Tour: RA - 2012 (RA) - 2012 / 2013

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DATES & PRICES

Itinerary

DAY 1Arrive in Paris, France

The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ lively restaurants. After dinner you may wish to join an optional outing to get a first impression of the “City of Light.” (Dinner)

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DAY 2Paris

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées. Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Balance of the day at leisure. An optional afternoon excursion to the Palace of Versailles and evening excursions are available. (Breakfast)

The Arc de Triomphe standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle

Notre Dame Cathedral

Europe’s most famous cathedral, whose twin Gothic towers loom above France’s most beloved river, the Seine, actually owes a lot of its international success to the author Victor Hugo. Back in 1831, when Hugo wrote his classic novel about a hunchbacked bell-ringer at Notre Dame who falls in love with a beautiful gypsy, the medieval cathedral had fallen on hard times. During the Revolution in 1789, it had been seized, looted of its treasures and converted into an atheistic “Temple of Reason.” Even worse, after the monarchy was restored in 1815, Notre Dame was used as riverside warehouse – its once-splendid glass windows now dimmed and its facades decaying pathetically above the Île de la Cité. But Parisian’s indifference to their landmark ended suddenly in 1831, when Victor Hugo published his romantic novel the “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” (called “Notre-Dame de Paris” in French). The book was an international bestseller and lured armies of tourists to Paris in search of its Gothic cathedral setting. Hugo used this groundswell of public interest to lobby the French government for renovations of his beloved Notre Dame. From 1845 to 1864, repairs were indeed carried out – the clogged medieval streets nearby were cleared, revealing the marvelous edifice we see today.

Louvre

Today, a thick pane of bullet-proof security glass keeps artlovers a safe distance from the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco Giacondo,” known in French as “La Joconde” and English as the “Mona Lisa.” But back in 1911, it was simply hung on the walls of the Musée du Louvre like any other canvas. That was until a former museum employee named Vincenzo Perrugia strolled into the gallery before opening hours on August 21, noticed the room was empty, took down the Mona Lisa and walked out of the Louvre with it under a painting smock. When the loss was finally noticed, the police were mystified. For two years, the whereabouts of the masterpiece was unknown, while French detectives made various wild guesses. (It had been stolen by the Germans. By anarchists. By evil geniuses. By lunatics.) They actually arrested the country’s top art critic, Guillame Apollinaire, then let him free. Then, out of the blue in 1913, an Italian art dealer in Florence was contacted by a man calling himself “Leonardo” who claimed to have the Mona Lisa and wanted to see it hang in the Uffizi, Italy’s top art museum. Although he found it hard to believe that the thief could be so reckless, the dealer tipped off the police and agreed to meet the strange Leonardo in a Milan hotel room. There, the nondescript fellow opened his suitcase, emptied out his socks and underwear, opened up a false bottom in the case to reveal the Mona Lisa – and was immediately arrested.

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DAY 3Paris–Honfleur–Deauville–Bayeux

A pleasant drive through the rural area west of Paris takes you to picturesque Honfleur and the elegant resort of Deauville on the coast. Time to explore both towns before heading to Bayeux, where you can admire QUEEN MATILDA’S TAPESTRY, depicting in extraordinary detail William the Conqueror’s conquest of England. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 4Bayeux–Normandy Beaches–Mont St. Michel–St. Malo

Drive by the Normandy Beaches and arrive at the famous ABBEY OF MONT ST. MICHEL, perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf of Saint Malo. Overnight in St. Malo. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 5St. Malo–Loire Valley

Ride through Brittany before arriving in the Loire Valley for your overnight stay. (Breakfast)

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DAY 6Loire Valley–Chenonceau Castle–Bordeaux

First stop this morning is a visit to the 16th-century castle of Catherine de Medici, lovely CHENONCEAU. Continue to Bordeaux, and join your Tour Director for a walking tour through this pretty city. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 7Bordeaux. Excursion to St. Emilion

Morning at leisure or join an optional excursion to Arcachon. Situated at the southern entrance of the Atlantic Ocean, Arcachon Bay is crowned by Europe’s largest sand dune, the Dune de Pyla. This afternoon, join your Tour Director and visit St. Emilion, world famous for its wines. Enjoy a WINE TASTING and tonight, savor a dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 8Bordeaux–Biarritz–Lourdes

Visit Biarritz, an ancient fishing village turned trendy seaside resort on your way to Lourdes, one of the world’s most famous places of pilgrimage. Visit the GROTTO where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. You can join this evening’s memorable rosary and candlelight procession. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 9Lourdes–Carcassonne–Nîmes

From Lourdes to the beautifully preserved, medieval, walled town of Carcassonne for a leisurely walk on the ancient BATTLEMENTS and time to explore the town on your own. Overnight in Nîmes. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 10Nîmes–Pont du Gard–Avignon–Nice

Motor through the splendid vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon. At Pont du Gard, admire the Roman Aqueduct, a monumental feat of engineering completed in the year 19 BC. Stop in Avignon for pictures of the magnificent Palace of the Popes and the bridge of the popular song. Arrive in Nice, the sophisticated “Queen of the Riviera.” Later, why not join an exciting optional outing to Monte Carlo? (Breakfast)

Promenade des Anglais – promenade along the Mediterranean at Nice, France

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DAY 11At Leisure in Nice

Enjoy this enchanting resort on the Côte d’Azur at your own pace. Browse through the elegant shops or stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. Join your Tour Director for a walk through the OLD TOWN and its colorful flower market, and you may wish to join an optional excursion to the famous artist town of St. Paul de Vence. (Breakfast)

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DAY 12Nice–Grasse–Grenoble

This morning, stop in Grasse to visit a PERFUME FACTORY. Next, a scenic drive along the famous Route Napoleon through the French Alps past medieval towns to Grenoble. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 13Grenoble–Lyon–Dijon

Your orientation of Lyon includes a panoramic view from FOURVIÈRE HILL with its basilica to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the city and its Roman ruins. Then, drive north into Burgundy, where road signs read like the wine list of an expensive restaurant, to Dijon, which was the capital of Burgundy from the 11th to the 15th centuries. During your orientation, hear about the various dukes who ruled over the area, then have the rest of the afternoon to browse the shops and enjoy this charming city. (Breakfast, Dinner)

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DAY 14Dijon–Paris

Enjoy a ride on the high-speed TGV TRAIN to Paris. In the afternoon, an optional excursion to the Louvre Museum is available, as well as exciting possibilities for an unforgettable night out on the town! (Breakfast)

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Louvre

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DAY 15Paris

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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DATES & PRICES