France is justifiably the world’s most popular tourist destination. On our tour, we see a broad variety of the top attractions in the north and centre of the country while getting off the beaten path to visit lesser-known villages and rural areas. We see art and learn about events that have been pivotal to the development of European and world culture. We sample some of France’s famous wines and her delicious regional cuisines. Each day of the tour we include breakfast and one major meal. Usually, we enjoy dinner together but on some days we take lunch together, allowing you to choose your own special restaurant for dinner.
Although this is not a war sites tour, we include visits to the 3 main Canadian sites from World War 1 and 2 – Vimy Ridge, Dieppe, and Juno Beach. On each of those days, we can suggest alternative sightseeing for those who do not wish to come to the war sites.

We meet at Charles De Gaulle Airport outside Paris this morning. Our pick up from CDG is usually timed to co-ordinate with the arrival of the direct Air France flight from Vancouver at 08.10am. However, the exact time of our transfer will be set once we know when the majority of the group are arriving at CDG.

We drive northwest of Paris to the tiny country village of Giverny, where impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and painted from 1883 until his death in 1926. Particularly impressive are his glorious flower-filled gardens.

We continue north into Normandy’s gorgeous rolling countryside to the English Channel coast at Dieppe, which has a long and interesting history – having been an important port linking William the Conqueror’s kingdom of England with his native Normandy Dukedom in the 11^th Century. There are also strong historical ties between Dieppe and Canada, as we will learn in depth tomorrow. You won’t find a French flag flying in Dieppe without a Canadian flag alongside it!

First of 2 nights in Dieppe. Hotel Mercure Dieppe La Presidence or similar. Dinner.

Today we are in Dieppe for the ceremonies commemorating the 81^st anniversary of Operation Jubilee, the disastrous 1942 Allied raid sent in to test the strength of the German “Atlantic Wall.” Of just over 6,000 men taking part, 4,963 of them were Canadian. After only a few hours of a direct frontal attack up the steep pebble beach, 3,369 Canadians were dead or captured. Although valuable lessons were learned for the D-Day landings 2 years later, General Montgomery (Monty) said “The price of this experience was truly excessive.” We visit the landing beach, the German defensive positions on the cliffs above, the Dieppe Raid Memorial museum and the Canadian War Cemetery. The monuments in the gardens of Square du Canada not only remember those who died in 1942 but the much earlier role of Dieppe in the founding and colonisation of New France (Quebec.) Dieppe was at the beginning of one of the branches of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrims’ route. We visit the Church of Saint Jacques, which houses a set of stained-glass windows commemorating the 1639 departure of 3 Augustinian Sisters to Quebec, where they founded the Hôtel-Dieu du Quebec—the first hospital in North America. We also see from the outside the impressive castle, which dominates the town and the beach from a high bluff. If you want to explore the museum inside the castle yourself, you will find an eclectic collection including Impressionist paintings of local scenes and one of Europe’s largest collections of carved ivory. For those who do not wish to come to the war sites, we can suggest alternative sightseeing today.

Second of 2 nights in Dieppe. Hotel Mercure Dieppe La Presidence or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Driving inland, we come to Rouen – the capital of the Upper Normandy region – situated on the River Seine 135 km downstream from Paris. At the Historial Jeanne d’Arc we walk through medieval corridors of the Archbishop’s Palace to watch and hear the dramatic retelling of Joan of Arc‘s visions, her victories over the English during the Hundred Years War and the trial that condemned her to be burnt at the stake here in 1431.

We tour incredible Notre Dame Cathedral – one of France’s finest churches – which dates back to the 4^th Century. A new spire built in the 19^th Century meant that the cathedral briefly qualified as the tallest building in the world. Monet painted over 30 canvases of the cathedral.

Rouen was home to the author, Gustave Flaubert, best known for his scandalous novel Madame Bovary.

From Rouen we head back to the coast to picturesque Honfleur, at the mouth of the River Seine. This lovely seaside town has a quaint old harbour and narrow, cobbled streets. Originally a small fishing village, Honfleur became a popular seaside resort as a result of the famous impressionists who visited and painted the skies, the sea and local landscapes. After free time for lunch we enjoy a guided walking tour to see the quaint 17^th Century Vieux Bassin harbour, Place St-Catherine, with its wood-shingled clock tower, and the 15^th-16^th Century Eglise Ste­ Catherine which, very unusually for France, is made entirely of wood. It was from Honfleur that Samuel de Champlain sailed for Canada in 1608 to found the city of Quebec and the colony of New France. We travel south to Caen, the capital of Lower Normandy.

