TOURS DE FRANCE - ONE WEEK IN THE WESTSIDE (7 DAYS)
France• Duration: 18 hours
Car tours
TOURS DE FRANCE - ONE WEEK IN THE WESTSIDE (7 DAYS)
France• Duration: 18 hours
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DAY 1
After leaving Paris at 7 am along the A13, your guide will stop halfway for coffee and croissants before giving you a historical introduction to DDAY and the battle of Normandy.
Upon your arrival in Normandy, you will start your journey with the visit of Arromanches to discover the remains of the artificial harbor (Mulberry B) that played a vital part in the success of the Landings. The Dieppe Raid of 1942 had shown that the Allies could not rely on being able to penetrate the Atlantic Wall to capture a port on the North French coast. The problem was that the large ships of the type needed to transport heavy and bulky cargoes needed sufficient depth of water under their keels and this was not available except at the too heavilydefended French harbors. Thus, the Mulberries were created to provide the port facilities necessary to offload the thousands of men and vehicles and tons of supplies necessary to sustain Operation Overlord and the Battle of Normandy. The Mulberries were made up of all the elements one would expect of any harbor: breakwater, piers, and roadways etc, each piece of them towed from England to France.
From Arromanches, your guide will drive you to the German coastal artillery battery of Longues sur Mer that formed a part of Germany’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications. The battery was completed by April 1944 and consisted of four 152 mm navy guns, each protected by a large concrete casemate, a command post, shelters for personnel and ammunition and several defensive machine-gun emplacements.
After your visit of Longues sur Mer, It is time for lunch in a nice typical Norman local restaurant (not included).
After lunch your journey continues with an exhaustive visit of the American Cemetery of Colleville,that covers 172 ,5 acres and that contains the graves of 9387 military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the DDay landings and ensuing operations (visit of the Memorial, the wall of Missing, the Chapel, many special tombs – Medals of Honor etc). Your visit will be followed with a stop at the American Interpretatice Center where you will have the opportunity to view remarkable films and documentaries relating the DDAY and Battle of Normandy operations.
Your journey will continue with the drive to Omaha Beach that since June 6th 1944 has become the symbol of the sacrifice of American soldiers in WWII. The primary objective of Omaha was to secure a beachhead of some 5 miles between Port en Bessin and the Vire River, linking up with the British landings at Gold Beach and the Americans at Utah Beach. Opposing the landings was the German 352nd Infantry Division a large portion of whom had fought on the Eastern Front. Very little went as planned during the landing at Omaha Beach. The defenses were unexpectedly strong and inflicted extremely heavy casualties on landing US troops. Small penetrations were eventually achieved by groups of survivors making improvised assaults, scaling the bluffs between the most heavily defended points. By the end of the day, 2 small isolated footholds had been won, which were subsequently exploited against weaker defenses further inland, thus achieving the original DDAY objectives over the following days.
After your moving stop on Omaha Beach, you will finish your journey with the private guided visit of Pointe du Hoc, where the Germans had built 6 casemates to house a battery of 155 mm guns. Situated between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, these guns threatened Allied landings, risking heavy casualties in the landing forces. The US 2nd Ranger Battalion under the command of Colonel James Rudder was given the task of destroying the strongpoint from the sea. Their heroic struggle and final success has entered into history.
Night in Bayeux or in Saint Malo.
DAY 2
After 1h30 drive from Bayeux you will reach le Mont Saint Michel.
Many writers have tried to define the "Marvel of the Occident", some say that it is to the sea what the pyramid of Keops is to the desert, some describe it as an imaginary manorhouse, stupefying as a dream palace, others say that is is not dry land and yet not the sea. Surrounded by the sea with one of the highest tidal ranges in the world the Mont St. Michel is simply unique.
On the Mont St. Michel, the tour will begin with a guided visit of the Abbey founded by Aubert at the beginning of the 8th Century and that became a major cultural and pilgrimage centre during the middle ages . You will admire the Romanesque Church, the Gothic "Marvel" with the monk's Cloisters, the Knights Room, the Guest Room, the Refectory, as well as various chapels: St. Stephen, St.Martin, etc.
After your visit, It is time for lunch in a nice typical local bistro or restaurant (not included) before a pleasant visit of the city of Saint-Malo.
