TOURING HOLIDAYS
touring holiday is the quintessential holiday to France . A touring holiday is a voyage of discovery , not only of new places
A and sights but of experiences , feelings and reactions too . With its contrasts of geography and climate , architecture and culture , France has almost been fashioned as a perfect destination for a touring holiday . From snowy mountain peaks and alpine pastures to palm-fringed promenades and Mediterranean sun , from the rugged cliffs and sandy beaches of temperate Brittany to the verdant cherry orchards in the foothills of the Pyrenees , France abounds in contrasts and variety . The architecture too reflects this variety of landscape , culture and history , from the granite-roofed cottages of Brittany to the golden stone of the Dordogne and the terracotta roofs of the Côte d ’ Azur . On top of all this , taste the flavours of the creamy cuisine of Normandy and those of the sun-dried southerly regions : tomatoes , garlic . Prices for all seasons with supplements are available on request from us .
Chateau des Vigiers •
• Auberge de la Source
• Château de Marçay
La Reserve •
La Briqueterie
•
Château de
Gilly •
Hotel Crillon le Brave
•
Crillon le Brave
La Bastide du Calalou •
Domaine de Capelongue
• Hotel • Nord Pinus
Mas des Herbes Blanches •
Crillon le Brave
•
La Briqueterie
•
Château de
Gilly •
Le Montrachet •
Hotel la Pyramide •
A GRAND TOUR OF FRANCE The classic grand tour ! Starting from the gateway to France , Calais , journey cross-country south-eastwards through the Pas-de-Calais and Picardy , reaching first the vineyards of Champagne then those of Burgundy , with its Romanesque churches and abbeys . Your descent through France runs parallel with the Saône until your arrival at Lyon , the point of confluence with the mighty Rhône , where you follow its course southwards , the scenery changing as you go , until you reach the bright skies , cypress trees , and red terracotta roofs of Provence . Delight in this charming region , ancient province of the Romans , land of poets and painters , and then continue even further southwest across the Languedoc-Roussillon . Through Cathar country , then northwards to the picturesque Dordogne , the quintessence of rural France . The scenery changes once more as you reach the Loire Valley , with its more temperate climate , majestic châteaux , regal gardens and hunting forests . The final region to discover is that of Normandy , its close links with Britain over the years still obvious . Our Grand Tour of France is a luxurious tapestry of different textures and colours , reflecting the variety of the regions of France .
Driving times : |
Calais to Épernay |
3 hours |
Épernay to Dijon |
3 hours |
Dijon to Crillon le Brave |
3 hours 45 minutes |
Crillon le Brave to Carcassonne 2 hours |
Carcassonne to Bergerac |
2 hours |
Bergerac to Chinon |
4 hours |
Chinon to Honfleur |
3 hours |
Honfleur to Calais |
2 hours 35 minutes |
We include :
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at La Briqueterie in Champagne
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Château de Gilly in Burgundy
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave in Provence
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at La Reserve in Albi
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Chateau des Vigiers near Bergerac
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Château de Marçay in the Loire Valley
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Auberge de la Source near Honfleur , Normandy
• Eurotunnel crossing Folkestone to Calais return for car and passengers
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
LAVENDER AND SUNFLOWERS OF PROVENCE Summer in Provence is a sight to behold . Fly from London to Nice and collect your hire car before embarking on a journey that bypasses some of the region ’ s most beautiful scenery . At this time the fields burst with colour and scent , as fragrant lavender and dazzling sunflowers are in full bloom . A drive of one and a half hours will bring you to La Bastide du Calalou , which enjoys a tranquil setting between mountains and sea . After two nights here , continue on in a northwest direction , enjoying views of the numerous sunflower fields en route , particularly between Avignon and Carpentras . Stay for three nights at Hotel Crillon le Brave in a hilltop hamlet surrounded by vineyards and olive groves . Sault , known as the Lavender Capital of Provence , is just 45 minutes away . The heart of the Luberon is an hour south , where you will stay at the Provencal farmhouse of Le Mas des Herbes Blanches . Senanque Abbey is just 20 minutes away - home to a much-photographed lavender field . Pass through the Valensole Plateau , a vast area where rows of lavender sway alongside fields of sunflowers and golden wheat , with charming villages scattered throughout . Another magical diversion would be to Arles , the city where Van Gogh painted some of his famous ‘ Sunflowers ’ paintings .
Driving times : |
Nice to Moissac- Bellevue |
1 hour 50 minutes |
Moissac- Bellevue to Crillon le Brave 2 hours 25 minutes |
Crillon le Brave to Joucas |
1 hour |
Joucas to Moissac- Bellevue |
2 hours 20 minutes |
Moissac-Bellevue to Nice |
1 hour 35 minutes |
We include :
• Two nights ' bed and breakfast at La Bastide du Calalou ( one each way )
• Three nights ' bed and breakfast at Hotel Crillon Le Brave
• Two nights ' bed and breakfast at La Mas des Herbes Blanches in Joucas
• Scheduled return flights with British Airways London Gatwick to Nice return and hire of a group A car for the duration of the holiday
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
A TOUR TO PROVENCE Travel by car to the beautiful South of France and a holiday combination that allows you to visit the sites and monuments of Roman Provence . These include Orange , Nîmes and the Pont du Gard , Van Gogh ’ s sunflower fields near Arles and Saint-Rémy de Provence , immortalised in the timeless masterpiece Starry Night , and the glorious scenery of inland Provence , with its lavender beds , perched villages , olive groves , and thyme-scented air . On the way , you journey across the chalky rolling fields of northern France , perhaps stopping off at the attractive UNESCO World Heritage city of Arras en route to your first hotel , set just a short distance from the renowned champagne vineyards of Épernay . Continue into Burgundy , home of noble vintages , where village after village produces great wines . Follow the course of the Saône into the patchwork landscapes of the Beaujolais , picking up the mighty Rhône at its confluence in Lyon , a city of gastronomic and architectural brilliance , until you reach the green-grey hills and bright skies of Provence . Enjoy twelve nights soaking up the sights , smells and atmosphere of this enchanting and enduring region .
Driving times : Calais to Gilly-lès-Cîteaux Gilly-lès-Cîteaux to Vienne Vienne to Bonnieux Bonnieux to Arles Arles to Crillon le Brave Crillon le Brave to Beaune Beaune to Eparnay Eparnay to Calais
5 hours 30 minutes 2 hours 30 minutes 2 hours 30 minutes 1 hour 30 minutes 1 hour 30 minutes 4 hours 15 minutes 3 hours 30 minutes 3 hours
We include :
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at Chateau de Gilly
• One night ’ s bed and breakfast at the La Pyramide Hotel
• Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at Domaine de Capelongue
• Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at Grand Hotel Nord Pinus
• Three night ’ s bed and breakfast at the Crillon le Brave
• One night bed and breakfast at Le Montrachet
• One night ' s bed and breakfast at La Briqueterie
• Eurotunnel crossing for car and passengers Folkestone to Calais return
Prices : on our website or ask us for details
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