Chateaux of Normandy and The Loire Valley : Mediterranean Cruises : CentralHolidays.com

Chateaux of Normandy & The Loire Valley from $7705

10 Days (2 nts. Paris, 2 nts. Bayeux, 1 nts. Chenehutte Les Tuffeaux & 2 nt. Joue Les Tours & 1 nt. Paris)

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A journey through France's most glorious sites. You begin with Paris innumerable monuments, then Normandy's famous Mont-Saint-Michel, castles, cathedrals, the quaint port of Honfleur, and many of the sites of the allied D-Day landings in WW II. In Bayeux, famous for its beautiful tapestries, overnight at the 18th century Hotel Chateau de Bellefontaine. Travel from Normandy to the Loire Valley. This is the Royal Chateaux Country, where awe-inspiring castles are surrounded by world-renowned gardens. Overnight at Prieure in Chenehutte-les-Tuffeaux, a manor house overlooking the Loire Valley. From the Prieure visit Chateau d'Usse, Chateau de Villandry, and Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau. In Tours you will spend two nights at Chateau de Beaulieu, a romantic 18th century manor, and visit the Chateau de Chenonceaux, built by a king for Diane de Poitiers, his mistress. In Amboise you will visit the Chateau d'Amboise, partly built by Leonardo da Vinci. Enjoy a wine tasting in a cellar of Montlouis, filled with reds, whites, roses and sparkling wines. Your last royal residence will be the magnificent Chateau de Chambord built by Francois I as a hunting lodge. On your way back to Paris, stop at the 12th century Gothic cathedral in Chartres. The finale will be a Seine River dinner cruise as you glide past Paris monuments lit up for the night.

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Tour Features

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8-night deluxe accommodations: 2 Paris, 2 Bayeux, 1 Chenehutte-les-Tuffeaux, 2 Joue-Les-Tours and 1 night Paris

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Buffet breakfast daily at hotels

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All transfers as per itinerary

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Full day guided tour of Paris, including Seine River cruise and lunch at the Ciel de Paris Restaurant on top of Montparnasse Tower

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Dinner cruise on the Seine, including transfers

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Touring by private minivan with guide from day 4

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Sightseeing as indicated, including guide and entrance fees

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10% discount coupon to the Galeries Lafayette in Paris

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Travel bag, one per person

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Document holder and luggage tags

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Hotel taxes and service charges

Day 1 Depart USA
Overnight flight to Paris. Meals and refreshments served on board.

Day 2 Paris
Morning arrival in Paris. You'll be met at the airport and taken to your hotel by private car. You'll have the day at leisure to begin exploring this fascinating city.

Day 3 Paris
This morning you'll be met at your hotel at 8:30 a.m. for a full day's tour of Paris. Visit Notre Dame, the Hotel de Ville, the Louvre, the Place Vendome, the Opera, Concorde, Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Tour Eiffel. Lunch will be at the Ciel de Paris Restaurant on top of the Montparnasse Tower. After lunch continue to the Trocadero, the Sacre-Coeur, Place du Tertre and Montmartre. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Seine River. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B,L)

Day 4 Paris/Giverny/Honfleur/Bayeux
After breakfast, depart towards Normandy. Your first stop on the way is in Giverny, the home of Claude Monet. Visit Monet's house and gardens and see the famous water lilies and Japanese bridge from his paintings. Continue on to Honfleur, a quaint port town known for its harbor, the old dock and Saint Catherine's Church. After Honfleur, continue on to Bayeux for your overnight stay. (B)

Day 5 Bayeux/Arromanches
This morning, start by visiting the famous Bayeux tapestry, the embroidered cloth depicting scenes from the Battle of Hastings of 1066. Continue on to Arromanches, one of the main sites of the Normandy D-Day beach landings of World War II. You'll also visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches. Your guide will then take you to Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, the sites of the main American landings on June 6, 1944. Before returning to Bayeux for your second overnight at the Chateau de Bellefontaine, stop at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach. Visit the grounds where over 9,000 American soldiers are laid to rest and the magnificent World War II memorial. (B)

Day 6 Mont-St.-Michel/Fougeres/Angers/Chenehutte-les-Tuffeaux
After breakfast, depart for Mont St. Michel, approximately a 2-hour drive from Bayeux. This magnificent city is located on an island surrounded by water at high tide but completely land-locked at low tide. Visit the cathedral and monastery at the top of the mountain as well as the local shops. You'll have time to explore the city. After your visit, drive to the Loire Valley, passing through Fougeres and Angers. You'll have time for lunch in Fougeres before proceeding to Le Prieure in Chenehutte-les-Tuffeaux, for your overnight stay. The evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 7 Rigny/Villandry/Azay-le-Rideau/Joue-Les-Tours
Today is a full day of chateaux sightseeing. Start the day with a visit to Rigny-Usse and the famous Chateau d'Usse, known as the Sleeping Beauty castle from Disneyland. Continue on to the Chateau de Villandry, best known for its magnificent flower and vegetable gardens. The last stop of your day is the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau, a beautiful 16th century chateau filled with period furniture. You'll continue to Joue-Les-Tours for the first of two overnights at the Chateau de Beaulieu. (B)

Day 8 Chenonceaux/Amboise/Montlouis/Joue-Les-Tours
After breakfast at the hotel, start your day with a visit to the Chateau de Chenonceaux. This chateau was built by the king for his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. It is built over the river Cher and was used as a hospital during World War I. Continue on to Amboise to visit the Chateau d'Amboise, built in part by Leonardo da Vinci, and continue your visit to Clos Luce, residence of Leonardo da Vinci and home to a museum filled with his drawings and inventions. On your way back to Joue-Les-Tours, stop in the village of Montlouis for a wine tasting at the city's cellar filled with reds, whites, roses and sparkling wines. Your overnight stay is at the Chateau de Beaulieu. (B)

Day 9 Joue-Les-Tours/Chambord/Chartres/Paris
On your way back to Paris, stop and visit the Chateau de Chambord built by Fran�ois I as a hunting lodge. It has over 400 windows and some 350 chimneys. Continue to Chartres and visit the Gothic cathedral built in the 12th century and famous for its stained glass windows. You will return to Paris in the late afternoon. Settle into your hotel and enjoy your final night at leisure in the city. This evening you will be met at your hotel and taken to the Seine River for a dinner cruise. Enjoy a meal while cruising beneath the monuments of the city lit up for the night. There will be music and dancing for your entertainment as well. (B,D)

Day 10 Paris to USA (or extend your stay)
After breakfast, you'll be taken by car to the airport in Paris for your return flight home. (B)

2010 Scheduled Departures

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