Wine & Gastronomy
LOIRE VALLEY – ATLANTIC COAST – BORDEAUX REGION GUARANTEED GROUP DEPARTURES 2012 DEPARTURES: 14 April / 30 June / 29 September
8 days from Paris to Paris
Day 1: PARIS – CHARTRES – ANGERS
Meeting with your guide at your hotel in PARIS and coach transfer to CHARTRES for a visit of the famous Cathedral with its wonderful stained glass windows. Free time in the old streets. Continuation to ANGERS for a visit of Cointreau Museum followed by a tasting session. Cointreau is a liqueur made by the distillation of sweet and bitter oranges. Discover how Cointreau has become a world success brand over the last 150 years by following the educational and cultural tour. Transfer to your hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: ANGERS – SAUMUR
Breakfast. In the morning, visit of Angers and its castle. Built by Saint Louis around 1230, this imposing fortress (2000 m2) flanked by 17 towers offers an astonishing panoramic view of the Maine and the town. Inside the ramparts, discover the 106-meter long Apocalypse Tapestry, displayed in a specially designed museographic area. Free time. Departure to SAUMUR, nicknamed the “Pearl of Anjou”, for a visit of a wine cellar and a mushrooms culture. Then you will have a typical dinner in the troglodytes to taste local specialties. Return to ANGERS and overnight stay.
Day 3: NANTES – GUERANDE – LA BAULE
Breakfast. Departure to NANTES to explore the city renowned for its famous LU biscuit before tasting the wine of this region. Continuation to LA BAULE to see its beautiful sandy beach, GUERANDE to discover the medieval town and the salt marshes of this region. You will learn how the famous Guérande salt is made. Return to NANTES, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: LA ROCHELLE – COGNAC – BORDEAUX
Breakfast. Departure to LA ROCHELLE for a visit of this pretty town: the old fortified port, the hidden streets lined with arcades, the ancient wooden houses and stately mansions… Free time. Continuation to ROCHEFORT, SAINTES, then stop at COGNAC for a visit of the cellars of this famous liqueur followed by a tasting session. Arrival in the evening in BORDEAUX, the capital of Aquitaine and one of the most important ports in Europe, dinner and overnight stay.
 Day 5: BORDEAUX – SAINT-EMILION
Breakfast. Visit of old Bordeaux between the districts of Les Chartrons and Saint-Michel, with some 5000 buildings from the 18th century. Discover the Church of Notre-Dame, Grand Théâtre, Place de la Bourse (former 18th century Royal Square), Saint-Pierre district, Cailhau Gate, Chartrons… Free time. Departure to SAINT-EMILION and discovery of this medieval town which vineyards and countryside are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit of a cellar followed by a wine tasting. Return to BORDEAUX, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: BORDEAUX – LE MEDOC
Breakfast. Departure to LISTRAC-MEDOC, arrival at Cap Léon Veyrin Château, a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur classified estate, and visit of the cellars and barrels. You will also taste different wines from the vineyard with bread and cheese. Lunch on the estate (drinks included). Departure for a tour along the Route des Châteaux du Médoc with an explanation of crus, classifications and information about the different villages you go through: LISTRAC, MOULIS, MARGAUX, CLISSAC-FORT-MEDOC, SAINT-JULIEN, PAUILLAC, etc. Return to BORDEAUX, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: POITIERS – TOURS
Breakfast. Departure to POITIERS, panoramic tour of the city and free time in the medieval districts. Continuation to TOURS, a classified “Town of Art and History”, bearing witness to a prestigious past where the passing of different eras and styles has left a rich and precious heritage, for a visit of the town and a regional cellar followed by a wine tasting. Transfer to your hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: TOURS – ORLEANS – PARIS
Breakfast. Departure to ORLEANS, the capital of the Centre region, for a visit of the town: the Cathedral, the old streets and Classical façades… Free time. In the afternoon, transfer to your hotel in PARIS.
End of our services.
INCLUDED:
- Transport in a luxury long-distance coach
- 3/4* hotel accommodation in a double or twin room (7 nights)
- Half board from dinner day 1 to breakfast day 8
- Lunch with drinks on day 6
- Hotel porterage if available (1 bag per person)
- Tours and visits mentioned in the program
- Presence of an English speaking guide during the trip
NOT INCLUDED:
- Single room supplement
- B&B supplement in Paris
- Transfer airport / hotel supplement in Paris
- Cancellation and assistance insurances
- Lunches, drinks (except on day 6) and all other services not mentioned in the program
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