Road Scholar : Home
Brittany and Normandy

Program Number: 14250RJ
Start and End Dates:
5/20/2013 - 6/4/2013; 9/9/2013 - 9/24/2013; 10/7/2013 - 10/22/2013; 5/9/2014 - 5/24/2014; 9/5/2014 - 9/20/2014;
Duration: 15 nights
Location: France
Price starting at: $3,995.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type:
Meals: 33; 14 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 9 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Experience Brittany and Normandy – two distinct regions of France that boast larger-than-life personalities, legacies of conquests and conquerors, and stunning land-and seascapes. In Brittany, discover prehistoric megalithic sites and Celtic origins, as well as a culture influenced by the sea. In Normandy, explore Mont Saint Michel, Norman and Gothic architecture and landscapes captured by the Impressionists, as well as Normandy’s connections to the liberation of Europe in World War II.




Highlights

• Enjoy a private performance of traditional Celtic and Breton music and dance.
• Andre Heintz, former member of France’s World War II resistance movement, tells his own story.
• Sample savory buckwheat crepes and cider in Brittany; traditional Calvados and cheese in Normandy.



Activity Particulars

Walk two miles, flat terrain; standing in museums.




Date Specific Information

5-20-2013, 9-9-2013, 10-7-2013, 5-9-2014, 9-5-2014

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Brest; coach to Quimper, 3 nights; coach to Vannes, 2 nights; coach to Rennes, 3 nights; coach to Bayeux, 3 nights; coach to Rouen, 2 nights; coach to Paris, 1 night; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Brest
Coach to Quimper
3 nights

Discover Quimper’s Celtic heritage in popular arts, folk costumes and the Breton language. Lectures present Brittany, from its outstanding natural landscapes to its myths and legends and their blend with local culture, religious heritage and cult of Saints. Field trips explore the old town of Quimper and the collections of the regional museum of Brittany. Enjoy a private performance of traditional dances and music.



Coach to Vannes
2 nights

In Vannes, join a university professor for discussions of prehistory, archaeology and ethnology in Brittany. Learn about the region’s artistic heritage, Gauguin and the Pont Aven art movement. Take field trips to Locmariaquer’s megaliths and Carnac, and dine on Breton crepes after learning how their made.



Coach to Rennes
3 nights

En route to Rennes, visit the splendid Josselin castle. Delve into contemporary Brittany and Breton connections to the sea at the corsair city of Saint Malo. Taste oysters in Cancale and explore the city of Rennes.



Coach to Bayeux
3 nights

Discover Mont Saint-Michel’s unique setting and its abbey; discuss the Battle of Normandy with a veteran of the French resistance. Field trips include the Bayeux Tapestry, the Arromanches Museum, and Longues-sur-Mer coastal battery, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery and Caen’s Memorial Museum.



Coach to Rouen
2 nights
Coach to Paris
1 night
Departure

Lectures introduce Rouen as capital of Normandy and a center of art and history. Examine Normandy and the Impressionists and explore critical locales in the Impressionist tradition, including Rouen’s cathedral and the picturesque fishing village of Honfleur. Experience the inspiration of Monet’s garden and lily pond at Giverny.




France

The epicurious and the curious find much to admire in Western Europe’s largest nation, whose agricultural riches and terrain of beaches, mountains and fertile fields have drawn residents for thousands of years. The northern region hosts the nation’s Parisian capital, as well as unique Breton culture, while the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast sports the chic beach-goers and the terraced vineyards of the interior.
Accommodations
Quimper, Vannes, Rennes, Bayeux, Rouen, Paris: Comfortable, centrally located hotels.
Meals and Lodgings
   Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper
  Quimper, France 3 nights
   Hotel Escale Oceania Vannes
  Vannes, France 2 nights
   Hotel Anne de Bretagne
  Rennes, France 3 nights
   Grand Hotel du Luxembourg
  Bayeux, France 3 nights
   Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
  Rouen, France 2 nights
   Villa Pantheon
  Paris, France 1 night
 Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: The Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper is located in the heart of Quimper's city center, close to the Quimper Cathedral, the quais of the Odet River and the pedestrian district.
  Contact info: 6 Rue Théodore Le Hars
Quimper,  29000 France
phone: +33 (0)2 98 53 37 37
web: http://www.oceaniahotels.com/hotel-escale-oceania-quimper?lg=UK
  Room amenities: The recently refurbished rooms have a warm and cosy atmosphere: parquet flooring, quilt, and modern furnishings. Rooms include a flat screen TV, free Wifi, clothes closet, luggage rack. In the bathroom, enjoy the roomy Italian-style shower, large mirror and all the equipment you need to “travel light”: hair dryer and an extensive range of toiletries (body and hair shower gel, exfoliating soap bar, ladies’ toiletry set with cotton swab, cotton balls, and nail file). For even greater comfort and privacy, the WC is separate from the bathroom.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant, Bar, 24-hour front desk, Newspapers, Non-smoking rooms, Facilities for disabled guests, Lift/elevator, Safety deposit box, Soundproof rooms, Luggage storage, Snack bar, Room service, Laundry, Ironing service, Fax/photocopying, Vending machine (drinks), Free Wi-Fi
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: TBD Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services for rates and bookings.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM

