We doubt whether there’s a more interesting and varied tour of France available, and for wine lovers it can't be surpassed!

Our small group of just eleven explore at leisure three distinct provinces of the country - Burgundy, Alsace Lorraine and Champagne, seeing both the major icons and getting behind the tourist façade to see a La Belle France the coach tourists never can.

We tour magnificent, ancient cities such as Dijon, Strasbourg, Colmar, Nancy and Reims. We enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Vosges, the Ardennes, the mountainous Swiss-French border, and Côte d’Or. We’ve time in small villages and towns, sampling local foods and seeing daily life as it is. We’ve palaces and cathedral, museums and art galleries, shopping and eating. And, as we are touring through three of the greatest wine growing area, there’ll be visits to vineyards and wine tasting.

It’s a perfect tour for either the first time visitor or the committed ‘Francophile’, and can be combined with our six-day tour of the Loire to make it an unbeatable holiday.

Tour Code

Arrive Paris

Depart Paris

ABC

Saturday

Friday

Price:   GBP £1745 pp twin share / Single Supplement GBP £225

Click here to work out prices in other currencies http://www.xe.com/ucc/

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

DAY ONE - SATURDAY

We depart Paris at 08.30 for an excellently varied first day’s touring commencing with a city with royal roots stretching back in the 12^th century, Fontainebleau. It was here, from the famous horseshoe staircase of the magnificent palace, that Napoleon bade his men farewell following his abdication in 1918. The palace can only be described as magnificent.

Our next stop will be Sens, noted as the site of France’s first gothic cathedral (12^th Century). There's also a fine covered market here where we'll get our first insight onto the wonders of French food!

Our final destination is the ancient and atmospheric town of Beaune. En route, we’ll be driving through some glorious countryside.

DAY THREE- MONDAY

Naturally, a visit anywhere in France will offer the opportunity of visiting vineyards, but on this tour we have three very special regions; our first is here, in Burgundy.

The first vine was planted here in Roman times and the produce of ‘La Cote’ has been revered virtually ever since. We’ll be visiting one of the vineyards as we tour. We’ll also visit the Burgundy Wine Museum when in Beaune.

Our exploration of Beaune will take the form of ‘organised independence’ . This is a concept unique to a Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd tour. On the evening prior to our visit you’ll have been well briefed by your guide-companion about the town. You’ll have been advised of the main sites, supplied with maps and had questions answered. You’re then free to explore the delights of the city at your own pace, choosing the attractions that hold the most interest for you. Of course, if you’re raveling alone you need not fear being neglected, as your guide-companion will also be offering a walking tour for those who would prefer his/her companionship.

Beaune offers a wealth of delights including the Hôtel-Dieu, a marvel of Burgundian-Flemish art. There are also the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and a museum sure to delight any of the many physicians who travel with Back-Roads Touring Co., that of the great experimental doctor and physiologist, Etienne-Jules Marey.

Others will enjoy shopping in the old town or walking the 15^th century town ramparts.

Michelin give Dijon a three star rating, and it certainly deserves every one of them. We’re going to spend a full day here to get inside this ancient university city, and seat of the Dukes of Burgundy.

Highlights will include strolling pedestrian streets of the old town, such as the Rue des Forges, and exploring the rich remains of the Palais de Ducs (the Salle des Gardes in the Musée des Beaux–Arts cannot be missed). There’ll be an opportunity to visit the archeological museum (including fantastic local finds from Neolithic and Gallo-Roman periods), the botanic gardens, the cathedral and numerous smaller chapels. Or perhaps a visit to the mustard museum!?!

Dijon is a gourmet’s and shopper’s delight! We’ll find the Auger shops for local products such as mustards, sweets, blackcurrant liqueurs and spicy ginger cake.

Tonight dinner is not included to allow for some individual choice in dining. There are several Michelin two and three star restaurants in Dijon. Should anyone wish to sample the extremely expensive delights of one of these, please advise us well in advance and we’ll be delighted to make appropriate arrangements.

We drive east, passing the ancient city of Bresancon and into the mountains where we’ll follow the Vallée du Doubs. To say that this is a remarkably pretty drive is a gross understatement. Indeed, the Gorges du Doubes between the towns of Morteau and Monteliard, is breath-taking.

