highlights:

• Tour the medieval town of Carcassonne
• See Mont-St-Michel, Normandy’s famed Gothic abbey that sits atop a spectacular rock formation at the edge of the sea
• Experience a moving visit to Normandy’s Landing Beaches and the American Cemetery
• Explore Paris, including an inside visit to the Louvre, one of the world’s great museums

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Toulouse, France

This evening you’ll depart for Europe, and connect with the flight to Toulouse.

Day 2: Arrive Toulouse

You arrive in Toulouse today and transfer to your hotel to rest and relax, or perhaps to begin exploring the city on your own. Tonight meet your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and fellow travelers for a briefing and dinner together at your hotel.

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Toulouse
Meals: Dinner

Day 3: Toulouse/Carcassone

This morning we tour medieval Carcassonne, the renowned French hilltop town with the longest city walls in Europe. Located in the Languedoc region of France and overlooking vast green plains that stretch all the way to the Pyrénées, Carcassonne boasts battlements and ramparts dating to the 1st-century Romans. The walled city preserved today is only a fraction of the original design; a vast majority of Carcassonne was reconstructed during the 19th century. However, both the town itself and its canal – Canal du Midi – were recently named UNESCO World Heritage sites, and we see why on our tour of this remarkably well preserved 13th-century domain. After returning to Toulouse mid-afternoon, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Lunch and dinner today are on your own.

Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Toulouse
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Toulouse/Albi/Sarlat

Today we leave Toulouse for Albi, the historic market town that was home to Belle Epoque artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. As we walk through this medieval town built of pink-hued bricks, we visit the Palais de la Berbie, the ancient fortress housing a museum devoted to the works of Toulouse Lautrec. After lunch on your own, we continue on to admire the 13th-century Cathédral Ste-Cecile, the largest all-brick building in the world.

We then board the motorcoach for the three-hour drive to Sarlat-la-Caneda, the capital of the Perigord Noir nestled in the heart of the Dordogne Valley. The area surrounding Sarlat is extraordinarily beautiful country, with deep green valleys and heavily wooded hillsides, and dotted with ancient caves that were used as dwellings thousands of years ago. The town of Sarlat itself is a medieval gem, with more registered historic sites than anywhere else in Europe. Many of the streets are pedestrian only, making it perfect for wandering. Well-preserved medieval houses line the narrow streets, which all eventually lead to Sarlat’s main square, the lovely Place de la Liberté. Late this afternoon we arrive at our hotel just a short walk to Sarlat’s historic Old Town. Tonight we dine together at a local restaurant.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Renoir
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Sarlat/Lascaux II

Early today we visit the Caves at Lascaux II, the reproduction of the original pre-historic caves nearby that were painted with stunningly beautiful animals by Stone Age hunters some 17,000 years ago. Discovered only in 1940 and opened to the public in 1948, the original caves were then closed to the public in 1963 to prevent deterioration from the significant number of visitors who flocked to see this extraordinary find. Still, Lascaux II offers an exact replication, and you’re sure to marvel at the majestic and lifelike bulls, wild boar, deer, and other animals depicted. After lunch in Les Eyzies at Le Cro Magnon where we enjoy authentic Perigourdine cuisine, we spend the afternoon on a leisurely cruise along the Dordogne, passing cliff-top castles and fortified medieval towns, fields of sunflowers and rocky outcroppings. Our voyage traces a well-worn historical route; this is the land where Eleanor of Aquitaine ruled in the 12th century. Following our cruise we return to Sarlat where we enjoy a walking tour. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Renoir
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Sarlat/Dordogne Valley/Rocamadour

This morning is at leisure to visit Sarlat’s popular morning market on your own. Vendors line the streets selling such local delicacies as truffles, products of walnuts and pork, wines, brandies, breads, pastries, cheeses, and more.

After lunch on your own (perhaps with delicacies from the morning market), we tour the Dordogne, an area of lush valley and woodland punctuated by tiny villages dating to medieval times. Of all the beautiful vistas we encounter today, perhaps the most impressive is the setting of Rocamadour, perched atop a cliff set in a canyon. The town’s history is nearly as interesting as its location; after the discovery in 1166 of a perfectly preserved body believed to be that of Saint Amadour, Rocamadour became an important pilgrimage site. Adding to the town’s religious significance is a 12th-century Black Madonna that resides in the Chapelle Notre Dame. We enjoy a guided walking tour of Rocamadour and then return to our hotel in Sarlat mid-afternoon. We enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Renoir
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Sarlat/Le Dorat/Saumur

This morning we depart for the 3 ½-hour journey to the Loire Valley, stopping in the small market town of Le Dorat for lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch we embark on another 3 ½-hour motorcoach ride to Saumur, a town of cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Upon arrival, we take an orientation stroll of this quiet village set along the banks of the Loire River. Saumur remains one of Europe’s top mushroom producers, and you may choose to sample this local specialty as you enjoy dinner on your own tonight.

Accommodations: Hotel Anne d’Anjou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Saumur

Today is at leisure to explore and enjoy Saumur at your own pace. You can explore Maison du Vin, home of a locally made sparkling wine: methode champenoise. You might also enjoy a walk through Saumur’s Old Town, rich with 12th-century architecture; or a visit to the Saumur Cavalry Museum, housing displays and artifacts remembering Saumur’s role in World War II. Tonight we gather for dinner together at the hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Anne d’Anjou
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Saumur/Chenonceaux

We travel today to the land of castles and chateaux, riverbanks bursting with grapes on the vine, valleys filled with the scent of flowers, imposing Renaissance palaces, Romanesque abbeys, and some of the loveliest wild scenery in all of France. In addition, there’s enough history here to satisfy the most avid aficionado, as the Loire Valley was also home to Joan of Arc and the site of many great battles between the English and the French. Today we visit one of the most impressive chateau of them all: Chenonceau (in the town of Chenonceaux), which boasts a particularly unusual history for its time, in that it was women who oversaw its construction. The architect was chosen by Catherine Briçonnet whose husband first purchased the site in 1515; further development was overseen by Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henri II, as well as by his famous wife, Catherine de Medicis. Priceless tapestries and paintings hang on the chateau’s walls, making it one of the most elegant residences in the nation. Lunch today is at La Cave in Montluis. We return to our hotel this afternoon, and dinner tonight is on your own – an excellent opportunity to sample fine French cuisine.