 Hotel Escale Oceania Vannes
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: Located in the heart of the historic town centre and very near the Palais des Arts and the port, the Hotel Escale Oceania Vannes welcomes you in its fully-renovated rooms.
  Contact info: Avenue Jean Monnet
Vannes,  56000 France
phone: +33 (0)2 97 47 59 60
web: http://www.oceaniahotels.com/hotel-escale-oceania-vannes
  Room amenities: Duvet, closet, free WiFi, wall sockets at desk and headboard levels, a 26” flat screen TV. In the bathroom, enjoy a spacious walk-in shower, a large mirror and all the accessories you need: hairdryer, shower cap, soap, toothbrush glass, shower gel and shampoo. For your comfort, the toilet is separate from the bathroom.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Soundproof Rooms, All Spaces Non-Smoking (Public and Private), Air Conditioning, Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Fax/Photocopying, Free Wi-Fi
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Hotel Anne de Bretagne
Type: Hotel
  Description: Hotel Anne de Bretagne is fully air-conditioned. You can spend a pleasant evening in our friendly bar or make use of our function rooms for your professional and personal engagements. Located in the heart of the Breton capital, the hotel provides an ideal base for visiting the charming city of Rennes which its old quarters dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, its pedestrian area and the beautiful botanical garden. This charming, modern hotel offers comfort and quiet privacy of its spacious and soundproofed rooms.
  Contact info: 12 rue Tronjolly
RENNES,  35000 France
phone: +33 2 99 31 49 49
web: www.anne-de-bretagne.fr
  Room amenities: Rooms are all equipped with full bathrooms, toilet, telephone, color TV with satellite reception, mini-bar, free wireless internet, room service.
  Facility amenities: Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Elevator, Safe, Baggage Storage, All Spaces Non-Smoking (Public and Private), Free Wi-Fi
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Grand Hotel du Luxembourg
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: In Bayeux you will stay in a pleasant hotel, the Grand Hotel de Luxembourg, located in the historic center of Bayeux and the pedestrian streets. Rooms are small yet modern and comfortable and has every amenities and services within walking distance.
  Contact info: 25 rue des Bouchers
Bayeux,  14400 France
phone: +33 (0)2 31 92 00 04
web: http://en.hotel-luxembourg-bayeux.com/
  Room amenities: Cable television, in-room movies, hairdryer, AM/FM radio, alarm clock, iron, ironing board, telephone
  Facility amenities: Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Facilities for Disabled Guests, Safe, Heating, Baggage Storage, All Spaces Non-Smoking (Public and Private), Air Conditioning, Designated Smoking Area, Restaurant, Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Fax/Photocopying, Free Wi-Fi
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
Type: Hotel
  Description: Right in the centre of Rouen and in the pedestrian zone near the cathedral which was painted by Monet, the Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale is an ideal hotel for exploring the attractions of this medieval city including the Old Market Square and the Gros Horloge clock tower.
  Contact info: 7 rue Croix de Fer
ROUEN,  76000 France
phone: +33 (0)2 35 89 41 46
web: www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-1301-mercure-rouen-centre-cathedrale/index.shtml
  Room amenities: Hairdryer, phone, air conditioning, cable TV, minibar, towels
  Facility amenities: Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Non-smoking , Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Safe, Soundproof Rooms, Baggage Storage, Air Conditioning, Laundry, Dry Cleaning, Fax/Photocopying, Free Wi-Fi
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Villa Pantheon
Type: Hotel
  Description: The hotel is located in the Latin Quarter in the heart of Paris, close to Saint-Germain des Près, Notre-Dame, Panthéon, La Sorbonne, Ile Saint-Louis, Thermes de Cluny, Arènes de Lutèce, and the Institut du Monde Arabe, making it an ideal base for exploring the city.
  Contact info: 41, Rue des Ecoles
Paris,  75005 France
phone: +33 (0)1 53 10 95 95
web: www.villa-pantheon.com
  Room amenities: Private en-suite bathroom with hair dryer, individually controlled air conditioning, TV with international channels and Pay TV, in-room safe, direct dialing telephone, small refrigerator with bar, in-room modem plug for Internet access. Please note that hotel rooms in France are often considerably smaller than hotel rooms in the US.
  Facility amenities: The Villa Pantheon offers a traditional English feel with leather easy chairs and relaxed atmosphere.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: TBD Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services for availability and rates.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
The program begins at Orientation on Day 2 at 5:00 p.m. at the hotel in Quimper. You will be staying at Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper that night.
  End of Program:
The program ends after breakfast on Day 16 at the hotel in Paris. You will be staying at Villa Pantheon the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Not applicable
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
To Start of Program
  Location:  Quimper
  Nearest city or town:  Brest
  Nearest highway: N165
  Nearest airport:  Brest
  Transportation to site: A group arrival transfer is organized for all participants who purchased an air inclusive program and arrive on the group date. Independent travelers are welcome to join this group transfer. Program Only Participants can take a bus or a public shuttle to the train station (4.6 euros) then take a train or a bus from Brest to Quimper (14 euros).
  From End of Program
  Location:  Paris
  Nearest city or town:  Paris
  Nearest highway: A1
  Nearest airport:  Paris Charles de Gaulle
  Transportation from site: A group departure transfer is organized for all participants who purchased an air inclusive program and depart on the group date. Independent travelers can take a taxi from the hotel to the airport or can ask the hotel for assistance in arranging a shuttle transfer. Paris Shuttle, a third party service, offers discounted shared shuttle and private transfer rates to Road Scholar participants. The rate they offer is about 10% discount off their published rate. By using the web link below, you can take advantage of these rates and book your transfer for departure in Paris. You will need to pay in advance with a credit card to confirm reservations and print your own voucher. www.parishuttle.com/index.php?partner=P60WEN
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Travel to France
(Monday, May 20)
   
