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France Tour - Bordeaux - vineyards and medieval castels
12 days / 11 nights, departing from May 1st 2010 every 2 saturdays until October 30th 2010
Day 1: Barcelona, Spain
Arrival in Barcelona, transfer from the airport and check in at the hotel of group choise. Spare time to visit the city individual.
Accommodation in Barcelona, Spain.
Day 2: Barcelona - Ole!
Breakfast and Barcelona city tour to visit Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou Stadium, Olympic Port, Gaudi houses, Spanish Square, Montjuic, Catalonia Square. Spare time in Barcelona for shopping or optional visits to Picasso Museum. In the evening: optional flamenco show in a bar on La Rambla street close to the port. Every night there are 3 shows at 19:00, 20:30 and 22:00. The price is €60 per individual for dinner and the show, or €35 per individual for a drink and the show. Reservation is required.
Accommodation in Barcelona, Spain.
Day 3: Barcelona - Perpignan - Carcassonne - St. Pierre sur Dropt
Breakfast and departure to France via Perpignan - Carcassonne - Toulouse - Duras. Short breaks on the way to visit medieval cities Perpignan and Carcassonne. Old settlement since Roman times, Perpignan is located in Languedoc-Roussillon region and in 2008 it was declared the capital of Catalan culture. Here we will visit Saint-Jean-Baptiste of Perpignan, Roman-Catholic cathedral and Palace of the Kings of Mallorca. The tour continues to Carcassonne where we will visit the medieval fortress and Marengo Bridge, named after the famous battle of Napoleon against the Austrians in 1800. Lunch is served in Perpignan and dinner in Carcassonne. Welcome to France! You will be welcomed with a glass of wine and local cheese.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 4: Saint Pierre sur Dropt - Rocamadour
Breakfast and trip to Dordogne Valley at the medieval fortress of Rocamadour, Midi-Pyrénées region. Rocamadour always attracted visitors because of its spectacular location in a canyon at an altitude of 400 meters above a tributary of the Dordogne River, but especially for its historical monuments and Black Madonna Sanctuary, a monastic complex. Pilgrims came here from around the world. Among them were kings, bishops and noblemen. The city near the monastic complex, dependent on tourists, lies on the lower slope near the river and gave its name to a specialty of goat cheese, award-winning in 1996. We will visit the monastic complex and the curch where the Black Madonna statue is exposed, the medieval fortress and castle park. Spare time for a walk along centuries-old houses and souvenirs shopping. Lunch is served in Rocamadour. On the way back to Saint Pierre sur Dropt we will visit Beynac Castle built in 12th century by the barons of Beynac-Périgord. Beynac Castle was a location for shooting many movies, including: Visitors (1993), Daughter of d'Artagnan (1994), Ever After (1998) and Joan of Arc (1999). Beynac village near the castle served as a location for movies, also. Beynac-et-Cazenac is considered one of the most beautiful regions of France.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 5: Saint Pierre Sur Dropt - Duras - Bordeaux
Breakfast and visit to Duras Castle, built in 12th century, residence of a branch of the Grimaldi of Monaco family. Short coffee break in Duras. Departure to Bordeaux where we will visit Bordeaux Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux) a Roman Catholic cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux-Bazas, consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096. The Royal Gate is from the early 13th century, while the rest of the construction is mostly from the 14th-15th centuries. The building is a national monument of France. The tour in Bordeaux continues with Stock Market, Grand Théâtre and Sainte-Croix Abbey, built in the 7th century, destroyed by the Saracens, rebuilt by Carolingian dynasty, destroyed again by the Normans in 9th century and rebuilt in the following centuries several times. Spare time in Bordeaux. Recommendations: Basilica Saint-Seurin, the oldest church in Bordeaux, built in 6th century, Palais Gallien and a walk on the main street "Rue Sainte-Catherine", the main pedestrian street of the city, with lots of restaurants, bars, shops and animation. Return to Saint Pierre sur Dropt in the evening.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 6: Bazas - Saint Jean de Luz - Socoa Fort - Atlantic Ocean
Breakfast and departure to Saint Jean de Luz and Socoa with a short break in Bazas to visit the Gothic Cathedral, UNESCO Heritage monument. Saint Jean de Luz is a fishing port on the Basque coast and now a famous resort, known for its architecture, sandy bay, the quality of the light and the cuisine. The city has seen glory at the Pyrenees Treaty signed by Mazarin, few months before the marriage of King Ludovic IV with Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche in 1600. We will visit the church where the royal couple married and the temporary residence of King Ludovic IV, today the town hall. Spare time for a walk and lunch. Optional cruise on the Bay of Biscay - Cote d'Argent for about €10. Socoa Fort lies south of Saint Jean de Luz close to a small port with many small restaurants. Socoa Fort was built by Vauban from Henry IV orders, to protect the city from Spanish invaders. (Vauban, Marshal of France was the most important military engineer of his time. He was famous for his knowledge of fortification design but also for their destruction). Return to Saint Pierre sur Dropt.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 7: St. Pierre sur Dropt - St. Emillion - Castillon la Bataille - Bergerac