St Malo was named after Maclow a monk who came from Wales in the 6th century based on the hermitage settlement tradition and the evangelization of the local population. St Malo city is one of the greatest examples of the fortifications works made between the 12th and the early 18th centuries. The greatest military engineer Maréchal Vauban and his disciple Simèon Garengeau designed in the 17th century the expansions and reinforcement city walls and the amazing island forts such as la Conchée, le Fort National, Harbour, le Grand Bé where François René de Chateaubriand one of the most famous French Romantic Writer is buried.
Walking on the city ramparts you will see and understand that St Malo was originally an island. You will visit with your private guide the SaintVincent Cathedral where some of the most famous people are buried such as the bishop Jean de Chatillon, real founder of StMalo as we know it today, Jacques Cartier who discovered Canada in the 16th century. Thanks to the Cathedral to have a different point of view you will see what St Malo had to go through during World War 2. 80% of the city was down until the reconstruction that started in 1947. To really understand the story and the expansion of St Malo, your private tour guide will take you to Alet area, the original settlement of Maclow where there is still a left over of the Roman city wall, that same area where the German troops established a heavy battery artillery on the Atlantic wall.
Then (if time) you will stop at le Montmarin where you will visit the amazing gardens of la Malouinière le Montmarin listed as national monument and dating from 1760 and the only Malouinière located in the left bank of the Rance river.
A Malouinière was a large secondary residence where the rich shipowners could stay because St-Malo was too narrow inside the walls. The Montmarin Malouinière is not opened to the visitors because people live inside but the 6 ha gardens are with 2 parks one “à la Française” and one “à l’Anglaise”, an enchantment!!!
Montmarin is closed on the saturdays
Night in St Malo
DAY 3
After a very enjoyable night at Saint-Malo, you will head to Vannes which is two hours away from Saint-Malo.
Built as an amphitheater in the very end of the Gulf of Le Morbihan Vannes is located in one of the oldest settlement in southern Brittany. The city founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC called St- Patern is now one area of Vannes and is outside the city walls. Strolling in this very pleasant city that was once the capital city of Brittany will be a journey through time that goes from the roman left overs to the fancy and massive architecture of the 19th century such as the city hall, smaller copy of the one in Paris and discovering the medieval aspects like the timber frame houses, the market square “Places des Lices”, that used to be the jousting place.
You will visit the cathedral St Pierre built from the late 13th to the 19th century where several architectures are mixed. You will see la Cohue which means the crowd and that is the market actually.
In 1532, François Ist (King of France) stayed in Vannes to prepare the treaty of union between Brittany and France.
Your tour guide will take you to the other unique heritage around Vannes which is the Gulf itself. The Gulf of Le Morbihan is one of the most beautiful bay in the world that will leave you breathless. Morbihan which means in Breton language “Little sea” is the Caribbean of Brittany where you will see an amazing amount of islands such as the Gavrinis where people carved the dolmen walls 3800 years ago, you will be overwhelmed by the constant changing colors and perspectives.
After a very enjoyable visit of Vannes, your private driver guide will recommend you nice local places for lunch in the Gulf of Morbihan, or in a small charming village la Roche-Bernard.
Then you will go to Saint-Nazaire where one of the most impressive german submarine base, along the atlantic wall was built. Since at least, the 19th century, the beating heart of Saint nazaire has been the port and still is. You are going to have two different examples of this port city. At first, you will go to the depths of the submarine base. You will then be on the very top of the roof of the submarine base to realize the scale of this construction dating from World War 2. It is a symbol of these terrible times in Europe, and thanks to benevolant people and the seek for peace, it’s now a spot where people can gather, where exhibits are set and which is being embellished with the conception of rooftop gardens.
Then, your private driver-guide will bring you to ‘’ The Escal’Atlantic’’ to have an example of the other ability of Saint-Nazaire’s port when the cruise liners of the late 19th century, beginning of 20th century, were built. During these visits, you will walk in the footsteps of the travellers of the 18 and 19 hundreds, first class passengers, immigrants…Inside a repliqua of an ocean-liner, and through different spaces, you will feel like being the captain of the ship, machinist…During these visits you will enjoy an orginial collection of furniture, artwork and luggage.
After this visit, it will be time for your private tour guide to drive you to your accommodation in Nantes for an enjoyable evening.
Night in Nantes area
DAY 4
The next destination is the town of Cognac. In Rémi-Martin cognac house, you will enjoy a most memorable visit and have a selection of different cognacs. Y
You can choose among several options to enjoy your visit for instance, enjoy a relaxing and interesting visit, on board of the company train, whose main aspects are the art of winery, the barrel conception, the blending and the ageing..