 Depart From: Overnight in transit.

Day 2: Arrival in Brest and Transfer to Quimper
(Tuesday, May 21)
   
 Morning: Arrivals at Airport of Brest Bretagne (BES). Group transfer from Brest airport to the first program site in Quimper, situated at the confluence of the Steir, Odet and Jet rivers.
 Lunch: A light snack / sandwiches upon arrival at the hotel.
 Afternoon: Check-in at hotel and have time to freshen up and relax before meeting for a welcome orientation and program briefing.
 Dinner: Welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Introduction to Brittany
(Wednesday, May 22)

Note: Walking and standing on cobblestones and paved streets for up to 2 hours at a time.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: LECTURE: Begin with an "Introduction to the region of Brittany". FIELD TRIP: A walking exploration of the historic center of Quimper, capital of the ancient Cornwall region. Stroll over the footbridge to the Cathedral of Saint-Corentin, with its Gothic-style façade, constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Visit the Musee Departemental Breton to learn about the cultural traditions of Brittany. View the traditional dresses, handcrafted furniture and hand painted ceramics called "Faience". The remainder of the afternoon is free to visit more of the museum of for independent exploration.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Outstanding Landscapes of Brittany
(Thursday, May 23)

Note: Travel by motorcoach. Walking and standing on paved and unpaved ground.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: FULL DAY FIELD TRIP: Depart by coach to Pointe du Raz. LECTURE en route: the "Outstanding Natural Landscapes of Brittany." At the Pointe du Raz, see the impressive panoramic view at the very end of the Cornwall peninsula, where the coast juts out into the sea. Drive to the bay of Douarnenez where legend says that the beautiful city of Ys was swallowed-up by the sea. Continue to Locronan. LECTURE en route on Brittany's religious heritage and cult of saints.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP on foot in Locronan, once one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Brittany and also a place for the production of cloth from the 15th to 18th century. Enjoy free time in Locronan before returning to Quimper.
 Dinner: In the hotel.
 Evening: Enjoy an exclusive private performance of traditional Celtic music and dances.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Escale Oceania Quimper
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: The Pont-Aven Movement
(Friday, May 24)