Breakfast and departure to medieval city of St. Emilion, UNESCO heritage since 1999, with fascinating churches and ruins stretched along the narrow steep streets. The Romans planted vineyards here in the 2nd century AD, and the wines and grapes were praised by the Latin poet Decimius Magnus Ausonius. The town took its name from a Monk named Emilion, a confessor traveler who settled in an isolated house carved in rock in the 8th century. The monks who followed him began production and sale of wine in the area. Guided tour to monolithic underground church. Spare time for coffee break, wine tasting and shopping. The city, and also the region, is known for its wines and foix gras (goose pate). Departure to Bergerac and lunch break in Castillon la Bataille. Castillon was the last battle place in the 100 years war. In the memory of the battle, in 1953 the town changed its name from Castillon-sur-Dordogne in Castillon-la-Bataille. In Bergerac we will visit Pélissière Square and the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac, city's symbol. Spare time for a walk and dinner in the medieval city of Bergerac. Return to Saint Pierre sur Dropt.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 8: Saint Pierre sur Dropt - Eymet - Monbazillac
Breakfast and departure to Eymet, medieval town located south of Bergerac, on the river Dropt, a settlement inhabited since prehistoric ages. It became a fortified town thanks to Alphonse of Poitiers in 1270, like many other cities in France as a defensive strategy against the British invaders. This picturesque settlement has a reputation for being a second home for many English families who own properties here. As a tourist it's strange to hear English everywhere in this city in the center of this beautiful part of France. Lunch is served in Eymet at an Italian restaurant, reasonably priced, located in the central square. Departure to Monbazilliac after lunch. We will visit Monbazilliac Castle, built in the mid 16th century, on top of a hill from which you can admire the entire valley of Bergerac. The castle is a harmonious combination of medieval military architecture and elegant Renaissance. During the visit we will also see Wine Museum, Furniture Museum of Périgord, Protestantism Museum and "1001 Castles in Périgord". With the museum ticket you can also visit a wine cellar belonging to Monbazillac domain, famous for its sweet white wines. Wine Tasting!. Here we also find a variety of foix gras. Monbazillac sweet wines and foix gras are a perfect combination. If time allows we will visit anoter cellar for more wine tasting! Return to Saint Pierre sur Dropt in the evening.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 9: Saint Pierre sur Dropt - Toulouse - Albi si Lautrec
Breakfast and departure to Toulouse, the fifth city of France as population, also called "pink city" or "rose city" because of local architectural features and building materials used: bricks and terracotta. In Toulouse we will visit: Pont Saint-Pierre, Le Pont-Neuf, Roman vestiges of Saint-Jacques Square, near Palais Niel, Place de la Trinité and Le capitole de Toulouse. Departure to Albi, a city located in the southeastern mountain region of central France. Albi is the city where Post-Impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born in 1864. Here we will visit Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, located on a rocky cliff over the river Tarn. The cathedral is the largest brick building in the world and it was built from 1282 until 1480. Inside we can admire the French Gothic Flamboyant. Then we will visit Palais de la Berbie, which houses Toulouse-Lautrec Museum of Albi, a museum dedicated to the painter born here. Palais de la Berbie is a fortress dating 13th century, who became the residence of Archbishop of Albi, located in the city center near Sainte-Cécile Cathedral. Spare time to serve dinner in Albi. Return to Saint Pierre sur Dropt afterwards.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 10: Saint Pierre sur Dropt - Citadelle de Blaye - Cognac and Jarnac
Breakfast and departure to Citadelle de Blaye, an UNESCO Heritage monument. Citadelle de Blaye invites you to discover the most magnificent panorama of the biggest estuary of Europe, Gironde. Here we will visit Porte Royale, Porte Dauphine and Clock Tower. Coffee break and then departure to Jarnac and Cognac. Jarnac is the home country of Courvoisier Cognac, awarded with several international medals. Courvoisier's reputation as the finest cognac, was reinforced by Napoleon III who granted Courvoisier cognac the title of "Official Supplier of the Imperial Court" in 1869. This certificate is now displayed at the Courvoisier Museum in Jarnac. In 1811 Napoleon visited the warehouses of Bercy and was hosted by Emmanuel Courvoisier. Legend says that Napoleon had taken several barrels of cognac with him to St. Helena Island, a cognac much appreciated by the British officers who called it "Napoleon's Cognac." In Jarnac we will visit Courvoisier Museum and an old distillery to see the process of obtaining quality cognac and for cognac tasting.
