Depart From: Overnight in transit

Morning: Arrivals at Charles de Gaulle airport and independent transfers to the program hotel in Paris. Please note that rooms are not generally available until early to mid-afternoon, so you should plan to drop off your luggage at the hotel and then take some time to explore Paris or relax and have a leisurely lunch (on your own). There are Paris maps available at the hotel, and your Group Leader and hotel staff will be present to provide recommendations and directions.

Afternoon: Check in at your hotel and take the afternoon to unpack and relax. In the early evening you will meet with your group at the hotel for introductions, a review of the program itinerary and site orientation.

Dinner: At local restaurant

Lodging: Villa Panthéon

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Lecture: « History of Paris’s architecture combined with green spaces along the ages, though examples of the most spectacular gardens as Floral Park, Luxembourg Palace gardens, Père Lachaise cemetery,… »

Lunch: At hotel restaurant.

Afternoon: Field trip to the Luxembourg Garden. Learn about the rich botanical and architectural heritage of the garden, dating form the 17th century. Field trip to the Cluny medieval gardens, known for many of its famous relics and items, such as the unicorn tapestries. Free time after visit

Dinner: On your own to explore local fare.

Lodging: Villa Panthéon

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Lecture: « Paris’s Royal Chateaux and Gardens ». Field trip to the Louvre + Tuileries, the largest royal palace built in the 16th century, enlarged in the 17th C., turned into a museum after the French Revolution. You shall see the Mona Lisa of course, and the main interesting masterpieces of the royal collection, plus the new wing « Richelieu », entirely modernized by the great Sino-American architect: Mr. Pei. Then you will discover the Tuileries garden which is the most important and ancient Fformal gardens of Paris is surrounded by the Louvre, the Seine, the Place de la Concorde and the Rue de Rivoli.

Lunch: on your own

Afternoon: Free time in Paris

Dinner: At local restaurant.

Evening: Enrichment activity: classic music concert at Sainte Chapelle.

Lodging: Villa Panthéon

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Lecture: « André Le Nôtre and Versailles ». Departure by coach to Versailles. Field trip to the Château de Versailles: explore the state apartments of the royal palace... Field trip to Versailles’s gardens : The grounds of Versailles contain one of the largest formal gardens ever created, with extensive parterres, fountains and canals, designed by André Le Nôtre. The gardens are centered on the south front of the palace, which is set on a long terrace to give a grand view of the gardens. Even farther into the distance lie the dense woods of the King's hunting grounds.

Lunch: On your own in Versailles gardens.

Afternoon: Field trip to the "Petit and Grand Trianon", (originally the Porcelain Trianon), continuing with additions by Louis XV and Louis XVI including the Petit Trianon, and the Hamlet of Marie Antoinette known as the le Hameau). Take the little train up to the Hamlett of Marie Antoinette Return by little train to the Palace Visit of all the garden’s groves following the steps of the Sun King. Departure back to Paris by coach

Dinner: At local restaurant.

Lodging: Villa Panthéon

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Packing Departure by coach to Tours via Chamerolles.Field trip to Chamerolles, it was built at the beginning of the 16th century. The castle houses one of the few French museums dedicated to perfumes. With its "promenade of Perfumes" it offers a veritable walk through the history of scents and hygiene from the 16th century until today. The Renaissance garden, which was created by Lancelot II du Lac at the end of the 16th Century, has also refound its original charm and character There is a maze, a rare plants square and other smaller gardens to see..

Lunch: At local restaurant in Chamerolles.