Note: Walking and standing for up to 2 hours on cobblestones and paved streets. Travel by motorcoach.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: Depart Quimper to Pont Aven. PLEASE NOTE: The Fine Arts Museum of Pont Aven is closed for renovation through 2014. An activity with the museum staff has been substituted. LECTURE: Learn about the Pont Aven group of painters. The School, like a mediaeval guild, lived together in the inns, painting together outdoors and discussing art during the evenings. The arrival of Gauguin in Pont-Aven in 1886 was the catalyst, converting the energy and talent into an avant-garde artistic movement. FIELD TRIP on foot through Pont Aven to see sites that inspired the artists. Visit the Chapel of Trémalo, and the crucifix that inspired Gauguin’s “Yellow Christ” painting, an important work in the Symbolist movement.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Continue to Vannes. FIELD TRIP on foot to discover the old town of Vannes: its ramparts, harbor and half-timbered houses.
 Dinner: Learn the difference between savory buckwheat galettes (main course) and sweet wheat flour (dessert) crêpes in a traditional Breton meal of crêpes in the land of their origin. A demonstration shows you how they are made and the many possibilities of fillings.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Escale Oceania Vannes
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Prehistoric Sites of Locmariaquer and Carnac
(Saturday, May 25)

Note: Travel by motorcoach. Walking and standing on paved and unpaved ground.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: LECTURE: “Introduction to prehistory, archeology and ethnology in Brittany” with a university researcher specializing in prehistoric ceramics. FIELD TRIP to the Locmariaquer megaliths, some of the most significant Neolithic remains in Europe, including the Broken Menhir of Er Grah, the largest known single block of stone to have been transported and erected by Neolithic man, and the Merchant’s Table, a famous dolmen carved with images.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP to Carnac, which has the world’s greatest concentration of megalithic sites. Predating Stonehenge by around 100 years, there are over 3000 upright stones, most around thigh-high, erected between 5000 BC and 3500 BC by pre-Celtic people of Brittany. Return to Vannes.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Escale Oceania Vannes
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Josselin Castle: One Thousand Years of Family History
(Sunday, May 26)

Note: Travel by motorcoach. Walking and standing for up to 1.5 hours.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: Late morning departure to Rennes, capital of the province of Brittany. En route, stop in Josselin, a charming, small medieval city.
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Discover Josselin Castle. With its three majestic towers overlooking the river Oust and its flamboyant Gothic façade, this castle is a remarkable testimony to the feudal architecture of the Renaissance. Chateau Josselin is the ancestral home of the Rohan family, who has inhabited the castle for the past ten centuries. Enjoy some time to wander through the sumptuous rose gardens and park. Continue to Rennes.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Anne de Bretagne
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Oyster Farming and the Corsairs of Saint Malo
(Monday, May 27)

Note: Travel by motorcoach. Walking and standing for up to 2 hours on cobblestones and paved streets.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: FIELD TRIP: Discover Cancale, a typical fishing port. At a marine farm, learn the details of oyster farming and regional traditions with a film in English “Oyster breeding: a local tradition” followed by a tasting of oysters and fish pate.
 Lunch: Enjoy regional specialties at a seaside restaurant.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP on foot through Saint Malo, a walled port city on the English Channel notorious as the home of French privateers and pirates. Hear the tales of “Bretons and the sea – past and present”. Return to Rennes. LECTURE en route: Hear the tales and legends of Brittany including those of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Anne de Bretagne
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Rennes
(Tuesday, May 28)

Note: Walking and standing for up to two hours on cobblestones and paved streets.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: FIELD TRIP: Discover Rennes on foot and learn about the city’s Celtic remains; its medieval timber-framed buildings and its high-tech present.
 Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Afternoon: Free time in Rennes.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Anne de Bretagne
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: From Brittany to Normandy and the Mont Saint Michel
(Wednesday, May 29)

