Castles of the Loire valley - Normandy

The Château de Chambord is the largest in the Loire Valley. Extravagant structure with massive tours and terraces holding hundreds of chimneys where the court and the women used to attend the king coming back from hunting.

Of all the architectural wonders of Chambord, the most famous is the double-spiral staircase, core of the building.

Amboise (outside visit) Royal castle and gardens overlooking the river and the blue-slate roofs of the town. The Saint Hubert chapel houses the tomb of Leonardo who died in Amboise.

Chenonceau, Castle-bridge built over the river Cher, where the unique beauty of its architecture reflects in the water, nicknamed "le Château des Dames", it owes a large part of its charm to women.

The gardens of Villandry are among the most fascinating in France: an ornamental kitchen garden and the romantic 'Love gardens', designed in 4 parterres (Tender love, Passionate love, Inconstant love and Tragical love...) that can be admired from the terraces to the rear of the château.

Overnight near the city of Tours.

From Tours, drive through the border regions of 'Le Maine' (capital town : Le Mans) to Normandy and visit the unique site of the Mont-Saint-Michel.

The granite island, 80 meters high in the middle of a bay forms a monumental and picturesque sight with its village houses huddled close together and encircled by walls and on top, the old abbey founded in 708 with its gothic "Marvel". During equinoxes, watch the highest tides in Europe rising with the speed of a running horse. the abbey.

Overnight near Bayeux.

Option : See the Tapestry of Queen Mathilda in Bayeux, actually a 70 meters long work of embroidery retracing the epic of William the Conqueror's expedition to England in 1066.

One of the most impressive site in Normandy, is perhaps Pointe du Hoc where the 2nd battalions of specially trained Rangers under the command of colonel James Earl Rudder captured the position by assault at dawn on 6 June, scaling the cliffs with ropes and extendible ladders but not without heavy losses – 135 rangers out of 225 – key action for the success of D.Day.
Continue with Omaha Beach and the moving Normandy American cemetery where 9385 Carrara marble crosses stand aligned. A memorial, inscribed with a map of the operations stands in the central alley.

The name "Omaha Beach" which until 6 June 1944 existed only as an operational code name, has continued to jointly designate the beaches of three villages, Colleville, Saint-Laurent and Vierville, in memory of the soldiers of the 1st American division who landed there and suffered the heaviest casualties on D. Day. Drive and stop along the beach where your guide will show you some of the German bunkers and machine-gun nests.

On the way back to Paris, visit of the charming port in Honfleur on the Seine estuary, from where the founder of Quebec, Samuel de Champlain and the founder of Louisiana, cavalier de la Salle set sail. It has inspired many famous painters such as Monet and his master Boudin and is considered as a cradle of the impressionism movement.

Return to Paris, end of our services.

INCLUDED :
- Pick up at your Paris address with a private licensed guide
- English speaking private guide and transportation by vehicle deluxe at your disposal 10h/day
(Mileage involved in the itinerary above, Insurance, tolls, gasoline, parking, guide's meals and overnight expenses)
- 1 overnight in a luxury 5 * castle-hotel near Tours in a Superior room
- 1 overnight in a charming 4 * hotel near Bayeux, in a Superior room
(based on double occupnacy - for odd numbers of travellers one single room supplement is included)
- Buffet breakfasts included

NOT INCLUDED :
- Lunches and dinners (your guide will make restautant suggestions and book them)
- Personal expenses and items not mentioned in "Included"