C'est Magnifique: Exploring the Cities and Countryside of France

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Please note that there are several long motorcoach transfers during this program. Due to ecological regulations in France, new motorcoaches do not have restrooms on board. Older models have restrooms, but they are not available for use. A rest stop will be made along the way for rides longer than 90 minutes. The Group Leader will announce when rest stops will be made; speak with the Group Leader if additional stops are needed. French restaurants take pride in creating a relaxed atmosphere where patrons expect to take their time, savor every bite, and set the pace of the meal, requesting “l’addition” — the check — only when they are ready. Meals are accompanied by complimentary “pain” (bread) and “eau” or “l’eau” (water), so you need not ask for them. When wine is offered, it is customary to fill your glass only half way so the wine can breathe and to be sure everyone has a share. Servers wait until everyone at the table has finished their dish before clearing and bringing the next course. To indicate that you have finished your meal, place your utensils together on the right hand side of your plate. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we'll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 172 miles (277 km), approximately 3 hours with a rest stop halfway.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet offering a variety of foods such as eggs, breads, pastries and beverage choices of milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board the motorcoach with a local expert and set out to experience Paris. We will observe Parisian highlights such as the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, and make stops where traffic and parking restrictions allow. As we ride, we’ll learn about the history and cultural significance of these monuments.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with a hot or cold non-alcoholic beverage; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will depart Paris and ride to Bayeux. After checking into our hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant near the hotel, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, relax, and get a good night’s sleep for the full day ahead.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 34 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven pavement and cobblestone streets. Standing for up to 2 hours at museums.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet with a variety of foods such as hard boiled eggs, meats, cheeses, whole fruit, pastries, and beverage choices of milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We will ride via motorcoach to the Mémorial de Caen (Caen Memorial). On arrival, our Group Leader will provide an introduction to the site. Then, we will set out on a self-directed field trip to explore the exhibits with audio provided by the museum. This museum and war memorial commemorates the lives lost during WWII and at the Battle for Caen. In addition to memorializing the Battle for Caen, the museum tells the story of 20th century strife. We will view a film tracing 20th century history, underscoring the message that peace is precious and fragile.

Lunch: At the Caen Memorial, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will return to Bayeux via motorcoach. On arrival, our Group Leader will introduce the site. Then we’ll set out on a self-directed field trip to the legendary Bayeux tapestry. La Tapisserie de Bayeux — the Bayeux Tapestry — is preserved and displayed in a museum. The tapestry is nearly 230 feet long and depicts events leading up to the Norman conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, who defeated the Anglo-Saxon forces led by Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Scholars believe the tapestry may have been commissioned by William’s half-brother, Bishop Odo, while legend prefers the story that William’s wife Mathilda and her ladies-in-waiting embroidered it. At the museum, we will see an English-language film about the tapestry and explore with audio provided by the museum.

Dinner: At a local restaurant near the hotel, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 45 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven terrain; with inclines by the beach. Standing up to 1 hour at a time during field trips.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will ride via motorcoach to the landing beach of Omaha and learn from a local expert about how the beachhead was taken, with great sacrifices from American troops. We will see and discuss many of the remaining gun positions that survive still today. We will then drive to the Normandy American Cemetery to pay our respects to those who sacrificed their lives for liberty.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with a beverage choice of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will explore Pointe du Hoc with our local expert, who will explain how American Army Rangers took the heights under a hail of enemy fire. We will have an opportunity to sample the region's renowned calvados apple brandy and regional cheeses at the Château d'Englesqueville, where the first monument to honor American soldiers who fought here during WWII was built. Our Group Leader will lead us this afternoon.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 253 miles, approximately 4.5 hours throughout the day with stops. Walking up to 2 miles on inclined terrain and cobblestone streets. Note: At Mont Saint Michel, there is a walk of about 1/2 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 flashlight and walking stick if needed.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will go by motorcoach to the place the locals call “le Mont.” With its legendary origin — which its founder said was at the request of the Archangel Michael! — Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France’s best known and most strikingly beautiful landmarks. It is also a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stand the ‘Wonder of the West,’ a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site.” We will set out on a self-directed field trip to explore this historic landmark at our own pace, using audio provided by the museum.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like at Mont Saint Michel.