Note: Walking and standing on cobble stone and paved streets. Travel by motorcoach. At Mont Saint Michel, there is a walk of 0.56 mile from the bus car park to the shuttle, (each way) and many flights of steep steps to climb, as well as dark and narrow passages in the Abbey. Bring a small flashlight and if needed, a collapsible, rubber-tipped walking stick or cane.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: Depart Rennes and drive to Normandy, to the Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Perched on a small rocky island that is connected to the mainland at low tide, Mont Saint Michel is a Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel Michael. EXCURSION: After wending your way up the hilly streets of “the Mont” to its summit, explore the abbey at your own pace with personal audio-guide.
 Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Afternoon: Enjoy some free time before continuing to the city of Bayeux.
 Dinner: In the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel du Luxembourg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: WWII: The Landing at Omaha Beach
(Thursday, May 30)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: ON SITE LECTURE: "The Landing at Omaha." Transported in period WWII vehicles, retrace the movements of the American landing on Omaha Beach. Learn about the ferocity of this battle and look at the landing from a number of perspectives.
 Lunch: In a restaurant near Omaha Beach.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: A wreath-laying ceremony at the US Normandy American Military Cemetery pays respect to fallen troops. Take time to examine the cemetery and the visitor center. Continue to an On Site LECTURE: “The Ranger Assault at Pointe de Hoc”. Then, an EXCURSION: “Calvados and Cheese, Normandy's Pride”. Sample the region's renowned apple brandy at the Chateau d'Englesqueville, where the first US monument to WWII soldiers was built. Return to Bayeux.
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel du Luxembourg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12: The Caen Memorial and Arromanches with André Heintz
(Friday, May 31)

Note: Walking and standing for up to two hours in the museums. Travel by motorcoach.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: Meet André Heintz, now 93 years old and a former member of the French Resistance in Caen, a city that was one of the main targets of the D-Day landings. From 1940 to 1944, when the city was liberated, Heintz gathered information to give to the Allied forces about German positions. En route to Caen, hear his story. FIELD TRIP André Heintz gives his personal tour of the Caen Memorial, a history museum exploring the traumatic events of World War II. Not to be missed in the Auditorium, the film about the D Day landings.
 Lunch: In the Caen Memorial cafeteria.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP to Arromanches. Your WWII expert explains the importance and creation of the "Mulberry Harbors" and the stubborn German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer. Visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches. Return to Bayeux. LECTURE en route by Andre Heintz "Bayeux and the French Resistance."
 Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel du Luxembourg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13: Bayeux Tapestry and Honfleur
(Saturday, June 1)

Note: Walking and standing on cobblestones and paved streets. Travel by motorcoach. The Rouen hotel is situated in the heart of the historic center, which has limited access for motor coaches. There is a walk of 0.34 miles (about 7 minutes) from the drop-off point, to the hotel. Your luggage is carried from the coach to your hotel room and back by porters.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: FIELD TRIP: Examine the Bayeux Tapestry, a lively description of the Middle Ages that describes the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The tapestry is nearly 230 feet long and depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. The actual origins of the tapestry remain a mystery, but legend has it that William's wife Mathilda and her ladies-in-waiting embroidered it. Visit the museum using personal audio guide, and watch a film in English about the making of the Tapestry. Depart to Honfleur, a gem of a harbor village situated where the Seine River meets the English Channel, Honfleur has preserved the traces of a rich historical past with its picturesque streets and timber-framed houses. The changing light on the Seine estuary inspired Courbet, Monet, Boudin and many other painters of the Impressionism movement. Stroll the picturesque Vieux Bassin (Old Port) at leisure.
 Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Afternoon: Free Time in Honfleur, perhaps to visit the museum dedicated to the paintings of Eugene Boudin or the church of Sainte Catherine, one of the largest wooden churches in Europe. Depart to Rouen in the late afternoon.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Rouen
(Sunday, June 2)

Note: Walking and standing for up to two hours on cobblestones and paved streets.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: FIELD TRIP on foot of the historic center of Rouen, the capital of Normandy: Our Lady of Rouen cathedral (painted by Monet), the flamboyant gothic church of Saint Maclou, the old market square where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake, and the charming cobbled streets of the Middle Ages.
 Lunch: Your choice to explore local fare.
 Afternoon: Enjoy free time in Rouen, perhaps to visit the Fine Arts Museum or people-watch from the table of a sidewalk café.
 Dinner: In a local restaurant, featuring Norman cuisine.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure Rouen Centre Cathedrale
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 15: Claude Monet’s Giverny
(Monday, June 3)

Note: Travel by motorcoach. Walking and standing on paved and unpaved ground.
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: Depart Rouen. FIELD TRIP: Visit Giverny, the home and gardens of Claude Monet. As during Monet’s time (1883-1926), the house is painted pink with green shutters. The traditional French gardens display a palette of seasonal colors for the painter-gardener. Take a stroll around the lily pond with its Japanese bridge and weeping willows, portrayed in Monet’s paintings or walk over to the musée des impressionnismes (former Giverny Museum of American Art.)
 Lunch: In a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Continue to Paris, arriving late afternoon.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Villa Pantheon
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Departure
(Tuesday, June 4)
   
 Breakfast: In the hotel breakfast room.
 Morning: Group departure transfer by coach to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Traveler's Guide to D-Day and the Battle for Normandy


Author: Carl Shilleto, Mike Tolhurst


Description: A compact guide to Normandy's WWII battlefields, memorials, sites and cemeteries.