First of 2 nights in Caen. Best Western Plus Hotel Moderne or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Today, those who wish to, can join us on our included tour of the area of the D-Day Beaches where, during the single day of June 6^th 1944, over 135,000 Allied troops landed on the 5 beaches code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword in the largest amphibious assault ever conducted. We focus on the Canadian sector, Juno Beach, where we visit the towns of Bernières and Courseulles, the Juno Beach Centre and the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. In Arromanches we see the remains of the gigantic artificial Mulberry Harbour which allowed up to 7,000 tons of weapons and supplies per day to be landed on these open, sandy shores. We also see defensive bunkers from Hitler’s much-vaunted “Atlantic Wall”, which the Allied troops assaulted 79 years ago. Inland we see Ardenne Abbey, with its memorial to Canadian POWs executed there by fanatical SS troops.

Those who do not wish to join us on our tour of the D-Day beaches and cemeteries can enjoy a free day in Caen, with its connections to William The Conqueror. William became Duke of Normandy in 1035 and built the commanding castle in 1060. Even today it is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. The castle affords wonderful 360-degree views over the town centre and houses the Museum of Fine Arts, whose collection includes works by Rubens, Tintoretto and Monet. Also within the Castle is the Museum of Normandy, which illustrates traditional life, history and archaeology in the region. William’s tomb is in Caen’s most important medieval site, the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, while his wife – Matilda – is buried in the Abbaye-aux-Dames.

Second of 2 nights in Caen. Best Western Plus Hotel Moderne or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Although the Allies successfully established their 5 beachheads by the end of the day on June 6^th 1944, it took them over a month to break out against dogged German resistance and capture Caen – just 17 Km away. Consequently, most of the towns between the coast and Caen were seriously damaged in the back-and-forth flighting. It is often said that “the people of Normandy paid the price for the liberation of France.” Over 20,000 Norman civilians were killed during June and early July 1944 – mainly by Allied bombing. However, the delightful town of Bayeux was spared. It is a short drive through lovely Norman countryside to Bayeux, where we visit the famous 11^th Century Bayeux Tapestry depicting William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. This unique 70-metre-long embroidery depicts 600 characters, 200 horses and 40 ships, along with hundreds of animals and mythological figures. No wonder it is inscribed on UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” register! We also see Notre Dame Cathedral, Bayeux’s magnificent Gothic cathedral begun in the 11^th Century, which has beautiful stained-glass windows and a fascinating Romanesque crypt with pillars decorated with angels.
This afternoon we tour Mont St-Michel, the famous, dramatic-yet-delicate abbey set atop a 92-metre-high rock 1 Km offshore and connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. The well-preserved Norman Benedictine abbey is surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town. The island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. According to legend, in 708 AD the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to Archbishop Aubert of Avranches and commanded him to build an abbey on the tiny island. From then until the 16^th Century a succession of Romanesque and Gothic buildings resulted in the grouping now standing so dramatically on this rock. In the Bayeux Tapestry Norman knights are shown being saved from the quicksands in the tidal flats around Mont St-Michel during a battle with the Duke of Brittany.

Driving west, we leave Normandy and enter its great rival, Brittany.

First of 2 nights in St. Malo. Ibis Styles St-Malo Port Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we take a guided walking tour around the magnificent walls of St-Malo and into the charmingly-restored interior of this fortified medieval town at the north end of the Brittany coast, with its unusual 4- and 5-storey buildings. We enjoy a lunch hosted by Royal Heights.
This afternoon we visit nearby Dinan (sister city of Quebec City), one of the largest medieval towns in Brittany. Surrounded by 700-year old ramparts, Dinan is celebrated as one of the most exquisite towns in Brittany. We walk down the steep streets to the River Rance and enjoy the fascinating medieval buildings which are straight out of the pages of a fairy-tale book. This evening is free for you to choose your own restaurant for dinner in an area famous for its seafood dishes such as Lobster Thermidor and Coquilles St. Jacques (at your own expense.)
Second of 2 nights in St. Malo. Ibis Styles St-Malo Port Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Lunch.

This morning we leave the north coast for central France and the town of Angers, the western gateway to the Loire Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Chateau d’Angers is very different from other chateaux along the Loire River. Its walls are of black slate – usually used for roofs – and its towers are topped with white tuffa – a stone usually used for walls! It was built in just 10 years during the 13^th Century to defend the Loire Valley against the English. We see the stunning Tenture de I’Apocalypse, the oldest tapestry in the world. Commissioned by Louis I, Duke of Anjou, and completed between 1375 and 1380, this 104-metre long wool-and-gold-thread masterpiece depicts scenes from The Book of Revelation. In the 1800’s it was cut up because it muffled the voices of the choir members but, in 1848 a very patient church member sewed it back together again! We can walk around the ramparts of the 2.5 metre-thick walls with their 17 massive round towers, which afford spectacular views over the town and the river.

