Normandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley, 13 Days Paris Return with Tauck

Day 1

Arrive Paris and on to Versailles

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Trianon Palace Versailles. A transfer is included from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, less than a mile from Château de Versailles; explore it on an included independent visit today. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Trianon Palace Versailles – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Day 2

Ancient Chartres & an evening at a château

Travel from Versailles to Chartres. Watch a demonstration of the time-honored art of creating stained glass at the International Stained-Glass Centre, then see some of the world’s greatest examples of the art – more than 27,000 square feet of it, created by artisans of the 12th and 13th centuries – inside Chartres’ Gothic cathedral, among the most impressive in all of Europe. After touring the town of Chartres, continue on to Langeais in châteaux country, where you’ll spend the next two nights at Château de Rochecotte, once the private estate of diplomat Prince Tallyrand and the Duchess of Dino. Tonight, enjoy an immersive Loire Valley experience at Château de Champchevrier, a private country estate, where you’ll meet the Baron and his family, enjoy a reception and dinner, and witness a hunting hound demonstration in full regalia.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Château de Rochecotte

Day 3

The Loire Valley’s châteaux country

For centuries, royalty and nobility built their magnificent châteaux in the Loire Valley, which also attracted poets, novelists and artists to find their inspiration in the lush forests and rich farmland of the “Garden of France.” First, enjoy a glimpse of the princely life on a guided visit to Château de Langeais, overlooking the Loire River; King Charles VIII of France was married here in 1491. Next up is a private visit to the vineyards of Le Moulin Bleu in Bourgueil for lunch and a wine tasting. Later, visit Château Villandry – reputed to have the most spectacular formal gardens in all of France – prior to returning to your Langeais château hotel for dinner and an evening spent as you please.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Château de Rochecotte

Day 4

Medieval Angers & seaside Port du Crouesty

In the midst of the wine-growing area of the Loire Valley lies the 13th-century Château d’Angers, home to the famous Apocalypse Tapestry, the longest medieval tapestry in the world. After a visit to this 17-towered fortress to view its celebrated depiction of scenes from the Book of Revelations – of which about 329 feet of its original 459-foot length survive – continue on to Port du Crouesty to enjoy a two-night stay in the elegantly furnished and quite unusual waterfront spa resort, Miramar La Cigale – Hôtel Thalasso & Spa.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Miramar La Cigale – Hôtel Thalasso & Spa

Day 5

The Golfe du Morbihan & Rochefort-en-Terre

As Tauck’s most delightful of France and Normandy tours continues, start the day with a walking tour of Le Petit Mont, a Neolithic-era tomb that German forces used as a bunker during WWII. Take a sightseeing cruise among the islands of the scenic Golfe du Morbihan, followed by an excursion to Rochefort-en-Terre. This lovely 19th-century stone village has earned a reputation as one of France’s top floral towns thanks to a century-long tradition, begun by French-American painter Alfred Klots, of blanketing the town with pink and red geraniums each spring.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Miramar La Cigale – Hôtel Thalasso & Spa

Day 6

From Vannes to Josselin and on to St-Malo

Brittany’s medieval history reveals itself as you take a walking tour, view the Cathedral and meander along the Promenade de la Garenne in Vannes. Visit the ancient town of Josselin and explore its castle, Château Josselin, one of the oldest châteaux in western France and the residence of the aristocratic Rohan family. Your guided tour reveals the castle’s turbulent history and includes a collection of rare dolls in its Doll Museum. Wind your way through idyllic Breton villages to St-Malo, where you’ll spend the next two nights on the English Channel coast.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes

Day 7

Mont-St-Michel & medieval St-Malo

Considered to be one of Western civilization’s premiere achievements, the impressive Abbey of Mont-St-Michel was once totally unreachable at high tide. Check out the range of architectural styles it embodies – with lots of walking up and down hills – on this morning’s visit. Once the infamous base for French corsairs, the medieval port town of St-Malo, set dramatically overlooking the sea, offers much to discover on a guided walking tour of its atmospheric walled center, La Ville Intra-Muros, with your Tauck Director. Or you may spend the rest of the day exploring as you wish or indulging in the hotel’s spa.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes

Day 8

Bayeux’s Tapestry, Caen & Deauville’s beaches

Set out from St-Malo across the countryside on this most satisfying of Normandy tours to the coast, and view the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Your scenic drive along the Yellow Roads includes a stop and lunch at Le Mémorial de Caen, commemorating the sacrifices of World War II and the battle for Caen, and featuring a Peace Museum and memorial gardens. Arrive in the seaside resort of Deauville and your accommodation for the next two nights, the epitome of Belle Époque elegance. Dine à la carte at your hotel tonight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Le Normandy Barriere Deauville

Day 9

The beaches of D-Day in Normandy

A poignant moment on your journey is a visit to the beaches on which Allied forces landed on June 6, 1944 – known forever after as “D-Day” – to begin the World War II liberation of Europe and the long march to Berlin. Your memorable visit includes an introduction to the momentous events of D-Day by Tauck’s local expert; a look at a private World War II memorabilia collection and a hands-on exhibit; and guided visits to Pointe du Hoc, the 100-ft. cliff taken by the 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day… the now-quiet Omaha Beach, where American assault units took heavy casualties in establishing a beachhead… and the poignant American Military Cemetery, final resting place of thousands of U.S. troops. Your explorations at these sites connected to “the longest day” make for a day you’ll never forget.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Le Normandy Barriere Deauville

Day 10

Medieval Rouen, Monet’s Giverny & on to Paris

Depart Deauville and travel to Rouen for a tour of this ancient city with a local guide, including a stop at the Church of Ste. Joan of Arc – a modern structure dedicated to the French heroine and saint who was burned at the stake here in 1431. Continue along the River Seine to Giverny to tour the celebrated home and oft-painted gardens of Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Your final destination today is legendary Paris. Small group departures (see dates and prices under “Pricing & Availability” above) will stay at the legendary palace hotel Le Meurice; all other departures stay at Sofitel Paris le Faubourg.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Sofitel Paris le Faubourg or Le Meurice

Day 11

Sights & sounds of remarkable Paris

Check out such famous Parisian landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the glamorous Champs-Élysées and the iconic Cathedral of Notre Dame on a morning city sightseeing tour. Then the “City of Lights” is yours to explore as you please for the remainder of the day and evening; if you wish, you may join us for an optional walking tour in the afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sofitel Paris le Faubourg or Le Meurice

Day 12

Musée d’Orsay & farewell dinner cruise in Paris

Immerse yourself in the soft beauty of the works of the Impressionists during a locally guided visit to the famous (and newly renovated) Musée d’Orsay, whose great collection of 19th-century French Im­pres­sion­ist paintings, sculptures and art objects is displayed in the restored Gare d’Orsay, a former railway station built for the Paris Exhibition of 1900 (subject to closure). Exchange memories with your new friends this evening at our private farewell dinner and cruise on the River Seine, bidding Paris adieu as your most fascinating of France and Normandy tours draws to a close.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Sofitel Paris le Faubourg or Le Meurice

Day 13

Journey home

Tour ends: Paris. A transfer is included from Le Meurice and Sofitel Paris le Fauborg to Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports or Paris’ Gare de Lyon, Charles de Gaulle-Station or Gare du Nord train stations. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals Included: Breakfast