It wouldn’t be France, of course, if it did not offer wonderful regional cuisine and fine wines!

This is La Belle France, a tour for the both the first time visitor, and, because in Back-Roads Touring Co. tradition we discover so much more, it’s also a tour for those who’ve already fallen in love with France and wish to continue their romance with her.

Tour Code

Arrive Paris

Depart Paris

FRA

Sunday

Saturday

Prices: GBP £1795 twin share / GBP £305 single supplement

Click here to work out prices in other currencies http://www.xe.com/ucc
For what is included/excluded in your tour price, see Tour Inclusions /
Contact res@backroadstouring.co.uk, fax 00 44 20 8566 5457

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

 DAY ONE - SUNDAY

Arrive Paris. At the airport you’ll be met by your Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd representative and taken to our Parisian hotel. You have a free-day to explore the city at your leisure, or to simply relax before meeting other tour participants tonight for a welcome dinner.

We depart Paris following the course of the Seine. Our first major stop of the day is pretty garden at Giverney, home of the impressionist painter, Monet. Each month a different colour dominates but the famous water lily pond is always instantly recognisable.

A short distance away is Richard III’s dramatic Chateau Gaillard (built in 1196!), perched high above Les Andleys.

From here we meander to the city of Rouen, a city that spends more on monuments than any other in France! Alas, while there will not be time to see every single one we’ll make sure we see the place du Vieux-Marche, and the site where Joan d’Arc was burned to death in 1431. And there’ll be time to explore other aspects of this city of Flaubert, such as one of the many museums, or the antique shops along the rue Eau-de-Robec. Literary fans (and those with a medical interest) may enjoy visiting the Musee Flaubert & de l’Histoire de la Medicine.

Tonight, we stay in the picturesque harbour of Honfleur, one of the best preserved old ports of Normandy. This romantic town has attracted so many of France’s artistic community over the years, not only painters but also musicians such as Eric Satie. You’ll understand the attraction when taking an after-dinner stroll around the old centre.

We begin the day with a splendid scenic drive along the ‘Normandy Corniche’ where there are views over the typical Normandy countryside and Seine Estuary. This area of the northern France coastline is famed for it’s luxury resorts, especially Deauville and its ‘sister’, Trouville. It is here that the French ‘social scene’ has been played out since their development from the early 19^th century. We’ll take a stoll along the elegant and famed boardwalk as well as viewing the yachting harbour and casino. This afternoon we’ll return to our pretty impressionist’s harbour of Honfleur for an afternoon of ‘organised independence’.

‘Lest we forget’. Today we concentrate on one of the greatest achievements of modern times – the liberation of France following the Normandy beach landings on D-Day. The names are familiar; Utah, Omaha, Sword, Juno and Gold. Arromanches, Pegasus Bridge and Caen. Almost every town has its war museum. And there are the sombre reminders of those who didn’t make it home. This is a day of awe tinged with an inevitable sadness. A day never forgotten.

We lighten the mood again today with a day of ‘organised independence’ in the mediaeval town of Bayeaux. As one guide book says, 'Bayeaux’s perfectly preserved ensemble of mediaeval cathedral and world-famous tapestry of the battle of 1066, make it one of the high points of this part of Normandy'.

In addition to the truly breathtaking tapestry and Cathedral Notre-Dame, you’ll also enjoy poking around the atmospheric streets and squares of the old town.. You can probably see yourself now at a sidewalk café, a glass of wine in hand, nibbling from a plate of local cheese with olives, just watching the local life go by and thinking to yourself, ‘how wonderful to have unrushed holiday time to simply soak up the culture’!

Departing Bayeaux we drive westward across the Normandy countryside to Brittany and the fortified towns of St Malo and Dinan. It was here that Jacques Cartier, one of the most important early Canadian colonists, lived. Although there is much to marvel at in these towns, it is the nearby Mont St-Michel which attracts the greatest number of admiring visitors. While not still the ‘Mount in Peril’ from the sea, this 10000 year old religious complex still appears to rise from the surrounding waters.

Later today we’ll explore, time permitting,  another Brittany town. Fougeres was made famous by the writer Balzac in his novel of the revolution ‘The Chouans’ in which he made much play of the town’s strange street layout.

The Bretons originate from the Welsh soldiers who followed a Roman general in his 5^th century battles for the Emperor’s laurels. Those who have travelled in Wales will recognise the similarities of place names. But legends too are similar and this morning we’ll be driving by the Foret de Paimpont which is rich in Arthurian tales and is also known as Merlin’s wood.

Our major stops of the day will be at Vannes and Carnac. The former has one of the liveliest mediaeval town centres and its chaotic streets, ramparts and cathedral all lend it special charm.

It will be the alignments at Carnac that will provide one of the lasting memories of the region. Here some 2000 menhirs (standing stones), older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids, stand like sentinels guarding the Brittany coast line. Of course, like all prehistoric monuments their origin can only be guessed at but astronomical clocks or temples to the gods of natural forces are the favoured explanations.

