SMALL GROUPS 
Code: LE02FRFrom: 1990.- EUR
DAY 1:
LONDON - TOURS - SAUMUR
We pick you up at your selected hotel in London and drive you to the airport from where we take the morning flight to Tours. You meet your DG at the airport, board your maxi-van and start this expedition. We drive to our westernmost destination on the river Loire - Saumur. The town of mushrooms, wine and horses. We get a better look at the troglodytes which are dwellings and cellars in tufa limestone rock. Dinner and overnight in Saumur area.
DAY 2:
FONTEVRAUD - CHINON - LOIRE CHATEAU
Breakfast. Before we start enjoying the many castles along the river Loire and its tributaries, we visit the Abbey of Fontevraud, which is closely linked with Richard the Lionheart and his royal family. The castles of the day are Chinon where we make a stop to sample the local wine and Azay. Overnight in the Chateau on the banks of river Loire.
DAY 3:
AMBOISE - CHENONCEAUX - CHAUMONT
Breakfast. Full day of exploring the castles - some of them are better from the outside, some have to be seen from the inside. But before that, we stop in Amboise - the Clos Luce, where Leonardo spent his last days and where we visit his museum. The castle of Chenonceaux on the river Cher - or the Three Ladies Castle is our treat for the day. Overnight on Loire.
DAY 4:
CHAMBORD - BLOIS
Breakfast. Chambord is the biggest and most impressive castle on the Loire. The afternoon will be spent in Blois, with another intriguing castle, a royal residence in the time of Catherine Medici where political murders took place. Overnight on Loire.
DAY 5:
CHEVERNY - BOURGES
Breakfast. We visit Beauregard castle in the vineyard county of Sologne between Loire and Cher rivers. It has an outstanding gallery of fine historical portraits -Galerie des Illustres. In Bourges, we visit the beautiful gothic Cathedral and even more interesting the gothic house of Jacques Coeur. It is unusual that a non-ecclesiastical house from that period still survives. It does help when the owner is wealthier than the pope. Overnight in Bourges area.
DAY 6:
VEZELAY - ALESIA - DIJON
Breakfast. We continue our expedition and bid farewell to the river Loire. Vezelay was a famous stop along the pilgrim road to Santiago and the place where St. Bernard preached for the crusade. We visit the beautiful romanesque church on top of the hill. Alesia is a hill where Julius Ceaser finally defeated the Gauls. In Dijon, we take a panoramic tour of the Palace of the Dukes, the cathedral with its unusual façade and beautiful medieval streets. Overnight in Dijon.
DAY 7:
COTE D'OR
Breakfast. We explore the golden slopes between Beaune and Dijon which are the heart of the Burgundy wine making region. In Beaune we visit the Museum of Wine, the wine cellars and the beautiful Hospicies, with the best examples of colorful Burgundian roof tiles. Back in Dijon we must remember to buy some of the celebrated mustard. Overnight in Dijon.
DAY 8:
CHATILLON - TROYES
Breakfast. After some more time in Dijon which may be used for a visit to the Musem of Arts or the Cisterain Abbey of Fontenay, we take our expedition to the north. Soon we cross another important French river - the Seine. Our target of the day is the mysterious city of Troyes. Overnight in the Troyes.
DAY 9:
TROYES AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
Breakfast. Being the ancient capital of Champagne the city of Troyes was deeply connected with the Templars and St. Bernard. It is also one of the best preserved medieval cities and the "hero" of the wonderful book The Life in the Medieval City. We may take this book as the reference when we stroll around the old city center. We will try to learn more about the mysteries that abound here and in the nearby Foret d'Oriental. Overnight in Troyes.
DAY 10:
REIMS
Breakfast. This day takes us from the old to the new capital of the Champagne region. Reims is very well known for its wonderful cathedral which we examine in details. It is also one of the three cities of the Champagne Triangle. Overnight in Reims.
DAY 11:
EPERNAY - CHALONS
Breakfast. This is the tour of the famous Champagne. We shall visit the Moet and Chandon cellars in Eperney and learn the story of Dom Perignon and visit the equally important towns of Chalons and Epernay. Overnight in Reims.
DAY 12:
THE ARDENNES
Breakfast. Our most northern part of the expedition is the region of Ardennes. It is known as the place of many decisive battles between France and Germany and the last bastion before Paris. We visit Sedan and Rocroi which lies in the shadow of the masive fort. Dinner and overnight in the Ardennes area.
DAY 13:
ARDENNES - BEAUVAIS - LONDON
Breakfast. Drive to the airport from where we fly to London. End of our expedition.
