Touring holidays
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Ferme Saint-Siméon
• Château de Noirieux
Château de Gilly •
• Château de Noirieux
La Reserve •
Relais des Chartreuses •
Hotel de la Cité • Relais des Chartreuses •
• Le Saint-James
Hostellerie Crillon le Brave
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NORMANDY COAST AND THE LOIRE VALLEY Here is an opportunity for a leisurely holiday of sightseeing and relaxation or , for the more active , a wide range of sports is available in both areas . This tour combines a few nights at a former refuge of the Impressionists , today a luxurious five-star hotel in the picturesque seaside town of Honfleur , with a stay in an elegant and extremely comfortable château overlooking the river Loire near Angers . Your first port of call is the Ferme Saint-Siméon , a favourite amongst illustrious names of the Impressionist movement such as Courbet , Boudin and the master himself , Claude Monet , who came to capture on canvas the beautiful vistas offered by Honfleur and the Normandy coastline . A trip to the chic resort of Deauville , with its boutiques and casino , is an absolute must , as well as to the delightful towns of Pont Audemer , the Venice of Normandy , and Pont l ’ Évêque , famous for its cheese . En route to your second hotel , you ’ ll pass by the lace-making town of Alençon and Le Mans , famous for its 24-hour race and worth a stop off to visit its mediaeval old town and Musée de l ’ Automobile . And then continue on to Briollay , a short distance northeast of Angers , and your hotel , the Château de Noirieux . Here , explore the many châteaux of the Loire and enjoy a tasting at the excellent local vineyards .
Driving times : Calais to Honfleur Caen to Honfleur Honfleur to Angers Angers to Caen Angers to Calais
2 hours 35 minutes 1 hour 3 hours 2 hours 30 minutes 4 hours 45 minutes
We include :
• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Ferme Saint-Siméon in Honfleur
• Four nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château de Noirieux near Angers
• Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
THE HISTORIC SOUTHWEST OF FRANCE This tour is a delight for the lover of history and architecture . Start your holiday near Albi in the tranquil setting of La Reserve , its grounds bordering the River Tarn . Famous as the home of Toulouse-Lautrec and a UNESCO World Heritage Site , the episcopal city of Albi is a must-see , its brick cathedral the largest of its type worldwide and the Berbie Palace home to over 1,000 artistic works by its most famous son . Continue south to the mediaeval fortress of Carcassonne , perhaps detouring via the pink city of Toulouse , so named for the rose-tinted hue of its palatial public buildings , or across the dramatic landscapes of the Montagne Noire . Your second hotel enjoys a privileged position right within the very heart of Carcassonne ’ s mediaeval walls , where your two-night stay allows you to uncover the delights of this attractive citadel . And finally , journey through Cathar country and the vine-clad vistas of the Côtes du Roussillon and towards the Spanish frontier south of Perpignan to your rural hideaway , nestled deep in the foothills of the Albères . From here , you ’ re within easy striking distance of Picasso ’ s beloved Céret , at the heart of the Tech Valley , beautiful Collioure , and the coastal villages along the Côte Vermeille . Cross the border into northern Catalonia too and you ’ ll discover the individuality of Figueres , with its eccentric Dalí Museum and mediaeval Girona , not to mention the charms of the Costa Brava .
Driving times : Toulouse to Albi Albi to Carcassonne Carcassonne to Le Boulou Le Boulou to Toulouse
1 hour 1 hour 50 minutes 1 hour 15 minutes 2 hours15 minutes
We include :
• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at La Reserve near Albi
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel de la Cité in Carcassonne
• Five nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Relais des Chartreuses in Le Boulou , near Perpignan
• Scheduled return flights with British Airways London to Toulouse and hire of a group A car
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
TO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE PYRENEES AND BACK The variety of landscapes and stunning panoramas on this tour will not fail to enchant even the most seasoned of Francophiles . Heading down the eastern fringes of France , stopping off to visit the champagne capital of Reims if time permits , your first hotel is found between the cities of Dijon and Beaune , amidst the revered vineyards of Nuits-St-Georges . Continue south through the patchwork vistas of the undulating Beaujolais hills , break your journey at Lyon for lunch and a wander around its beautiful architectural masterpieces , which are reminiscent of Tuscany . Stay overnight at Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave , just a stone ’ s throw from Avignon and its mighty Palais des Papes , before heading southwest through the spectacular topography of Languedoc-Roussillon , passing Nîmes and Montpellier as well as timeless resorts hugging the Mediterranean shoreline . At your charming hideaway in the foothills of the Pyrenees , you ’ re within striking distance of Picasso ’ s beloved Céret , Matisse ’ s Collioure , and the coastal villages along the Côte Vermeille and the Costa Brava , just the other side of the border . Returning back up France ’ s western side , you ’ ll pass the mediaeval citadel of Carcassonne , Toulouse , and mile-upon-mile of sunflower-clad landscapes on your journey through Gascony to Saint-Émilion , one of the world ’ s most prestigious wine regions . Bordeaux , Cognac and La Rochelle are all enticing options for breaking your journey towards the Loire . Your final overnight stay is in historic Angers , cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty , before your final push through Normandy and the Nord to Calais towards home .
Driving times : Calais to Dijon Dijon to Avignon Avignon to Perpignan Perpignan to Saint-Émilion Saint-Émilion to Angers Angers to Calais
5 hours 30 minutes 3 hours 45 minutes 2 hours 30 minutes 4 hours 30 minutes 4 hours 4 hours 45 minutes
We include :
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Château de Gilly in Burgundy
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at Hostellerie de Crillon le Brace in Provence
• Five nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Relais des Chartreuses near Perpignan
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at Le Saint-James near Saint-
Émilion
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Chateau de Noirieux in the Loire Valley
• Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
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