The Alsace is, of course, another area famed for its wines. No doubt we’ll find time over the next few days to sample a glass or two!

The touring we're doing may afford us the opportunity of stopping at a scenic location in the mountains where we can enjoy a picnic of local produce, and simply enjoy nature in her magnificence.

It should be evident from the description of this tour that those with a mobility problem will not find this a suitable holiday. If you have any doubts as to your fitness for this tour, or any other Back-Roads Touring Co. LTD tour, please do consult with us first.

Colmar is a town not quickly forgotten. It is so quaint that you almost feel you're in a film set.

Gift shopping here is good so you'll enjoy your day of 'organised independence'. And for those with a taste for beer and wine, the cafes and bars here afford ample opportunity of sampling some of the local brews in the company of friendly locals.

Dinner is taken independently this evening and not included in your tour price.

We visit on a Saturday to take advantage of it being market day (there’re both traditional and flea market to explore and both are great for interesting souvenirs and presents), and to give you an opportunity of joining a special themed walking tour. Visit www.strasbourg.com for more information.

Our return from Strasbourg takes us through Obernai where we’ll stop for dinner.

Another scenic day as we discover the Route des Cretes. This was a strategic road built during the First World War to ensure communications on the Vosges front line. We’ll obtain an amazing panorama of the area at Hohneck, from the Vosges to the German Black Forest, and later see the Vieil-Armand battlefield monument.

This afternoon we enjoy a two-hour drive west, through the hills and woods of the Vosges Forests to Nancy. Our description hardly does justice to the day's wonderful sightseeing. We’ll arrive in time for your guide-companion to offer a short orientation tour.

Nancy is the former capital of the Dukes of Lorraine. It’s quite different in character from the towns of the Alsace and owes its elegance to 18^th century town planning, though its roots go back to the 11^th century! Art Nouveau is also much in evidence in Nancy’s architecture.

There’s much to see and do here, especially for those with an interest in arts and craftsmanship. There’re the Ducal Palace, the superb glass and crystal collection in the Musée des Beaux-Arts (and paintings by Monet, Modigliani and Manet), the wonderful art gallery at Musée de L’École de Nancy and the old town with its ranges of buildings of architectural and historical interest.

For those whose prefer to sit and stare, what finer way than at a pavement café in the Place Stanislas. Go on, shut your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in the shade, glass of fine wine to hand, a plate of regional snacks before you, perhaps some street musician providing the entertainment while you watch life go by without a worry in the world!

We’ll take an opportunity of visiting another country today, Luxembourg. En route, we’ll visit Metz, a pretty and busy city on the river Moselle. This city was at the centre of 20th century Franco-German history and following the war of 1870 between France and Germany, the town took on a very Germanic character with the cathedral, post office and railway station all being re-built or re-fashioned in some form.

As this city was so important in France's defences against the Germans, it's not surprising that it's ringed by forts and we'll take the opportunity of visiting one of the ones that made up the famed Maginot Line.

If we have time, then maybe an opportunity to follow the river north to the independent country of Luxembourg.

Our time here will include a visit to the Citadelle Souterraine where there’s an imaginative tour that takes us on a recreation of life in the trenches.  We’ll also visit the battlefield and associated museums and memorials.

It’s time to raise our glasses for today we explore the famed Champagne region.

Naturally, our day will include visits to well-known vineyards in the Marne valley, and to Champagne cellars (Moët et Chandon or Mercier) in Épernay itself, or perhaps the excellent wine museum.

Whichever, there's obviously a great choice of wines and champagnes to try!

Our final day sees us first in the ancient university town of Reims. It was here, at the magnificent cathedral, that French kings were traditionally crowned.

Architectural and cultural highlights here include the cathedral Notre-Dame (considered one of the finest in the world), the Basilica and Museum de St Remi and the Palais du Tau (the archbishops palace). We can also visit the fascinating Salle de Reddition, General Eisenhower’s HQ and where the act of German capitulation was signed. The actual room remains exactly as it was on May 7^th 1945.

© As we publish full tour descriptions, you may find others offering our unique itineraries.  But, just as you find when others sing the songs of Paul McCartney, they're often not quite as good as when sung by the original composer!