Accommodations: Hotel Anne d’Anjou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Saumur/Mont-St-Michel/Crépon

This morning we board a motorcoach for the four-hour drive to the most visited site in France after Paris. Mont-St-Michel once was known as the Mount in Peril from the Sea, so named for the number of pilgrims who vanished in the quicksand or drowned trying to reach this rocky outpost. This magnificent Gothic abbey sits in one of the world’s most dramatic locations, atop a mound of rock that at one time would become completely surrounded by the sea at high tide; now, because of excessive silt, water rarely submerges the surrounding flats. It’s a destination that inspires both awe and wonder. We’ll tour the 13th-century Abbey (please note that this entails an uphill walk and a significant number of steps), which was described by French author Guy du Maupassant as “the most wonderful Gothic dwelling made for God on this earth … a gigantic granite jewel.” The Abbey boasts a history equal to its setting: it was constructed over a 500-year period, from 1017 to 1521, of granite hauled stone by stone from Britanny. Over the years, the church, choir, nave and tower have all collapsed and been rebuilt. The complex of buildings includes a cloister, Knight’s Hall, Refectory, Guest Hall, and cellars that once hosted a large religious community. Lunch today is on your own in the town of Mont-St-Michel before we board the motorcoach for the 2 ½-hour journey to Normandy and our lodgings in rural Crépon: a restored but rustic 35-room farmhouse dating to the 13th-century and where we dine tonight.

Accommodations: Churchill Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: Crépon/Bayeux/Caen

The first town to be liberated during the Battle of Normandy, and miraculously spared wartime bombing, medieval Bayeux is the focus of today’s touring. We’ll begin at the Tapestry Museum and the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Embroidered nine centuries ago, it is truly a masterpiece; one which has lost very little of its color intensity or impact over the years. From here we’ll pay a brief visit to the British War Cemetery, an understated and touching burial site dedicated to Commonwealth soldiers who fell during both World Wars. Later we move on to Caen, just 15 minutes away, where we tour the moving Memorial of Caen, a museum devoted to “history for peace” built with funds and materials from Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, the former USSR, and France. Then if our schedule permits, we’ll stop in Arromanches for a stroll along the harbor front. Here you can look out at the English Channel and still see the remains of the “Mulberry,” code name for the artificial harbor built there by the Allies. Late this afternoon we return to our lodging, where tonight we enjoy dinner together.

Accommodations: Churchill Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: D-Day Landing Beaches

A poignant day is in store as we travel to the very places where Allied forces overcame overwhelming odds to alter the course of World War II. We visit Pointe du Hoc, the most celebrated World War II site of all where American Rangers scaled towering cliffs to establish a beachhead; renowned Utah Beach; and Ste-Mere-Eglise, where the 82nd Airborne Division successfully parachuted on the night of June 5, 1944, and where we tour the evocative Airborne Museum. Many may still remember the church steeple from which U.S. paratrooper John Steele dangled during the fighting when his parachute got caught, and which now has a model soldier and parachute permanently affixed to the roof. And as a tribute to our American war heroes, we end the day with a moving visit to the American Cemetery in Colleville overlooking Omaha Beach. In this tranquil setting, row upon row of white crosses and Stars of David honor the nearly 10,000 soldiers buried here. After this sobering day, we return to our hotel late this afternoon and dine there this evening.

Accommodations: Churchill Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Crépon/Honfleur/Giverny/Paris

This morning we travel to Honfleur, village of artists, for a guided tour of this charming 16th-century port located on the coast of Normandy. After some time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own here we travel to the village of Giverny and the home and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet, who lived here from 1883 until his death in 1926. We see the familiar lily pond and Japanese footbridge made famous through his paintings, and visit the studio in which he created his huge water lily canvases. The gardens are kept just as the artist left them, and the house has been restored to Monet’s original designs. Taking our leave of Giverny, we travel to Paris. After settling in at our hotel, the remainder of the day is free to begin exploring the “City of Light” as you wish. Dinner tonight is on your own in this city famed for its gastronomy.

Accommodations: Hotel Chateau Frontenac
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Paris

Today we see the highlights of romantic Paris on our half-day city tour, which includes an inside visit to the magnificent Louvre, home to priceless works of art including the bold “Winged Victory,” Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” and the lovely “Venus de Milo.” Collections in the Louvre range from Oriental, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities to sculptures by Michelangelo to paintings from the 15th century on. In addition we pass Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and Champs Elysees, among other well-known sites in this grand city.

Our tour ends at the Louvre early this afternoon; you are free to continue exploring this world-renowned museum on your own. Or you may choose to visit another of Paris’ fine museums on your own, including the splendid Musée d’Orsay, filled with Impressionist masterpieces; the Musée d’Art Moderne; or the Musée Rodin, specializing in the work of the great sculptor. Tonight we gather with our fellow travelers at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Accommodations: Hotel Chateau Frontenac
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 15: Depart for U.S.

Early this morning, you’ll depart Paris for the flight to the United States.

Meals: Breakfast