A Traveller's History of France


Author: Robert Cole


Description: This fast-moving survey covers the conquests of ancient Gaul through the heady days of revolution to modern times.



At Home in France


Author: Ann Barry


Description: Subtitled "Tales of an American and Her House Abroad," this account of life in a small village in southwestern France is shot through with Barry's irony and New York outlook on life.



Brittany Map


Author: Michelin Travel Publications


Description: A regional map of Brittany by Michelin at the very good scale of 1:200,000.



Cathedrals and Castles, The Cathedral Builders of the Middle Ages


Author: Alain Erlande-Brandenburg


Description: This pocket-size encyclopedia of the art, architecture and culture of the Middle Ages features hundreds of drawings, color illustrations and a brief chronology.



D-Day June 6, 1944, The Climactic Battle of World War II


Author: Stephen Ambrose


Description: Written by the best-selling historian Stephen Ambrose, this well researched book draws together interviews and government documents to tell the gripping tale of D-Day. This comprehensive account contains 32 pages of photos and eight maps.



Horse of Pride, Life in a Breton Village


Author: Pierre-Jakez Helias, June Guicharnaud (Translator)


Description: A richly detailed novel of Breton lives, culture and folklore in the wake of World War I.



Legends and Romances of Brittany


Author: Lewis Spence


Description: A broad anthology that draws on varying strains of the Breton tradition, including Arthurian legends, the lays of Marie de France and tales of Breton saints as well as more standard fairy stories.



Mont Saint Michel and Chartres


Author: Henry Brooks Adams


Description: First published at the turn of the century, this classic work is a meditation on the Medieval world as reflected through its most famous religious structures.



Normandy Map 513


Author: Michelin


Description: A colorful, detailed map of Normandy at a scale of 1:200,000, featuring Rouen, Le Havre and the route of the Seine from west of Paris to the Atlantic.



On Rue Tatin, Living and Cooking in a French Town


Author: Susan Herrmann Loomis


Description: A refreshingly direct, affectionate memoir of making a home -- and cooking -- in Louviers.



Rough Guide Brittany & Normandy


Author: Greg Ward


Description: An informative, detailed guide to Brittany and Normandy with a good overview of history and culture



The Bayeux Tapestry


Author: David Wilson


Description: An illustrated, full-color reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry, whose colorful embroidery and Latin text tell the story of the Norman victory over England in 1066. The reproduction shows the detailed stitches clearly and is enhanced by Wilson's accompanying text.



The Food of France


Author: Waverly Root


Description: An evocative and beautifully written survey of French food. First published in 1958 and revised in the mid-1970s, the book covers the important regions of French cuisine by dividing them into domains of Butter (northern France), Fat (Alsace) and Oil (the south).



The Most Beautiful Villages of Brittany


Author: Hugh Palmer (Photographer), James Bentley


Description: An illustrated portrait of Brittany, its landscape, architecture and people.



The Oysters of Locmariaquer


Author: Eleanor Clark


Description: Winner of the 1965 National Book Award, this paper edition of Clark's pleasurable portrait of the hardy oystermen and byways of coastal Brittany is introduced by Mark Kurlansky.



The Portrait


Author: Iain Pears


Description: On a remote island off of Brittany, an art critic sits completely still and silent as his old friend paints his portrait and tells him the story of his long and tortured life in this eerie mystery.



The Romance of Tristan and Iseult


Author: Joseph Bedier (Translator), Hillaire Belloc (Translator)


Description: This chivalric myth -- of Arthurian fame -- features a Cornish knight and an Irish princess who are under a spell of love.



The Secret Life of the Seine


Author: Mort Rosenblum


Description: After losing his Paris apartment, Rosenblum, a born storyteller, takes to a houseboat moored on the Seine. The result is this entertaining tour of the places and people he encounters during his explorations along the river.





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