This most creatively choreographed of France and Normandy tours offers you the joys of traveling through Brittany and the lovely Loire Valley, capped off with three nights in Paris. See first-hand the famous Normandy beaches that played a pivotal role in the D-day invasion; visit magnificent Mont-St-Michel; dine at a private Loire Valley estate, where you'll enjoy a hunting hound demonstration; have lunch atop Montparnasse Tower and tour Musée d'Orsay in Paris as you explore the historic and artistic heritage of France with Tauck.

2008 Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to France
Tour departs: 9:00 am from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. Enjoy visiting Château Chantilly, just a short ride away from the airport, noted for its fine collection of paintings. Meet your traveling companions for this most intriguing of Normandy tours at a welcome reception and dinner this evening.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Lodging: Dolce Chantilly, Chantilly, France

Day 2 – Historic Rouen, Honfleur and Deauville
The French Gothic Cathedral at Rouen is a highlight of this historic town. Also see the Church of Ste. Joan of Arc, where she was sentenced to die at the stake. Visit pretty Honfleur en route to the seaside resort town of Deauville, and arrive at your accommodation for the next two nights, a spectacular 5-star Anglo-Norman country mansion that is the epitome of Belle Époque.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Normandy Barrière Deauville, France

Day 3 – The Normandy Beaches / Bayeux
A poignant Normandy tour moment is your visit to the beaches on which Allied forces landed on June 6, 1944 to begin the liberation of Europe and the long march to Berlin; visit Le Mémorial de Caen. At Bayeux, view the ancient Bayeaux Tapestry depicting the saga of William the Conqueror. You'll also visit Pointe du Hoc (the 100-ft. cliff taken by the 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day), Omaha Beach, and the American Military Cemetery.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Normandy Barrière Deauville, France

Day 4 – Magnificent Mont-St-Michel / Medieval St-Malo
Travel through the Normandy countryside to Villedieu-les-Poêles, a small medieval village that became a center for crafts ranging from copperware to lacemaking. Considered to be one of the Western civilization’s premiere achievements, the impressive Abbey of Mont-St-Michel was once totally unreachable at high tide. Discover the range of architectural styles it embodies – with lots of walking up and down hills – and continue on your Normandy tour to the medieval city of St-Malo.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes, St-Malo, France

Day 5 – Rance Estuary / Delightful Dinan
Tauck's most delightful of France and Normandy tours visits the scenic Rance Estuary, and continues through the countryside to the well-preserved medieval town of Dinan, one of Brittany’s jewels. Stroll the streets of this walled city sitting high above the harbor before returning to St-Malo for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes, St-Malo, France

Day 6 – Josselin / Port du Crouesty
Visit the ancient town of Josselin and take a tour of its castle, Château Josselin, which is the residence of the aristocratic Rohan family. Continue on the Port du Crouesty to enjoy a stay in the elegantly furnished and quite unusual Miramar Crouesty.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Miramar Crouesty, Port du Crouesty, France

Day 7 – Charming Vannes / Gauguin’s Pont-Aven
More of Brittany’s medieval history reveals itself as you view the Cathedral and meander along the Promenade de la Garenne in Vannes. The artist Paul Gauguin was so taken by the beauty of Pont-Aven that he made his home here. The School of Pont-Aven, of which Gauguin was a part, had a major influence on French Impressionism. Your return to Port du Crouesty via ferry includes a view of the mysterious antiquities of Carnac.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Miramar Crouesty, Port du Crouesty, France

Day 8 – Angers / The Loire Valley
In the midst of the wine-growing area of Anjou lies the 13th-century Château D'Angers, home to the famous Apocalypse Tapestry. After a visit to this medieval fortress, journey onward into the château country of the lovely Loire Valley. Spend the next two nights at Château de Rochecotte, once the private estate of diplomat Prince Tallyrand and the Duchess of Dino.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Château de Rochecotte, Langeais, France

Day 9 – Château Villandry / Château de Langeais
Experience the charm of the Loire Valley on visits to two stately châteaux. Château Villandry is reputed to have the most spectacular gardens in all of France, and Château de Langeais is well known for its impressive collection of 15th- and 16th-century tapestries. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a private country estate, where you'll experience a hunting hound demonstration in full regalia.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Château de Rochecotte, Langeais, France

Day 10 – High-Speed Train to Paris / Musée d'Orsay
In just over an hour, the TVG train transports you to the heart of exciting Paris. Following lunch overlooking Paris from the top of Montparnasse Tower, immerse yourself in the soft beauty of the works of the Impressionists during a guided visit to the famous Musée d'Orsay. Your home for the next three nights is Paris' first Art Deco hotel, set in Saint-Germain des Prés on the city’s stylish Left Bank.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Hôtel Lutetia Paris, France

Day 11 – Paris as you please
Check out such famous Parisian landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the glamorous Champs-Élysées on a city tour this morning, then set off to discover more of this amazing city on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hôtel Lutetia Paris, France

Day 12 – Monet’s Giverny or more of Paris at your leisure
Today presents a choice of a day at leisure in Paris, or an excursion to Giverny to visit the home and gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet, and see a special exhibition of his works at the Musée d'Art Américain. Exchange memories with your new friends this evening as you glide along the River Seine during our private farewell dinner cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hôtel Lutetia Paris, France

Day 13 – Journey Home
As this most pleasant of Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy tours ends, we wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Tour ends: 8:30 am at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. Those traveling on flights at other times should make their own arrangements for transportation to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

This most intriguing of Brittany, Paris and Normandy tours sells out quickly. To avoid disappointment, make your reservations right away.

Departure Dates

Apr 27
May 4, 11, 16, 25
Jun 1, 15, 20, 22
Jul 6, 20
Aug 3, 31
Sep 7, 14, 19, 28
Oct 5

Prices

13 Days from $4,990

24 meals included.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.

Note – Dining experiences throughout France are renowned for their culinary delights, but also tend to be very lengthy. In order to best balance your valuable time, some à la carte menus on this tour have been slightly modified while still offering fine regional selections.

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.