Our tour will continue to Cognac, a medieval town which bears the name of the region, attractive for its cobblestone narrow streets with elegant Renaissance facades. The air here is always perfumed with alcohol vapors from oak barels stored in the town warehouses. World famous companies such as Camus, Hennessy, Niartell, Otard Prince Hubert de Polignac, Rémy-Martin, Courvoisier and Renault - Bisquit have their headquarters here. Each distillery has its own secret and an unique process of mixing the different flavors. Lunch is served in Cognac.
Our tour will continue to Cognac, a medieval town which bears the name of the region, attractive for its cobblestone narrow streets with elegant Renaissance facades. The air here is always perfumed with alcohol vapors from oak barels stored in the town warehouses. World famous companies such as Camus, Hennessy, Niartell, Otard Prince Hubert de Polignac, Rémy-Martin, Courvoisier and Renault - Bisquit have their headquarters here. Each distillery has its own secret and an unique process of mixing the different flavors. Lunch is served in Cognac.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 11: Saint Pierre sur Dropt - Perigueux - Limoges
Breakfast and departure to Perigueux and Limoges. In Perigueux we will visit first Saint-Front Cathedral, a point on pilgrimage route of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostela, restored in the 19th century by Paul Abadie and inspired by Sacré-Coeur Cathedral of Paris. We will continue our tour with medieval and Renaissance town center, Consuls' House (exterior) and Vésone Tower, vestige of a Gallo-Roman temple. Lunch is served in Perigueux. After the lunch we will depart to Limoges, the place where a very famous porcelain is made since 17th century, similar to Chinese porcelain. The factory was initially under the patronage of Count d'Artois, brother of Ludovic the 16th and was purchased by the King in 1784. After the revolution, several private factories were established in Limoges, the top one being owned by a businessman in New York.
Accommodation in Saint Pierre sur Dropt: Aux Bardeche Residence.
Day 12: Saint Pierre sur Dropt - Barcelona
Breakfast and departure to Barcelona airport.
Au revoir, bon voyage, à bientôt!
PRICE: 950 EURO - Minimum 10 individuals for one group. Single supplement: 250€
Services included:
Airport – hotel – airport transfers.
Accommodation for 2 nights in a 4 stars hotel in Barcelona and 9 nights at Aux Bardeche Residence, breakfast and dinner included (Half-Board).
Coach / minibus with air conditioning, road taxes, parking tickets.
Not included:
Tickets for sightseeing (museums, places of worship, etc.).
Medical insurance.
Additional meals and drinks, supplements.
Personal expenses.
Tips to service providers (drivers, local guides, hotel staff).
Local tour guides.
Observation:
Minimum 10 individuals per group. Less than 10 individuals and the price is recalculated or tour is canceled
Tour schedule is subject to change in terms of the order of visited places, without affecting the overall tour.
Documents required for travel:
Passport valid at least 6 months after return to your country or Identity Card.
Deadline for booking:
30 days before departure date.
Canceling conditions:
Under general rules of travel agency, according to the Tourism Services Contract.
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