At St-Hilaire-St-Florent we stop for a tour of the French National Riding School, where the France’s Olympic equestrian team trains – they last won gold in Rio in 2016. This area has been an equestrian centre since 1593.

First of 2 nights in Tours. Best Western Plus L’Artist Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Travelling east, we visit the Chateau de Chambord – the largest chateau in the Loire Valley.  Set in 5,500 acres with 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces, this was meant to be just a hunting lodge for Francois I who started work on it in 1519 and never stopped until he was completely broke.

Returning west, we stop briefly in the attractive town of Amboise with its lovely castle towering above. First built in the 15^th Century, the delightful church of St. Hubert within the chateau grounds is reputed to be the burial place of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the last 3 years of his life in Amboise. We enjoy a lunch hosted by Royal Heights.

This afternoon we visit the gorgeous Chateau de Chenonceau. Accessed by a long, tree-lined driveway leading to lovely formal gardens, this elegant building literally straddles the Cher River. Known as the prettiest chateau in the Loire region and the “Chateau of the Ladies” (as it was completely overseen by women), it has a series of sunlit galleries overlooking the water. The main body of the castle was built between 1513 and 1521 when Henry II’s mistress, Diane de Poitiers, added part of the chateau as a bridge over the river for easy access to her hunting grounds. The bridge galleries served as a field hospital during World War 1 and as an escape route for the French Resistance during World War 2.

We enjoy some free time in Chenonceaux village – reputed to be the prettiest in the Loire
Valley – before heading to the spectacular gardens of the Chateau Villandry. These are among the most magnificent examples of French formal gardens in the world. This evening is free for you to choose your own restaurant for dinner (at your own expense.)
Second of 2 nights in Tours. Best Western Plus L’Artist Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Lunch.

This morning we drive across the middle of France to the beautiful medieval town of Beaune, the historic wine capital of Burgundy – located only 100 Km from France’s eastern border with Switzerland. Beaune was the residence of the Dukes of Bourgogne until 1477, when the French king Louis XI annexed the town. Upon arrival we take a guided tour of the Hotel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune, built in 1443 to support the town’s inhabitants who had suffered during the Hundred Years War. This architectural jewel served as a hospital right up until 1971 and is now a museum and art gallery. We will see its colourful ceramic roof tiles laid out in an intricate geometric pattern, the medieval courtyard, the vast “room of the poor” and The Last Judgment painting. The Hotel-Dieu owns many famous vineyards, many of which enjoy Grand Cru and Premier Cru status, bequeathed to it by grateful patients over the years. Some of the cellars run deep beneath the Chateau de Beaune, a former royal fortress built in the 15th Century by King Louis XI, providing ideal aging conditions. The Swiss-born Chevrolet brothers, who moved to the US and created one of the world’s best-known car brands, were brought up in Beaune.

First of 2 nights in Beaune. Hotel Henry II or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we visit in the ancient capital of the region, Dijon, and its wonderful covered market. You have a chance to see the original shop of Maille, where Dijon mustard was created. The town is also known for Crème de Cassis, the blackcurrant liqueur. We enjoy the architectural splendor of the city’s historic centre, including the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. We enjoy a lunch hosted by Royal Heights.
Extending 60 Km south of Dijon are some of the most famous vineyards in the world – the Côte d’Or (the Golden Slope.) This afternoon we enjoy a wonderful drive through some of the Burgundy wine villages, starting in Gevrey-Chambertin and winding our way south along Le Route des Grands Crus through the vineyards and wine villages of Chambolle-Musigny and Clos de Vougeot. We return to Beaune through the villages of Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault, famous for superlative white wines. En-route, we visit one of the wine chateaux, Le Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, where we see the enormous 13^th-Century winepresses installed by Cistercian monks and sample some of their wines. This evening is free for you to choose your own restaurant for dinner in an area famous for classic dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon and Coq au vin (at your own expense.) The immediate area has 29 Michelin-starred establishments!  

Second of 2 nights in Beaune. Hotel Henry II or similar. Breakfast & Lunch.

