THE GEMS OF NORMANDY & THE CHAMPAGNE REGION

Welcome to France’s capital, Paris, known as the “City of Light.” After clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by your Aventura World tour representative. Then you will travel to your spectacular home base of Caen for a magical 4-night stay. Get to know this enchanting place on an insightful city tour upon arrival. Discover the heart of Caen, Normandy’s capital, and explore its history, from The Castle of William the Conqueror, the duke of Normandy and see the archaeological remains of William’s palace, known as the Vieux Palais (Old Palace), as well as The Church of St-Pierre. This evening you will enjoy an included dinner at your hotel. (D) 

Rise and shine with a delectable breakfast at your hotel before heading out on a full-day excursion with your tour escort and specialized Battlefield Guide to tour the Normandy D-Day sites. Delve into the history of the Arromanches clifftops where the Allies set up two artificial Mulberry harbors. Here you will also see the British military artifacts from the Caen Mémorial collection. The day takes you further along to The Normandy American Cemetery established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944, as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II, where many who lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations are buried. Take time to reflect at the Walls of the Missing, situated in the semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial that features 1,557 inscribed names. Next, we will head to Omaha Beach Memorial Museum. The Museum was founded in memory of all those young men who died in 1944 at the site where the American naval landing took place. (B)

Wake to this glorious day with a full breakfast at your hotel before enjoying a day at leisure or embarking on an optional excursion to Mont St. Michel and the village of Villedieu-les- Poeles. Get ready to revel in the mesmerizing tidal island of Mont St. Michel. For centuries one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations, this holy island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing its famed gravity-defying Benedictine abbey. Next, it’s on to Villedieu-les-Poeles. This stunning historic village is famous for its time-honored copper pots and pans production. Its name means the “village of the frying pans.” Its postcardperfect, cobblestone streets are lined with charming shops featuring beautiful doorways adorned with flowers in copper pots selling the town’s famed wares. (B)

Start your day with breakfast at your hotel, and then head out to visit A few miles from the landing beaches, the Normandy Battle Memorial Museum shows visitors the key stages of the conflict, the day-by-day advancement of the forces involved. This is an essential stop before visiting the memorial sites of the summer of 1944. Next, enjoy a tour of Calvados Christian Drouin Distillery, a family-run traditional distillery located within a group of half-timbered 17th-century buildings in the heart of the Pays d’Auge. With your guided tour, you will discover the cider press, the pot still, the aging cellars, and the manor. You can also stroll through the orchards and discover the former distilling room, the wash house, and the bread oven. The visit includes tasting local cheeses and their cider, calvados, and pommeau. Tonight, you will savor dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Adventure is on the agenda today after breakfast at your hotel as you depart Caen and transfer to Reims. Along the way, take in the scenic views and stop in Rouen, famous for its halftimbered buildings and breathtaking gothic cathedral that was the subject of many of Claude Monet’s paintings. After your tour, continue to Reims in the spectacular Champagne region for a splendid 3-night stay. Welcome to Reims, meticulously restored after WWI and again following WWII; Reims is endowed with handsome pedestrian boulevards, Roman remains, artdeco cafes, and a flourishing fine-dining scene. This city is the most important center of Champagne production and a good base for gaining a culturally rich experience and exploring the Champagne trail. (B)

Have breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a tour of the historic city of Reims, including the entrance to Reims Cathedral. Your day of exploration features a visit to the village of Epernay, home to the country’s second-largest concentration of major Champagne houses, including Moët & Chandon, De Castellane, Mercier, and Pol Roger – all situated along the Ave. de Champagne. Take time to visit a Champagne House, such as Moët & Chandon, where you will be taken on a journey through the galleries where the bubbles come to life. Visit the cellars and partake in a glass of champagne. Whether it is your first champagne sip, or you are rediscovering the Moët Impérial created in 1869, the House leads you into the world of unique style. Cheers! (B)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then bask in a day at leisure or join an optional excursion to discover the Gems of Reims. Our first stop is the Palace of Tau, the former residence for French monarchs, previously occupied by the Archbishop of Reims, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, the Palace (Palais du Tau is one of Burgundy’s critical historical landmarks. The palace’s name comes from its distinctive “T” shape (tau is the Greek equivalent of “T,” and its history dates back to the 6th century. Then continue on a walking tour to discover Art Deco in Reims. Many towns in France were built in the art deco style from 1920 to 1940, but Reims is considered the capital of French art deco. Reims was damaged in the First World War, so the town had to be rebuilt afterward. See the Carnegie Library and the Boulingrin covered market and many facades of buildings. This evening, reminisce with your travel companions and new friends on the moments of a lifetime you have shared throughout your trip to France during your included farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Reims. (B,D)

Savor breakfast at your hotel and transfer back to Paris for your flight home. (B)