© 2009 Intimate France
18 November 2009
(Tour price is for land arrangements - airfare is not included)
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Detailed Itinerary (or download a PDF copy here) Day 1 (Sunday, September 26) From our meeting point, the lobby of the Hotel Novotel Bordeaux Aeroport, 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 2 p.m. we arrive at the venerable and highly respected winery of Château Lynch-Bages for a tour. Later in the afternoon we make our way to lovely St. Emilion, a hill village occupying a privileged position. After checking into our hotel, we take a get-acquainted stroll around town, and enjoy DINNER. OVERNIGHT – ST. EMILION Day 2 (Monday, September 27) This morning, after an orientation to the historical land of Dordogne and to our tour, we visit St. Emilion's 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, September 28) Leaving St. Emilion, we head to lovely Brantôme. We check into our riverside hotel, then stroll the lively streets before taking a cruise on the placid Drônne River. Later we drive to nearby Bourdeilles and visit this charming riverside village. OVERNIGHT – BRANTOME Day 4 (Wednesday, September 29) In the morning, we visit lively Périgueux, the chief town for the region. There will be time for lunch as well as strolling in the old town, window shopping and visiting the curious, domed cathedral. In the afternoon 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. Back in Brantôme, we enjoy free time before DINNER in our hotel's highly rated restaurant. OVERNIGHT – BRANTOME Day 5 (Thursday, September 30) One of our best meals takes place today. At mid-day, after a visit to Brantôme's abbey, founded by Charlemagne in 769, we travel to nearby Champagnac for one of our best meals – LUNCH at the Moulin du Roc, a converted walnut oil mill that proudly holds 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, October 1) 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. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 7 (Saturday, October 2) 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 gourmet picnic LUNCH, then head for the magnificent gardens of Marqueyssac, where we picnic before touring the grounds. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 8 (Sunday, October 3) 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 pilgrimage churches. In the afternoon we descend to the Dordogne River and the pretty village of Carennac. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 9 (Monday, October 4) 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, we visit two sites inhabited in prehistoric and medieval times – the remarkable cliff of Roque St. Christophe, and the Château de Reignac, built into niches in the cliff. Returning to Sarlat, we have DINNER. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 10 (Tuesday, October 5) 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, which enjoys a view over miles of Dordogne River countryside. Following free time in Domme, we descend to the Dordogne and the remarkable village of La Roque Gageac. Here, we board a boat, a replica of the old river craft called a garbare, for a cruise. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 11 (Wednesday, October 6) 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. Today we enjoy LUNCH in les Eyzies. OVERNIGHT – SARLAT Day 12 (Thursday, October 7) 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, October 8) It's time to say au revoir to France as you take the hotel shuttle to the nearby Bordeaux airport for your flight home. Notes MEALS – Tour includes breakfast every day, as well as eight other meals (lunches and dinners), as indicated in BOLD CAPS on the itinerary.
OUR HOTELS Palais Cardinal, St. Emilion Hôtel Chabrol, Brantôme Hôtel de la Madeleine, Sarlat Hôtel Novotel Bordeaux Aeroport HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS – Subject to change according to availability. * TOUR PRICING – Price of $3,795 is an estimate only as fluctuations in foreign currency rates may make a surcharge necessary. Call us for details- (800) 676-1247. Price quoted is for land arrangements - airfare is not included. ITINERARY – Details of this preliminary itinerary could change. A final itinerary will be issued closer to trip departure. SIGHTSEEING – All sightseeing listed in itinerary is included as part of the tour. |
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