Normandy, Brittany & Châteaux Country

9 days, various departures

Beginning in Paris, tour one of the most fascinating regions of France.

Start with a free day to explore Paris at your leisure, then spend day two on a tour of the city with a local guide. Visit the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, Champs-Elysées, and more. Enjoy a Seine cruise for a panoramic view of the city, and take pictures of Notre Dame Cathedral, then enjoy a trip up the Eiffel Tower. An optional excursion to Versailles Palace and gardens, and other exciting evening outings, are available.

The next day, you’ll travel to historic Rouen in the lower valley of the River Seine. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the lovely cobbled Rue du Gros-Horloge, leading from the cathedral to the square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. From Rouen, continue north to Caen for the highlight of the day, a visit to the fascinating Memorial Museum for Peace, whose great exhibits and audiovisual show focus on the Battle of Normandy.

In Normandy, you’ll travel to the scene of the Allied Forces’ landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and then visit the Normandy American Cemetery and the Rangers Memorial at Point du Hoc. Then on to Bayeux, where you’ll admire Queen Matilda’s Tapestry, depicting in extraordinary detail William the Conqueror’s conquest of England, and the famous Abbey of Mont St. Michel, perched on a rocky isle on the Gulf of Saint Malo.

You’ll then enjoy a scenic ride across Brittany to Angers, where you’ll have the chance to photograph an impressive 13th century castle, then continue your journey eastward to Saumur, known for its calvary school and a great sparkling wine, then on to Blois for a two-night stay in the heart of châteaux country. Visit the jewel of the French Renaissance, Château Chambord, and the 16th century château of Catherine de Medici, lovely Chenonceau. Then on to Ambrose, where you’ll visit Clos Lucé, and marvel at an amazing collection of models of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, painstakingly reconstructed from the drawings of the great Renaissance genius, and sample regional French cuisine at one of the area’s many excellent bistros.

En route back to Paris, you’ll visit Chartres, with its superb 13th century gothic cathedral — a jewel of mediaeval architecture, and continue back to Paris for a guided tour of the Louvre Museum. All in all, an unforgettable trip through French history.