Touring holidays
Château
• de Noirieux Chateau de la Bourdaisiere
• •
Chateau de Marçay
La Briqueterie Château
• d ’ Isenbourg •
Château de Gilly •
Hotel de l ’ Univers •
• Auberge de la Source
Chateau de Noirieux
• • Chateau de la Bourdaisiere
•
Château des Vigiers
CHÂTEAUX OF THE LOIRE This is a leisurely tour of the Loire Valley giving you ample opportunity to explore the famous corners and hidden gems of this delightful region , bursting with Renaissance châteaux , mediaeval strongholds and vineyards . The first of your three hotels is the Château de Noirieux , a superbly restored edifice set in extensive parkland and overlooking the River Loire , a short distance to the northeast of Angers . Capital of the Anjou and cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty , Angers and its famous Apocalypse Tapestry makes for an interesting excursion . From here , journey through tranquil landscapes punctuated by stately châteaux and fields of vines of the Parc Naturel Régional Loire Anjou Touraine en route to your second hotel set just south of Chinon . Stop off perhaps in the delightful town of Saumur , set between the Loire and Thouet rivers and renowned for its famous vineyards and Cadre Noir riding school . The Château de Marçay is an enchanting building , dating back to the 12th-century , which is the perfect base from which to visit mediaeval Chinon , birthplace of Richard the Lionheart . From Marçay , head east , past the stunning château of Azayle-Rideau , towards the cathedral city of Tours and the heart of châteaux country – Amboise , Cheverny , Blois , Chenonceau among others . Your last hotel is a unique chateau with fine gardens and parkland not far from Chenonceau . With gourmet restaurants accompanied by the finest local wines , your stay in the Loire is certain to delight .
Driving times : Calais to Angers Angers to Marçay Marçay to Chenonceau Chenonceau to Calais
4 hours 45 minutes 1 hour 15 minutes 1 hour 15 minutes 5 hours
We include :
• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château de Noirieux near Angers
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Chateau de Marçay near Chinon
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere near Chenonceau
• Self-drive with Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
• Or Fly-drive with British Airways scheduled flights London to Paris return and hire of a group A car for the holiday
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
NORTHERN VINEYARDS An interesting wine tour combining Alsace , with its wooded hills , gently sloping vineyards , picturesque half-timbered villages and fairytale-like towns , with the popular but contrasting wine regions of Burgundy and Champagne , each with their own distinct character . Your tour starts with a drive through Picardy , perhaps stopping off en route at attractive Arras , with its cobbled streets and Flemish architecture . You ’ ll also pass Laon , famous for its Gothic cathedral and the champagne capital of Reims , en route to your first hotel , set just a short distance from Épernay . Here you ’ ll discover many of the renowned champagne houses including Lafitte , Mercier and Moët and Chandon . Heading directly east , you ’ ll pass the city of Verdun , site of one of the major battles of World War I and Metz , where you ’ ll find the Centre Pompidou Metz , sister museum of its prestigious Parisian counterpart . You ’ ll also pass through picturesque Strasbourg , with its canals and half-timbered buildings of Petite-France , before picking up the Route des Vins as it snakes its way south through the glorious scenery of the Alsace . After a couple of nights here , make your way southwest through the Doubs Valley , running parallel for a time with the Franco-Swiss border . Arriving at the Château de Gilly , situated amidst the revered vineyards of the Nuits-Saint-Georges and the Côte d ’ Or , be sure to take in Beaune ’ s 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu and the mediaeval mustard city of Dijon , as well as the many wineries of the region . Finally , head back north for one last overnight stay in Champagne .
Driving times : Calais to Épernay Épernay to Rouffach Rouffach to Beaune Beaune to Épernay
3 hours 4 hours 15 minutes 2 hours 30 minutes 3 hours
We include :
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château d ’ Isenbourg in Alsace
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château de Gilly in Burgundy
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the La Briqueterie in the Champagne region ( one night each way )
• Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
CHÂTEAUX AND MANOR HOUSES OF THE DORDOGNE VALLEY An inspirational touring holiday , offering you extremely comfortable accommodation in ever-favourite places , yet just off the beaten track . From the pretty fields and thatched farms of Normandy , you head south to the meandering Loire , hunting grounds of the Kings of France , and then further south to the glorious rolling hills , craggy valleys and turreted villages of the Périgord . Your first port of call is the charming Auberge de la Source near Honfleur . En route to your second hotel , you ’ ll travel through the undulating hill country of the Swiss Normande , passing the lace-making town of Alençon and Le Mans , famous for its 24-hour race . After an overnight stay just outside historic Angers , continue through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Loire Valley , towards the Dordogne . Here your hotel , the Château des Vigiers , is an idyllic pastoral getaway with extensive leisure facilities set amidst its own vineyards on the prestigious Route des Vins between Bordeaux and Bergerac . Perfectly situated for exploring the abundant wineries around Bordeaux and Saint- Émilion to the west , and the copious cultural treasures towards the east , you have plenty of time to really get acquainted with the Dordogne . Heading back north , we include stopovers in the heart of the Loire ’ s châteaux country and in the delightful town of Arras , just a stone ’ s throw from Calais .
Driving times : Calais to Honfleur Honfleur to Angers Angers to Monestier Monestier to Chenonceau Chenonceau to Arras Arras to Calais
3 hours 3 hours 4 hours 45 minutes 4 hours 30 minutes 4 hours 1 hour 5 minutes
We include :
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Auberge de la Source near Honfleur in Normandy
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at Chateau de Noirieux near Angers in the Loire Valley
• Five nights ’ bed and breakfast at Château des Vigiers in Monestier in the Dordogne
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at Chateau de la Bourdaisiere near Chenonceau
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at Hotel de l ’ Univers in Arras
• Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
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