14 Day Lovely France With Barcelona

Welcome to Paris. Upon arrival at the airport you will be transferred to your hotel and enjoy free time until your tour starts. Please check the informative posters placed at the hotel reception area which have all the information about your upcoming meeting place, time and the guide’s name.

Today we take a guided tour to discover the history, main boulevards and the breathtaking monuments of Paris. Later in the day, we provide a transfer to the Montmartre district. This neighbourhood is known for its painters, artists, and its cabarets. Sit down for lunch and enjoy this magical place where you can choose from the various cuisines this area has to offer. We will then return to the hotel or take some leisure time to enjoy the city.

Today we will include a transfer to Versailles, with its immense palace and beautiful gardens. The afternoon is free for you to explore at leisure.

Early in the morning we depart and travel towards Normandy, making a stop in Giverny. We will visit Monet’s House and its impressive gardens; we learn about Impressionist art, which had its centre in Normandy. The journey continues to Rouen, the capital of Normandy with its medieval streets and cathedral. Here we have time for a stroll and to take lunch. We continue to Arromanches where we are reminded of the World War II landings in France. Last stop is Caen, where we take some leisure time in the central district.

First thing in the morning we travel to Mont Saint Michel and enjoy time to see the Abbey, located within the city on an island. After this, whilst travelling in the Brittany region, we stop at Saint Malo, which powerful walls defend the city, where we will stop for lunch. In the afternoon we continue to Dinan and take some time to explore this Breton village. We continue our way to Rennes, the capital of Brittany with its interesting and monumental historic centre.

In the morning we will leave for Angers. Those who want can visit the castle that houses the largest medieval tapestry on the Apocalypse. After this we continue to the Loire Valley, visiting Tours, the regional capital on the banks of the Loire River, with time for a stroll and lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the Chateau De Villandry, famous for its gardens and flowers. Journey on to Amboise, a city with a very interesting medieval quarter.

Note. Sometimes the accommodation may be offered in the city of Tours.

Today it's a day to learn more about the Loire region. First a stroll through Amboise in the early hours to the Clos Luce mansion where leonardo da Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. Exploring the Loire region in a little more depth, we visit Chenonceau Castle, built like a bridge over the River Cher. We continue to Chambord, the largest castle of Loire. We will then travel to the centre of France, making a stop for coffee in Argenton Sur Creuse, a small medieval town on the banks of the Creuse River. We continue to Limoges, a city known for its porcelain, where we recommend a stroll in the centre to see its cathedral.

Today we leave Limoges for the Dordogne. Few regions contain so many villages full of charm and unforgettable countryside. We arrive at Lascaux and explore the museum and replica of the caves to learn about the site’s prehistory and the magnificent cave paintings. Later on we visit Sarlat, a world heritage town with an incredibly well-preserved Renaissance historic centre, where there will be time to stroll and have lunch. In Beynac we visit it's medieval castle overlooking the river. Finally, we pay a visit to Rocamadour, a beautiful medieval village with an important sanctuary “hung” over a ravine; we suggest you walk down the via crucis and come back up in the lift.

Today we visit the impressive Padirac caves and take on a boat ride on the river which flows 75 metres underground. Later on we stop at Collonge La Rouge, a very picturesque village built with red stone on the Way of St James. After lunch we travel to St. Emilion, at the heart of the Bordeaux wine producing region before heading to Bordeaux where we arrive late in the afternoon.

NB: The caves may be closed in November or due to the weather conditions.

The entire centre of Bordeaux has been declared a world heritage site. You will be amazed by the “water mirror” as you stroll through the old town with its pedestrian streets and 11th century cathedral. We visit the Cite Du Vin, an impressive interactive museum that recounts the history of the wine and its production; wine tasting included at the viewpoint over Bordeaux. You will have free time later to stroll and have lunch on the banks of the Garonne River, an area full of small restaurants. We continue our way towards the Pyrenees, arriving to Lourdes in the mid-afternoon with time to see the sanctuary (we recommend attending the candle procession).

Skirting the Pyrenees, we will stop in Saint Bertrand, a medieval village perched on the mountainside, dominated by its great cathedral. Enjoy free time for a stroll before travelling on to Carcassonne, a city surrounded by beautiful walls. We then continue through the Pyrenees on a journey between the, often, snow-capped summits, and cross into the small country of Andorra.

This morning we have free time in Andorra for shopping and exploring. After lunch, we will continue our trip and head to Catalonia. The mountain countryside leads us to the impressive site of the Montserrat Monastery, where you will go up the mountain on a rack train to see its fantastic scenery. Following this we will continue to Barcelona where we arrive in the late afternoon.

Today we will explore Barcelona, an impressive city right on the Mediterranean Sea. Starting by an informative city tour. We will also visit the city’s historic central area with its Gothic neighbourhood dating back to the Middle Ages. We will visit the area where the Olympic Games took place. We will also get the chance to see La Sagrada Familia Basilica, the masterpiece designed by the architect Gaudí. Following this, we will visit ‘Poble Espanyol’ (meaning ‘Spanish Village’). This open-air architectural museum is situated in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona. Enjoy the Spanish craftsmanship and discover the architectural styles, traditions and folklore of the different regions that make up Spain. You will then have some free time to explore the city at your own leisure. In the evening we will transfer to Las Ramblas and the Plaza Catalunya area for dinner, where you can choose from a wide variety of restaurants before returning to our hotel for the night.

After breakfast and at the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your ongoing flight.