After visiting the vineyards, the distillery, you will enjoy two cognacs tastings.
Then another visit could be ‘’ The Escale à la Maison Historique’’ in the footsteps of the founders of Remy-Martin house, which started three hundred years ago. After visiting the historical Rémy-Martin house and the cellars, it will be up to you to have one or three tastings.
Then it will be time for lunch in a nice typical french local restaurant or bistro (not included) in Cognac or Jonzac which is a charming old medieval little city on the way to Bordeaux.
Night in Bordeaux.
DAY 5
You will start your day by heading to the World Heritage listed Bordeaux wine region Saint Emilion.
Almost 2000 years of history of people producing wine. During your visits you will meet directly the people who work to achieve the excellency and who make the soul of this special wine country.
In the VIIIth century, a Breton monk native of Vannes named Emilion chooses as place of pension Ascumbas (the former name of the site of Saint-Emilion) The nobleheartedman left his family and his native Brittany to take orders. By its miracles and its generosity, it’s fame shone beyond the valley and numerous followers joined him. For seventeen years, Emilion evangelized the population, so creating a monastic site named after him once he died.
If you wish to have a full day of tastings you will enjoy the following itinerary:
The tastings will begin with ‘’ The Château Cardinal VilleMaurine ‘’.
In 711 the Moors invaded Spain then France. One of their heardquarters was here. When they left around 732 pushed away by Charles Martel in Poitiers, they left us the VillaMaurine or the city of the Moors.
Jurade was established in 1199 by Jean Sans-Terre, king of England. The latter delegated its economic and political and judicial powers, to notables and magistrates to manage the general administration of the city. In exchange for these granted privileges, England was able to enjoy ‘’ the privilege of wines of Saint-Emilion’’ So the surface of the vineyard increased with the fame of wines. Their quality was subjected to the control of the Jurade (by the seal of the vinettier) before transport towards England. The autority of Jurade continued until the French Revolution in 1789. In 1948, the wine growers gathered within the wine-making labor union resusciated Jurade under the form of a brotherhood, which then became the ambassadress of wines of Saint-Emilion worldwide, with for ambition to guarantee the authencitity and the quality of it’s wines.
Another tasting could be "The Château of Grand Corbin-Manuel ":
The Château Grand Corbin Manuel has been an integral part of the Grand Corbin domain for a very long time more known as La Grande Métairie.
It was separated from Grand Corbin on July 20th 1855 but in 1898 at the end of the First World War, Jean Brin junior parted company with Grande Métairie.
The whole of the Grande Métairie was then sold to Mr Jean David, wine-broker and neighbouring landowner to Grand Corbin.
In 1965, Pierre Manuel became the new owner, and the Château became known as "Grand Corbin Manuel".
In 2001, Misters Dupuy and Audry took possession of the Château then resold it in 2005 to the Gaye Family, the current owners.
For several generations the Gaye family has been an owner wine-grower in the highly reputed Chateaux of Saint-Emilion.
In 2005, Stéphane de Gaye and children decided to take on the Château Grand Corbin Manuel with a freshly awakened enthusiasm...
The daughter, Yseult, is fully responsible for this property located in the middle of the Ranked Great Vintages.
After this very enjoyable visit and tasting, your private driver-guide will take you to an amazing building : the Saint-Emilion Monolithic Church, which was built between the 12th and 15th centuries.
Under the bell tower, the remarkable monolithic church was carved out of solid rock in the 12th century. It’s gigantic proportions make of it Europe’s largest monolithic church.
After the visit of the church, it will be lunch time. Depending on the schedule your private driver-guide will recommend you restaurants in Saint-Emilion or in Bordeaux.
If you are ready for more visits and tasting let's go to ‘’ The Château Figeac’’ :
The viticultural beginnings of FIGEAC : in the 2nd Century AD, a family by the name of FIGEASUS owned a Gallo-Roman villa on the site of the present château and a large estate, to which they gave tgeur name. According to historians the town of Figeac in the Lot department of France was named after that same family,
The vestiges of an acient pigeon loft remind us that in the Middle Ages this large farming estate was a noble house. The château has conserved a number of doors and low, narrow windows which can be dated to around the year 1000.
The FIGEAC we know today was shaped by their vision. By the 1960’s, FIGEAC was already known in the USA ; and by the 1970’s it had gained renown in Asia (Japan, Hong-Kong and Singapore). FIGEAC had now become one of Bordeaux’s leading properties.
