© 2007 Intimate France
12 November 2007
Enjoy some of France's best cuisine - Book it!
Personally escorted by Intimate France founder George Nevin
12 days - May 11-23, 2008
Tour begins and ends in Bordeaux
$3,695 per person, double occupancy - Singles, add $450
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Detailed Itinerary Day 1 (Sunday, May 11) From our meeting spot, the lobby of the Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Mérignac, it's a one-hour drive to the Médoc wine region of Bordeaux, world famous for its reds. We visit a wine information center in Pauillac, followed by LUNCH at a riverside restaurant. At 2 p.m. we arrive at the venerable and highly respected Château Lynche-Bages, for a tour. Later in the afternoon we make our way to lovely St. Emilion, a hill village occupying a privileged site. After checking into our hotel, we take a get-acquainted stroll around town. OVERNIGHT – ST. EMILION Day 2 (Monday, May 12) This morning, after an orientation to the historical land of the Dordogne and to our tour, we visit the Monolithic Church – Europe's largest church carved out of living rock. A treat is in store in the afternoon – a tour of the Pottery Museum with an introduction to the land of Aquitaine and its fabled duchess, Eleanor. You'll find the talk by museum owner Alain Querre fascinating. We have DINNER in our hotel's highly regarded restaurant. OVERNIGHT – ST. EMILION Day 3 (Tuesday, May 13) Leaving St. Emilion, we head to lovely Brantôme. We check into our riverside hotel, then stroll the lively streets, where we'll visit an abbey founded by the emperor Charlemagne in 769. In the evening, choose from among Brantôme's fine restaurants for dinner. OVERNIGHT – BRANTOME Day 4 (Wednesday, May 14) In the morning, we tour the magnificent Château of Hautefort, perched on a lofty ridge and surrounded by beautiful gardens. The castle is so perfectly Renaissance that it served as the setting of the film Ever After, with Drew Barrymore. Around noon we arrive in lively Périgueux, the chief town for the region. There will be time for lunch as well as strolling in the old town and window shopping. Later still, we enjoy free time in Brantôme before DINNER in our hotel's highly rated restaurant. OVERNIGHT – BRANTOME Day 5 (Thursday, May 15) One of our best meals takes place today. At mid-day we travel to nearby Champagnac for LUNCH at the Moulin du Roc, a converted walnut oil mill that is today a proud holder of a Michelin star. It is a fabulous meal in a gorgeous setting – a gracious, riverside garden – that you will long remember. Later still, we stroll around the pretty village of St. Jean-de-Côle, officially classed as one of the most beautiful villages of France. OVERNIGHT – BRANTOME Day 6 (Friday, May 16) It's time to leave Brantôme. In late morning we arrive at Collonges-la-Rouge, an exceptionally beautiful village built of red stone. After sightseeing and lunch, we head south into the heart of Périgord, to one of the few remaining walnut oil mills in the Dordogne. At day's end we come to pretty Sarlat-la-Canéda, a magical town of authentic Renaissance architecture. In the evening, we have DINNER in the old town, illuminated by gaslight. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 7 (Saturday, May 17) Sarlat-la-Canéda has what many consider France's most renowned outdoor market. Along with the imposing church and the ancient town, the market is well worth a a half-day's exploration. We shop in the market for a PICNIC LUNCH, then head for the magnificent gardens of Marqueyssac, where we picnic before touring the grounds. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 8 (Sunday, May 18) The wild country to the east is on our agenda as we make a day trip to the area's most revered pilgrimage site – medieval Rocamadour. Here we visit the astounding village, clinging to the face of its cliff, as well as the site of several chapels and the cool stone steps that link them all to the château above. In the afternoon we descend to the Dordogne River, to the pretty village of Carennac. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 9 (Monday, May 19) This morning we learn why this part of France has been called the World Capital of Prehistory. Our first visit is to the pretty village of Les Eyzies and its newly remodeled National Museum of Prehistory, which chronicles 500,000 years of human habitation in these valleys. In the afternoon, following a quick visit to the old drystone huts (sometimes called bories) at Breuil, we descend to the Dordogne River and the remarkable village of La Roque Gageac. Here, we board a boat, a replica of the old river craft called garbares, for a cruise. Returning to Sarlat, we have DINNER. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 10 (Tuesday, May 20) This morning we pass through beautiful and unspoiled back country, then cross the Dordogne River to the Château of Les Milandes, once owned by American singer-dancer Josephine Baker. After a visit, we climb to the perched village of Domme, where we have an exceptional LUNCH at the Hôtel-Restaurant Esplanade, which enjoys a view over miles of Dordogne River countryside. Following free time in Domme, we return to Sarlat via the charming village of Montfort and its impresive, medieval château, today owned by a Persian Gulf oil billionnaire. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 11 (Wednesday, May 21) We get our chance today to see prehistoric cave art – the real thing, at the Grotte de Font de Gaume in the morning, and the uncanny replica of the cave at Lascaux in the afternoon. Font de Gaume is one of the last in France still open to the public in which multi-colored prehistoric paintings are found. Also on today's itinerary is a visit to the prehistoric, cliffside shelter of La Roque St. Christophe, and perhaps a stroll around two pretty villages: St. Léon-sur-Vézère, which boasts two châteaux and an uncommonly beautiful church, and St. Amand-de-Coly. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 12 (Thursday, May 22) Leaving the Dordogne, we head east, back toward Bordeaux. Along the way we stop at the bastide (new town) of Monpazier, founded in the 1200s. After LUNCH, we visit one of the top sights of the Dordogne – the Château of Monbazillac, a castle and winery. Finally, at day's end, we arrive at Bordeaux airport and check into the comfortable, convenient Novotel. OVERNIGHT – BORDEAUX AIRPORT Getaway day (Friday, May 23) It's time to say au revoir with transport to the Bordeaux airport for your flight home. |
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