Afternoon: Continue by coach to Tours Settling-in at hotel Lecture( at hotel): Introduction to Tours, Capital of the Loire Valley, the Garden of France”

Dinner: At restaurant nearby hotel

Lodging: Best Western Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Excursion: Excusrion by foot to Tours (2h) You will discover the city including the Loire river banks, the Fine Arts museum, the Cathedral, the François Sicard’s gardens, the Train station, the Town hall, the Beaune's gardens.…

Lunch: On your own

Afternoon: Lecture (at hotel): ”Importance of gardens in tapestries, paintings and inside decoration - a glimpse at French people’s way of life and interests including for gardens at that time.” Free time In Tours

Evening: Dinner : Home visit

Lodging: Best Western Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Departure by coach to Villandry.Field trip to Villandry’s garden, walk through the gardens. The mere mention of the name Villandry evokes splendor and perfection in the art of gardens. This space, a contemporary creation, is unique in Europe. It is inspired by the gardens of the 16th and 18th centuries, and is the work of Joachim Carvallo and his American wife Ann Coleman. You will discover Villandry’s Ornamental Gardens ,water Garden ,Herb Garden, and kitchen Garden which have an international fame..

Lunch: At local restaurant L’Etape Gourmande, set in a 17th century farm Enrichment activity : taste local products

Afternoon: Continue by coach to Langeais Field trip to the Chateau of Langeais, which holds a 10th c. keep (the oldest existing Romanesque keep) and a 15th c. fortress of notable architectural homogeneity, make up one of the most important châteaux in the west of France. It also shows outstanding furniture, tapestries and waxworks evoking the marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany. Coach back to Tours

Dinner: On your own to explore local fare

Lodging: Best Western Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Lecture (at hotel): « The Italian influence on architecture and gardens » Field trip to Chenonceau castle, Beautifully situated on the river Cher, it was fought over by Catherine of Medicis and Diana of Poitiers, for whom King Henry II embellished and enlarged it. The vast Domain of Chenonceau offers the possibility of freely discovering the two renowned and magnificent gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis. They are ornamented with a myriad of shrubs, hundreds of climbing and stemmed roses. There are amoug 40000 flowers grown in the Domain, which are planted twice a year in spring, and in summer. Moreover the Domain’s 70 hectares of richly wooded parks.

Lunch: On your own to explore local fare

Afternoon: Field trip continues to the Park and Chateau of Valmer, put on the remarkable garden register – you will discover typical gardens from the 16th c. and 17th c. (conservatory – excep. Remarkable vegetable garden)

Dinner: Enrichment activity: Wine tasting in Vouvray (Dinner “aperitif”)

Lodging: Best Western Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Departure by coach to Chateau de Rivau Field trip to the Chateau of Rivau - UNESCO Patrimony - (where fairy tales meet land Art – another remarkable garden) The 12 gardens evoke the wonderful stories and legends that literature has provided. You will discover the Gargantua's Kitchen Garden, the Enchanted Forest, the Flowery Meadow, the Delightful Border, the Lovers Wood, the Landscape Balcony, the Cassinina, the Orchard of Paradise, the Petit Poucet's Path and the Secret Garden, which are many illustrations of themes from fairytale imagination. Elves, ogres, giants, good fairies and fantastic topiary animals accompany the visitors' steps. Lecture (on site): « Architecture and gardens recognized by the Unesco

Lunch: At local restaurant in the gardens of the Chateau Rivau

Afternoon: Coach back to Tours Free time

Evening: On your own

Lodging: Best Western Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Hotel breakfast room

Morning: Transfer by coach to Paris via Chambord Lecture (on the bus/on site): « The Forest : initial concept of “garden”, surrounding Castles » Field trip to the Chambord castle , largest royal residence until Fontainebleau and Versailles. Explore the castle on your own. Emblematic palace of the First French Renaissance despite its still-feudal layout., Chambord is one of the Loire Valley’s highlights. Its roofs are a jumble of lanterns, chimney-stacks and turrets. A walk around its verandas is like a stroll through a maze of little village streets.

Lunch: On your own to explore local fare

Afternoon: Continue by coach to Paris Arrival at hotel in Paris. Settling-in. Free time in Paris

Dinner: Farewell Dinner at local restaurant in the Opera quarter

Lodging: Villa Montparnasse

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: At hotel breakfast room

Morning: Packing Transfer to Charles de Gaulle airport

Meals Included: Breakfast