Afternoon: We will board the motorcoach and ride to Tours. After checking into the hotel, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant in Tours, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; 43 miles, 1.5 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; uneven terrain, gravel paths, cobblestone streets.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet with dishes such as eggs, breakfast meats, breads, cheese, cereals, yogurt, fruit, and beverage choices of milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: With a local expert, we will ride via motorcoach to Clos Lucé, a small château in Amboise. On arrival, we’ll set out on a walking field trip to learn about the life and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. This château was home to Leonardo da Vinci for the last years of his life following an invitation from King Francis I in 1516, who offered it to him as a place to live and work. Restored inside and out to its appearance during Renaissance times, it serves as a museum displaying forty machines of da Vinci’s design, the chapel, and the gardens as they were in the 16th century.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Amboise, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine, soft drink, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will continue our Loire Valley exploration at Château de Chenonceau. On arrival, we’ll set out on self-directed field trip to explore the palace with audio provided by the museum. Built on the foundation of an old mill in the early 16th century, this château is one of the most well known in the Loire Valley. It has a long and complicated history with many owners, most famously Catherine de’ Medici, who made it her favorite residence and added rooms and gardens. Due to its unique structure, the Château managed to escape destruction during the French Revolution by having the only bridge across the river for several miles.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 115 miles (186 km), approximately 2.5 hours total with stops. Walking up to 2 miles during field trips; cobblestone streets, uneven terrain. Standing for up to 2 hours during field trips; even and uneven ground.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board our motorcoach for a field trip to the Château Azay Le Rideau. We will explore this property with a local expert to learn about its architecture, past owners, and the French Renaissance. The Château Azay Le Rideau was built on an island in the middle of the Indre, Gilles de Berthelot, a wealthy financier of Francis I, designed the château with an innovative combination of Italian and French style architecture. Listed as a historic monument by UNESCO, it is considered to be one of the greatest examples of early French Renaissance style architecture. The two main wings were constructed in the 16th century, but its owners continued to add to the chateau over the next few centuries. The Château was finally completed in the 19th century. After hundreds of years of private ownership, the French Government took responsibility of the estate in 1905. Since this time, much work has been done to preserve and restore this historic site and its park.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of glass of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will board our motorcoach and ride to the Château de Villandry. On arrival, we’ll set out on a self-directed field trip to explore the famous gardens with audio provided by the museum. Unusual for the Loire Valley, this chateau and its gardens were the home and pet project of a commoner — albeit one who was powerful and influential — Jean le Breton, the finance minister of King Francois I. The chateau le Breton had built replaced a medieval fortress. Its gardens became famous for their complex symmetrical beauty and have been restored to their original 15th century appearance.

Dinner: On your own in Tours.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off TGV (high speed train); climbing 3-12 steps with railings to reach reserved seat on train; participants are responsible for handling their own luggage; restrooms are on board the train; about 2 hours to Bordeaux, approximately 200 miles. Getting on/off public tramway; traveling about 2 miles, less than 1/2 hour. Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestone streets.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board the motorcoach and ride to the TGV station in Tours. We will take the TGV to Bordeaux. Upon arrival in Bordeaux, luggage will be picked up and brought to the hotel while we take public transit to the city center.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Bordeaux, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will head out on foot with a local expert to explore historic Bordeaux, a UNESCO world heritage site. We’ll hear the story of Bordeaux and learn of its importance with special emphasis on its UNESCO-listed World Heritage architecture. From the UNESCO inscription: “The port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, is inscribed as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Lands. Urban plans and architectural ensembles of the early 18th century onwards place the city as an outstanding example of innovative classical and neoclassical trends and give it an exceptional urban and architectural unity and coherence. Its urban form represents the success of philosophers who wanted to make towns into melting pots of humanism, universality and culture.” One of the sights we will see is the cathédrale Saint-André. Eleanor of Aquitaine and French king Louis VII were married at this cathedral in 1137. With its freestanding bell tower, this is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Bordeaux. This cathedral is also a stop on the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. These routes pass through several regions of France and Spain and are also a UNESCO world heritage site. We’ll then ride to the hotel and check in with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 59 miles, approximately 2 hours. Walking up to 2 miles total during field trips; gravel paths, cobblestone streets, even and uneven ground.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet with choices such as pastries, eggs, meats, cheeses, whole fruit, and beverages choices of milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We will ride via motocoach to the medieval city of Saint-Émilion. We’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore its many historic sites including the Eglise Monolith, the largest underground church in Europe. This structure was carved by Benedictine monks during the 9th-12th centuries. We’ll learn the history and legends behind this city as we explore.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in St. Emilion, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will ride via motorcoach to a local château to learn about and taste the wines of St. Emilion. Many of the growers in this area still keep up the old tradition of planting roses at the ends of the rows. Together, we will learn about the origins of this practice and taste how the “terroir” impacts the wine’s character. We will return to Bordeaux by motorcoach in the late afrernoon. We’ll then have independent time to explore. You might like to stroll the pedestrian streets of the historic center, just footsteps from the hotel.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 208 miles (336 km), approximately 3.5 hours, with a rest stop. Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestone streets; with inclines. Note: Carcassonne is a walled medieval city with only pedestrian access.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll ride via motorcoach to Carcassonne.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Carcassonne, we'll enjoy a plated meal featuring Toulouse-style Cassoulet, a slow-cooked casserole containing meat (typically pork sausages, goose, duck and sometimes mutton) and white navy beans. The dish is named after its traditional cooking vessel, the cassole, a deep, round, earthenware pot with slanting sides. The meal will be serve with wine or a soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore Carcassonne. Carcassonne is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic village has been a fortified settlement since the pre-Roman period. Over the years settlements withered and new ones were built. What we will see today is the remains of a medieval era fortified town. Next, we’ll have some independent time to explore Carcassonne. Then, we’ll travel to our hotel in Carcasonne and check in with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: On your own in Carcassonne.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 169 miles (273 km), approximately 3.5 hours total, with stops. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; cobblestone streets; uneven terrain, dirt paths, inclined terrain at Pont du Gard.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll ride via motorcoach to Narbonne. On arrival, we will set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore this town. We’ll learn about the cultural significance of the famous les Halles (covered markets.)