This morning we drive into the Alsace region, which lies between the Vosges Mountains to the west and the Rhine Valley to the east – forming the border with Germany. This is an area of hillsides covered with vineyards, orchards and fairytale villages. Alsace also has some of the most beautiful cathedrals and churches in Western Europe. Over the course of its tumultuous history, the area has changed hands between Germany and France on several occasions – so Alsatians are extremely proud to be French today. You will see more French flags on the streets here than in any other area of inland France. Colmar is unquestionably Alsace’s most beautiful, lovingly-restored town – once the royal residence of Charlemagne. It is almost on France’s eastern border with Switzerland and Germany, so the German influences are strong here. This afternoon we take a guided tour of the magical Old Town with its picturesque cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses. During your free time this afternoon you may like to visit the Musée d’Unterlinden museum/art gallery with paintings by Monet, Picasso and Renoir and the late-Gothic Issenheim Altarpiece – considered to be one of the most profound works of faith ever sculpted.

First of 3 nights in Colmar. Mercure Colmar Centre Unterlinden Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner

Eguisheim is regarded by historians as the cradle of viticulture (the science, production and study of grapes) in Alsace. It has 3 ruined castles and 12^th-Century walls still surround this delightful little town of winding lanes and quaint half-timbered houses whose doorways frequently display a date and a coat of arms. The Route du Vin, the oldest “wine road” in France, rolls through 60 charming villages and is flanked by the Vosges foothills, with medieval towers and feudal ruins evoking faded pageantry. The vine-covered slopes sometimes reach a height of 435m (1,427 ft.) and an estimated 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) of vineyards line the road. Some 30,000 families earn their living tending the grapes.

We continue to Munster, where the special Munster farmhouse cheese is still made by hand, and then into the lovely Vosges Mountains, over the Col de la Schlucht pass (1,472m/4,828 ft) and along the spectacular Route des Cretes. The French High Command created this “Crest Road” during World War I to carry supplies over the mountains. Once the object of bitter fighting, today it offers us a series of panoramic vistas – including one of the Black Forest. Kaysersburg, another storybook village, was once a free city of the German Empire. From one of the many ornately-carved bridges you can see the city’s medieval fortifications along the top of one of the nearby hills. Many of the houses are Gothic and Renaissance, and most have half-timbering, wrought-iron accents, leaded windows, and multiple designs carved into reddish sandstone. Kayserburg was the 1875 birthplace of theologian Albert Schweitzer, who received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life.”

Second of 3 nights in Colmar. Mercure Colmar Centre Unterlinden Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we drive a little north on the “Wine Road” past vine-clad hills dotted with castle ruins to Ribeauvillé, which has two towers – now topped with storks’ nests – remaining from its ancient fortifications. The Wheat Market, a 16^th-Century Gothic building with two arches, leads to tiny Rue des Tanneurs with its old shop signs and lovely flower-decorated houses. In nearby Beaville the textile factory has been making high-quality linens since 1759, when Louis XV issued a decree which allowed the full development from a local craft to a prestigious royal industry. The workshop has been refining and perfecting its knowledge of fabric printing ever since! The factory has been allowed to display the label “Living Heritage Company” since 2009.

Today we enjoy  lunch together. This afternoon we explore Riquewihr, where entry into the old town is through a series of gates in the large clock and watch towers. Although it was close to the French Maginot Line and the German Siegfried Line, this small, genuine 15^th and 16^th Century village was spared any damage in WW1 and in WW2. As well as excellent restaurants, Riquewihr has good shopping for crystal. This evening is free for you to choose your own restaurant for dinner in Colmar (at your own expense.)

Third of 3 nights in Colmar. Mercure Colmar Centre Unterlinden Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Lunch.

Today we explore Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace and one of France’s most bustling cities. Our guided tour includes the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in the heart of the city – a unique example of a mix of Roman and Gothic architecture. The cathedral only has one tower and is built of pink Vosges gres stone, giving it the nickname the “pink angel of Strasbourg”. We also see the Palais Rohan, known as the “Versailles of Alsace”, and the most picturesque quarter of Strasbourg known as Le Petite France. We also see the Ponts Couverts (covered bridges) – 3 bridges and 4 towers at the dividing point of the River Ill which are vestiges of the city’s 14^th-Century fortifications. Overnight in Strasbourg. Novotel Strasbourg Centre Halles or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we drive into the Champagne region, where we explore the vineyards and charming villages which produce the most famous sparkling wines in the world. We visit the former Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers and its church, where celebrated monk Dom Pérignon “invented” sparkling wine around 1700. Later, his name was given to one of the most famous brands of champagne. We visit the “Capital of Champagne” at Épernay, where the main street is lined with opulent mansions and neoclassical villas, rebuilt after WWI and now housing illustrious maisons de champagne. We discover some of the most prestigious names, including Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet and Mercier, and learn about the 100 kilometres of tunnels beneath the street where the wine is matured. Champagne is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and MUST be produced in this region – anything else is just sparking wine! Of course, we also include a champagne tasting.

