Touring holidays
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Auberge de la Source
• Château de Noirieux
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Château de Marçay
Château de Gilly •
Hotel La Pyramide •
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Château des Vigiers La Villa Gallici •
Le Mas des Herbes Blanches •
Hotel de la Cite • Hotel la Perouse • Le Domaine de Verchant •
• Hotel Crillon la Brave
THE DORDOGNE , LOIRE AND NORMANDY A comfortable , leisurely and immensely satisfying touring holiday that combines three regions of great popularity and limitless attractions : Normandy , with its historical ties and pretty countryside , the Loire Valley , hunting and pleasure ground of the kings of France , and the Dordogne , cradle of civilisation and a land of deep valleys , castles and golden stone villages . Your first hotel is an idyllic pastoral getaway with extensive leisure facilities in the delightful and unspoilt Périgord countryside , set amidst its own vineyards on the prestigious Route des Vins between Bordeaux and Bergerac . After a few days exploring this popular area , head directly north to the Loire , perhaps stopping en route in Angoulême , capital of the Poitou Charente . Your second hotel , the Château de Marçay , is the perfect base from which to visit mediaeval Chinon , some of the region ’ s finest vineyards , and a wealth of grand châteaux which dominate the landscape . From here , journey through the beautiful countryside of the Parc Naturel Régional Loire Anjou Touraine en route towards historic Angers and the Château de Noirieux , one of our favourite hotels overlooking the River Loire . Leaving the Loire , continue north into Normandy and to your final hotel , the Auberge de la Source , set just outside the picturesque port town of Honfleur , inspiration for many an Impressionist painter . From here , you ’ re just a stone ’ s throw from the chic seaside resort of Deauville and charming Trouville-sur-Mer .
Driving times : Calais to Monestier Monestier to Marçay Marçay to Angers Angers to Honfleur Honfleur to Calais
8 hours 30 minutes 4 hours 30 minutes 1 hour15 minutes 3 hours 2 hours 35 minutes
We include :
• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château des Vigiers in the Dordogne
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Château de Marçay in the Loire Valley
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château de Noirieux in the Loire Valley
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Auberge de la Source in Normandy
• Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
SOUTHERN FRANCE FROM EAST TO WEST Experience the diversity of southern France in this fly-drive tour beginning on the stunning beaches of the Cote d ' Azur and ending in the medieval citadel of Carcassone . Arriving in Nice , pick your hire car up and drive to the Hotel La Perouse , which is perfectly located for both the beach and the quay , with Monaco a mere half an hour away by car . After a two- night stay on the French Riviera , make a detour to Saint- Paul-de- Vence , where you will find an enchanting old village to stroll through , before driving on to Aix-en- Provence . Here you will find exquisite vineyards and rolling fields , as well as cultural sites such as Cezanne ' s studio . There are plenty of places to visit in between Aix-en- Provence and your next stop , Montpellier , such as Arles , where Van-Gogh found his sunflower inspiration . Nimes is also a short detour away , where you will find stunning , well- preserved Roman architecture . From your hotel in Montpellier , Aigues Mortes , a medieval city overlooking pink-tinged salt flats , is an excellent day trip option . Your final nights will be spent in the Hotel de la Cite , located in the heart of the fortified citadel of Carcassonne , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Your tour ends in Toulouse , where you fly back to the UK . Arrive a few hours before your flight and you will have time to visit the highlights of La Ville Rose .
Driving times : Nice to Aix-en-Provence 1 hour 55 minutes Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier 1 hour 55 minutes Montpellier to Carcassonne 1 hour 40 minutes Carcassone to Toulouse Airport 1 hour and 10 minutes
We include :
• Two nights bed and breakfast at the Hotel La Perouse , Nice .
• Two nights bed and breakfast at La Villa Gallici , near Aix-en- Provence .
• Two nights bed and breakfast at Le Domaine de Verchant , Montpellier .
• Two nights bed and breakfast at the Hotel de la Cite , Carcassone .
• Scheduled return flights with British Airways from London to Nice and from Toulouse to Londonand hire of a group B car
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
BURGUNDY , BEAUJOLAIS AND THE RHONE VALLEY TO PROVENCE A leisurely tour from Burgundy to Beaujolais , then south to the Rhone Valley and the lavender beds and Mediterranean feel of the Vaucluse in Provence . As you head southwest towards Burgundy , you ’ ll pass the Forest of Fontainebleau , a former royal hunting park and home to one of France ’ s largest royal châteaux . Approaching Auxerre , you enter Chablis wine country and your journey takes you past endless vine-clad vistas of rolling pastoral countryside . Consider a diversion to the medieval town of Semur-en-Auxois before arriving at the Château de Gilly , situated amidst the revered vineyards of the northern Côte d ’ Or . As well as the wine houses , be sure to take in the visually splendid , 15th-century Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune and Dijon , most famous for its mustard but also in possession of one of the best-preserved mediaeval centres in France . Following the southerly course of the Saône , travel through the Côte de Beaune past Maçon into Beaujolais country , where you ’ ll spend a further two nights exploring and sampling the cultural and viticultural delights on offer . Continue south along the mighty Rhône River through the patchwork panoramas of the undulating Beaujolais hills , breaking your journey at Lyon for a wander around beautiful architectural masterpieces reminiscent of Tuscany . At your final two hotels you ’ re well placed to discover the extensive treasures that abound in this historically , culturally and visually rich region .
Driving times : Paris to Gilly-lès-Cîteaux Gilly-lès-Cîteaux to Vienne Vienne to Crillon le Brave Crillon le Brave to Joucas Joucas to Marseille
3 hours 2 hour 15 minutes 2 hours 30 minutes 1 hour 1 hour 30 minutes
We include :
• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château de Gilly in Burgundy
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the La Pyramide Hotel in Beaujolais
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Crillon le Brave near Avignon
• Two nights bed and breakfast at Le Mas des Herbes Blanches
• Fly-drive into Paris and out of Marseille with British Airways and group A hire-car
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
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