Heart of France

Your fascinating Heart of France tour begins this evening with an overnight flight to Paris.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Paris on Day 2.

Arrive in the beautiful city of Paris, also known as the "City of Lights." For centuries, Paris has been one of the world's most important cities and certainly one of the world's most beautiful. Not only is Paris the capital of France, but it is considered the global capital for cuisine, art, fashion, and more. After meeting our Tour Director at the airport, we'll travel to our hotel. We'll have some free time to say "bonjour" to Paris before our welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

Today we'll enjoy a guided orientation tour of this magnificent city. We'll see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Latin Quarter, Pantheon, Place Vendome, and the Paris Opera and more. The tour will end with the afternoon free to explore on our own or to take an optional tour to Versailles. In the evening, we'll come together for our transfer to Montmartre, a famous section of the Right Bank or "Rive Droite" in Paris for a farewell dinner at an authentic Parisian restaurant.

After breakfast, we'll travel to the lovely town of Giverny which rose to fame in 1883 when famous impressionist painter, Claude Monet, "discovered" the village and moved there. Here, we'll visit the Monet House and Gardens and see firsthand the place that inspired many of Monet's most famous works. Our next stop is Rouen, one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe located on the River Seine. Upon arrival in Rouen, the capital of Normandy, we'll enjoy a walking tour and visit the famous and imposing Notre Dame cathedral, which was the subject of a series of paintings by none other than Claude Monet. We'll also visit the Place du Vieux-Marche (or "Old Marketplace"), where Joan of Arc was executed for heresy in the 15th century and where a church was built in her name in 1979. We'll continue to our hotel in Caen, the heart of the Normandy region. This evening, we'll enjoy dinner at our hotel.

Note: Mont Saint-Michel is hilly with lots of stairs and might pose a challenge for those with difficulty walking.

Today we'll travel to the rugged coast of Normandy and savor breathtaking views of magnificent Mont Saint-Michel which was built on an isolated island in the gulf of Saint-Malo. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mont Saint-Michel is reached by causeway. The lower towers and medieval sea wall protect a small village, capped magnificently by the commanding Abbey dedicated to the Archangel Michael. We'll enjoy a visit of the spectacular interior of the Abbey which was designated as a monument historique in 1874. Prior to the causeway, Mont Saint-Michel was an isolated island that pilgrims could approach mindful of a tide that could seep in at any time. Afterwards, we'll return to Caen.

Today we'll experience and learn about one of the most famous days in history: D-Day. We'll visit the Normandy Beaches including Omaha Beach near the coastal village of Colleville-sur-Mer. Omaha was one of the principal beachheads where the U.S. Army stormed ashore on D-Day (June 6th, 1944). Explore Pointe du Hoc, located between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, where a group of American Army Rangers defied all odds by scaling a massive cliff at a critical moment during the invasion. Continue to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, a spectacular and emotional setting located on a bluff overlooking both Omaha Beach and the English Channel. We'll later visit the city of Bayeux, home of the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry and the fortress of William the Conqueror before we return to our hotel.

This morning is free to explore Caen (Normandy) independently before we travel to the Loire valley, famous for its old-world villages and charming châteaux (castles). En route we'll pay a visit to the Château and Gardens of Villandry, the last of the great Renaissance châteaux built on the banks of the Loire River. The estate's renowned architecture is matched (if not surpassed) by its magnificent gardens, which are spread across three levels and are truly a sight to see. You'll continue to your upscale hotel, where we'll enjoy an included dinner.

This morning, we'll visit Château de Chambord, the undisputed crown jewel of the region and arguably the emblem of the French Renaissance. Originally King Francois I's weekend hunting lodge in the early 16th century, the Château evolved into one of the most expensive and excessive architectural projects by a French monarch. Next, we'll continue to Château de Chenonceau, the second most visited château in France (after Versailles), where we'll be blown away by the magical architecture that was constructed in harmony with the beautiful River Cher. On the way back to our hotel we'll enjoy a delicious wine tasting at the magnificent Caves du Pere Auguste winery with its wide variety of refreshing wines to enjoy. After we return to our hotel the evening is at leisure.

After breakfast, we'll transfer to the Champagne Region by coach.  En route, stop in Château-Thierry which was the site of one of the first actions by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during WWI.  We'll visit the Belleau Woods & Château Thierry monument prior to some brief time wandering around town to see the château and a quick lunch before continuing to Reims, the “City of Kings”.  Upon arrival in Reims, explore the town with a local guide including the Notre Dame de Reims which was the place where French kings were coronated after 816.  The tour will end at your hotel with the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, we'll enjoy a tour through the famous Champagne Region visiting two local wineries with an included tasting and a farewell lunch. Our tour will end at our hotel with the evening free at leisure.

After breakfast, we'll say "au revoir" to France as we head to the airport for our return flight to the USA. Our exciting journey ends as we touch down in the U.S.

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights today, on Day 11, in Reims.