Overnight in Reims. Holiday Inn Reims Centre or similar.  Breakfast & Dinner.

This morning we explore Reims, including the magnificent Gothic “cathedral of angels.” Along with the cathedrals of Chartres and Amiens, the Notre-Dame de Reims is a member of the illustrious triad of “High Gothic” or “Classical” French cathedrals built in the 13^th Century. Built on the site of an earlier basilica where the first king of a united France, Clovis, was baptized by Saint Remi in AD 496, it became the tradition in 816 to crown the rulers of France here – a tradition that was carried on for over 1,000 years until the coronation of Charles X in 1825. Because Reims was close to the battlefront for the whole of the 4 years of WW1, some of its stained-glass windows had to be replaced. Today it has a variety of stained-glass windows dating from the 13^th to the 20^th Centuries, one paid for by the champagne producers’ association which, not surprisingly, shows the whole champagne production process in a ‘religious’ context! We also hear about how peasant-girl Joan of Arc brought Charles VII to Reims to be crowned. This long-awaited event boosted French morale and paved the way for the final French victory in the Hundred Years War against England. Joan was later canonized as a Roman Catholic saint. Both the cathedral and the Palace of Tau next to it are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We also visit the palace, a lavish former archbishop’s residence, redesigned in neoclassical style between 1671 and 1710. It was here that the French princes stayed before their coronations and where they threw sumptuous banquets afterwards.

After our guided visits, you have free time to explore the elegant historical city of Reims. You may like to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, the Basilica of St-Remi (also a UNESCO World Heritage site) or the Museum of the Surrender – the modest schoolhouse that served as General Eisenhower’s HQ and witnessed the first surrender of Nazi Germany on May 7, 1945.  This afternoon we drive to Arras which, although heavily shelled during various phases of the Battle of the Somme during WW1, has two of the finest Medieval squares in France.

Overnight in Arras. Hotel Mercure Arras Centre Gare or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.

Like many town centres in France, Arras is paved with cobblestones. The town’s two great squares were originally designed to accommodate large markets which, in different periods, contributed greatly to the prosperity of the city. In 1492 Arras became part of the Spanish Netherlands and this helps explain the style of the architecture – with 155 unique Flemish baroque facades. Arras was only retaken by the French in 1640 at the time of Louis XIII. We explore this delightful town with our guide this morning before learning about Arras’ critical role during WW1. For the first 2 years of the war, after the fighting had settled into static trench warfare, this part of the Western Front was manned by the French army. In late 1916, the British and their “Colonial” allies took over and prepared to mount a massive assault on the nearby German positions. After so many attacks had failed at a huge cost in human lives, the Allies spent the winter of 1916/17 meticulously planning a massive new assault. Secrecy was critical so, during the month of March 1917, New Zealand miners dug miles of tunnels connecting up old chalk mines under the streets of Arras. By early April these “Wellington Tunnels” housed command posts, kitchens, sleeping quarters and even a hospital, protecting around 24,000 troops. At dawn on April 9^th tens of thousands of Allied soldiers burst out of the tunnels into a snowstorm and charged the nearby German trenches to begin the Battle of Arras. This was the first time that the four divisions of the Canadian Corps had fought together, rather than being divided among British Army units. Their objective was to take the high ground known as “Vimy Ridge”, which had held out against all previous Allied attacks. Over the course of the next 4 days the Canadians captured and held Vimy Ridge against repeated German counter-attacks. This was a defining event for Canada and created enormous national pride back home. With our guide we tour the Wellington Tunnels and visit the 100-hectare (250-acre) portion of the former battleground which serves as the visitors’ centre and memorial park, managed by the Government of Canada. Here we will learn more about the background to the battle, see reconstructions of the Allied and German trenches facing each other such a short distance apart and see the enormous Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which took 11 years to design and build and was unveiled in 1936. Those who do not wish to join us on our tour of the Wellington Tunnels and/or Vimy Ridge can enjoy that part of the day free in Arras. You might like to visit the Fine Arts Museum and the Hotel De Ville town hall.

Later this afternoon we drive to our hotel near CDG, ready for our flight out tomorrow.

Overnight near Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris. Ibis Styles Paris CDG Airport Hotel or similar.  Breakfast & Dinner.

Organise your transfer from our hotel to CDG in time for your departure flight. The hotel may charge for this transfer. Breakfast if not leaving too early.