OR WE SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE VISIT
Instead of 2 more Chateaux in St-Emilion after lunch, your private guide will take to Bordeaux for a very pleasant walking city tour.
Bordeaux accounts for more than 350 buildings classified as historical monuments, and has 3 religious buildings registered in the World heritage since 1998 known as '' Des Chemins de Saint Jacques de Compostelle ''
The purpose of the private guided visit of Bordeaux, is to give you an overview of all the most spectacular and renowned monuments and historical sites of the city.
Starting with one of the most famous sights in the city, you will go to the Place de La Bourse (with it's beautiful water structure) you will then make your way to the northern part of the city and visit The Place des Quinconces ('with The Monument des Girondins), La Place des Comédies (where is situated The Grand Théatre), La Cours des Chapeaux Rouges, The Notre-Dame Cathédrale (situated near the famous Rue des Martinacs) and stroll your way up to the Cour Mably, Salle Capitulaire. After a very pleasant visit, you will make your way down to The Porte de Dijeaux, right next to the Place de Gambetta. On your way to your next visit, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful outside view of the Musée des Arts and then arrive at The Hotel de Ville with it's beautiful square and it's bubbly mood. Your private driver-guide will then walk you through the city all the way down to the Grosse Cloche (one of the 3 religious monuments of the city), La Porte de Cailhau (right next to the Maison des Pélerins) before going back to the Place de La Bourse and to your hotel.
DAY 6
This morning you will head to the Loire Valley. After a three hour drive, it will be time for a visit and tasting in the little town of La Roche Corbon where Vouvray wines are produced and where most of the cellars are troglodite caves. Some of the troglodite caves in the Loire Valley were dug 2000 years ago by the romans.
During the visit and tasting at Marc Brédif house in Vouvray you may choose between two different options :
After the visit of the cellars, you will taste 4 or 5 different wines.
The second option includes wine tastings + plus a cheese plateau and some charcuterie,
Of course, you can also have lunch in a restaurant that your private guide will recommend you,
Then you will head to the charming city of Amboise (20 minutes away) for a guided visit of the Chateau du Clos Lucé Leonardo da Vinci’s last residence that is dedicated to conveying an overall picture of the art and the boundless vision of the Tuscan artist. You will visit his bedroom, his kitchen, his study, the Renaissance halls, the chapel with its frescoes painted by his pupils as well as 40 of his inventions on the themes of military engineering, town planning, mechanics, flying machines and hydraulics. In the Park, a landscaped walk dedicated to revealing the intellectual scope of the Florentine Master will show you the sources of his inspirations with the help of 16 giant working machines and 32 translucent panels which depict sketches and details from his paintings.
Then your private guide will take to your hotel.
Night in Amboise
DAY 7
After a nice night in the city of Amboise, you will start with the wonderful Château of Chenonceau :
The property of the Crown, the royal residence, Chenonceau Castle is an exceptional site not only because ofit’s original design, but also because it’s peciql gossip. Chenonceau is renowned for being the caslt e where both the mistress of Henry 2 Diane de Poitier and his wife, the evil Catherine De Medici used to live. You will also happen to visit the beautiful gardens and notice by that visit, that the mistress’s gardens are bigger than the queen’s at the time since Catherine Medicis was quite the woman to handle on a daily basis.
After a nice lunch in a typical french local restaurant or bistro you will visit the Chateau de Chambord the immense and unique palace of Francois I, built at the turn of the Renaissance period, that witnesses the elation and extravagance of the king obsessed by his 2 favorite pastimes: hunting and architecture. You will take the double-turn spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci, where 2 people can go up and down without ever meeting, head to the Royal Apartments of François I and Louis XIV, immerse on the floor above in the world of royal hunts and continue to the Terraces where you will find yourself surrounded by roofing and chimneys forming a fairytale village, as suspended in the sky, that offers a magnificent panorama over the huge estate.
After that spectacular Chateau you will head back to Paris where your private driver-guide will drop you off.
If you are more than 6 persons, do not hesitate to send us the request, we will suggest you another type of vehicle.
Entrance fees, tastings, meals and hotels not included.
PRICES
1 TO 2 PERSONS - 8600€
3 TO 4 PERSONS - 9100€
5 TO 6 PERSONS - 9725€
(Tickets are not included)
(Tastings are not included)
(Hotels not included)
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