We leave Carnac, taking the freeway to our next base for three nights at Saumur in the eastern Loire Valley. Dependent on time, we might find an opportunity to vist Angers.

The pretty and peaceful town of Saumur makes an excellent base for our explorations of the eastern Loire. Our filled day will include a visit to the local wine caves, seeing the troglodyte hill dwellings, visiting the fine local chateaux and spending time in the wonderfully picturesque Chinon, the 16^th century birthplace of the great comic writer, Rablais.

The Loire Valley is justly famed for its incredibly rich chateaux. In truth, there are almost too many to choose from but, following group discussions, we’ll visit a cross section or spend quality time exploring just a few both today and on our return to the eastern Loire in three days time.

One we shall definitely be visiting today will be Villandry, justly famed for its magnificent gardens. And not far away is the chateau that reputedly inspired the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ story, Chateau d’Usee. Believe it or not, there’s even a local chateau with the largest collection of cadillacs outside of the USA!

We’ll also try to include the serene Azay-le-Rideau where the Renaissance exterior of the local chateau is a sight to behold.

Some tour participants might prefer to wander at leisure around mediaeval Tours and, as ever within the framework of a Back-Roads Touring Co. tour, there will be an opportunity of doing so.

A few kilometers south of Saumur we find the town built by the great Cardinal Richelieu. It was one of the first truly planned towns and makes an interesting contrast with some of the mediaeval towns and cities we’ve been used to.

And it’s another hill-top mediaeval city next on our itinerary; Poitiers. This was the seat of the Dukes of Aquitaine. The old centre of the town is a delight but a ‘must-see’ is the greatest and most idiosyncratic churches in France, the Notre-Dame-la-Grande. You could spend an entire day simply taking in the amazing carving and details of west front!

From Poitiers we follow a scenic route, through some delightful towns (Chauvigny and St Savin) to the small town of Argenton-sur- Creuse. This is real back-roads territory and a delight to the eye.

Argenton is perhaps the ideal centre for those who enjoy a quiet day somewhere on tour, a day when they can get into the culture in a place far away from the tourist ‘herd’. This quaint town is noted for its weaving and there’s an interesting town museum, but mainly it’s a place to enjoy the French ‘everyday’ and ordinary, and to savour provincial life. Our accommodation here is outstanding and many past tour participants have enjoyed spending some ‘down time’ here.

But for those who touring has an appeal we’ll spend the day exploring the Creuse valley. We’ll follow the artist’s route to Gargilesse, a small town known locally as the ‘artist’s village’. The area was also home to legendary French writer, George Sands and we will explore her connections with the area.

This morning we’ll drive north back to the Loire. It’s another day of amazing and ostentatious 17^th and 18^th century wealth on display. There’s Chateau d’Chenonceau, arguably the very best in terms of architecture, site and contents. The richness of its interiors is hard to credit and perhaps partly explains why the peasants were so quick to revolt and so happy to keep Madame La Guillotine busy!

Further east there’s Blois, a montage of classical, gothic renaissance and mediaeval architecture, and Chambord, the largest of the Loire chateaux.

After a day of ‘gawping’, and attempts to come to terms with past wealth, our night stop in the small and unpretentious riverside town of Beaugency, comes as a gentle relief!

Tonight we’ll enjoy a gourmet farewell dinner. Throughout this tour you will have been treated to some memorable dining with regional delicacies and superbly presented dishes. Maybe you’ll have tried frogs legs (like chicken) or escargot (snails), or even duck for the first time. Needless to say, you’ll also probably have treated yourself to a few fine wines and after-dinner cognacs!

This is not a tour for those on diet! And please note, in France dinner is part of life and each meal treated as an experience to be savoured. Evening meals will be later and last longer than you might be familiar with at home.

Our last day’s journey includes a fitting climax to our La Belle France tour, the most divine cathedral of Chartres. Is there one to compare anywhere in the world when it comes to its stained glass? There’s 25,000 square feet of it, depicting over 5000 characters and dating from the 13^th century.

Old Chartres lies at the point where the river Eure cuts into the plain of Beauce; its picturesque streets evoke the bustling activity of a mediaeval street of merchants and craftsmen. It’s lovely and a great place to do some final shopping!

We return to our Paris hotel in the late afternoon. Tonight you’re free to pack, swap addresses with travelling companions or maybe venture to the left bank for a final, unforgettable feast. Of course, some may elect to extend their stay and spend some time exploring the ‘city of light’ at their leisure.

Departure day, alas. You’ll be taken by your guide, or local taxi arranged by Back-Roads Touring Co. to the airport or train station to begin your journey home. La Belle France will have woven her magic and as you climb into the skies we’ll bet you make yourself a little promise – next time Provence, and with Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd, of course!