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Narbonne, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will board the motorcoach and depart for Pont du Gard, an aqueduct bridge built in A.D. 60 by the Romans to supply water to Nimes. We’ll learn about its construction and its uses throughout history. Then, we will make the final leg of the journey to Arles and check-in to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant in Arles, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 24 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking up to 3.5 miles; cobblestone streets, steep terrain, pedestrian only.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have a breakfast buffet with choices such as eggs, breads, cheeses, cereals, fruit, and beverage choices of milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll ride to Arles and begin with an on-site lecture by a local expert on France's Roman roots. Then, we will set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore Arles. Local landmarks will come alive as we experience what life was like for an average citizen of ancient Rome. We will explore the Roman amphitheater — a splendid and complex piece of architecture in the middle of the city — and learn about the games the Romans enjoyed here. We will also explore the Roman theatre, cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries), and the 12th-14th century Basilique Saint-Trophime (Basilica Church of Saint Trophime) and its cloister. This is one of Provence's major Romanesque monuments and its design is strongly influenced by ancient Roman art. We will also learn about the time Vincent Van Gogh spent here and the places that inspired some of his finest and best-known works.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Arles, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will board the motorcoach and depart for Les-Baux-de-Provence, where will set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader to explore the village of Les Baux de Provence, where an "eagle's nest" fortress was built in the 10th century. Located on a rocky plateau, this medieval stronghold provides a panoramic view of Arles and the Camargue region. Entirely restored, Les Baux contains 22 architectural treasures classified as Historic Monuments by the French government such as a Romanesque church, medieval castle, renaissance façades, and ancient townhouses. Then, we will set out with a local expert on a walking field trip to explore an olive oil mill. We’ll learn about the production of olive oil in this area of France and have the opportunity to taste it for ourselves!

Dinner: On your own in Arles.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling about 67 miles, approximately 2 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestone streets.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will board the motorcoach and drive to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. On arrival, we will set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore a local winery. We’ll learn about the different types of Châteauneuf wines.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of a glass of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will ride via motorcoach to the medieval city of Avignon. We’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore this city and learn about it's history. Occupied since the Celtic era, Avignon is one of the few cities in France that still has its medieval ramparts. The complex of monuments including the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), the remains of a 12th-century bridge, the so-called Petit Palais, and the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Doms has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll stop at the Barthelasse Presqu'île to enjoy the view of the Rhône and the celebrated bridge "Pont d'Avignon." The bridge was formerly one of the entrances to this fortified city, whose ramparts represent some of the finest examples of medieval fortifications in existence. We will then walk with our local expert to Les Palais des Papes. We’ll visit the official papal residence of the 14th century — one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic structures in Europe.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with a beverage choice of wine or soft drink; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s Travel Information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!