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Versailles & the Loire Valley
Versailles & the Loire Valley
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Versailles & the Loire Valley
6 Days Starting and ending in St Pancras International
Visiting: France
Tour operator:
Tour code:
20LVS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Interests:
Tour Overview
From the former homes of two masters, Monet and da Vinci, to the flamboyant excesses of Versailles, this holiday in northern France reveals the historical and cultural gems that stud the Loire Valley.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 - London to France
Meet at our dedicated St Pancras Departure Office before
boarding your scheduled Eurostar service to Paris. From the Gare du
Nord, you'll take a coach transfer to Vernon, a small town in
Normandy. Here you'll enjoy two nights at the Hotel Normandy.
Day 2 - Monet’s garden
Today it's just a short drive to Giverny, home to the world
famous Claude Monet gardens. Your entrance is included to both the
house and gardens.
There are 2 parts to the gardens: The Clos Norman, which gently
slopes down from Monet's home and is divided into flowerbeds and a
range of fruit trees. Interestingly, Monet would pair flowers
determined by colour and would leave them to grow freely. Iron
arches cover the centre of the garden, climbing roses growing
freely across it.
The second of Monet's gardens is the water garden, which was the
inspiration for many of his Impressionist paintings such as his
most iconic work, 'Water Lilies'. There is the famous Japanese
bridge, covered in wisteria and arches over the pond below. After
an insightful tour, the rest of your day is at leisure.
Day 3 - The Palace of Versailles
This morning, you are taken by coach to Versailles Palace, the
opulent former seat of the French royal family until the
Revolution. The palace gardens are just as impressive as Versilles
itself, and are amongst some of the most recognisable in the world,
featuring a web of manicured lawns, extravagant fountains, and
dramatic sculptures. Take a guided tour around the sumptuous
interiors, seeing the historically important Hall of Mirrors.
Outside the palace grounds, there is Versaille Park which is a
delight with its 'Lime Tree Walk' featuring 500 linden trees
planted in uniform lines. Covering 23 hecatares, the Grand Canal is
famed for its picture-perfect views. It took just 10 years to
build, thanks to the hard work of Louis XIV's architect, who took
great care with all the measurements to ensure for the perfect view
overlooking the canal. Afterwards, continue by coach to
Rambouillet, where you check into your hotel, the 3* Ibis
Rambouillet.
Days 4-5 - Rambouillet and Tours
This morning you have a little time to explore Rambouillet, a
designated town of art and history, before making the journey to
Chartres, famous for its Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Next continue to
Tours and the Ibis Tours Centre Gare, your base for 3 nights.
Discover the largest city in the Loire Valley on Day
5, with a guided walking tour that takes in the
Archbishop's Palace, Old City of Tours, and Saint Martin's
Basilica. Built between 1886 and 1924 by architect Victor Laloux,
the current basilica was built over the tomb of Saint Martin, which
was uncovered in 1860. Today, the crypt calls pilgrims from all
over the world.
Days 6 - Châteaux of northern France
Enjoy an excursion to Château de Chenonceau, which elegantly
spans the River Cher. The Château dates back to the 12th century,
but the only original features that have survived are the dungeons.
Having undergone many renovations throughout the centuries, the
current Château was built between 1513 and 1517 by Thomas Bohier.
After looking around the château and its picturesque fountain
gardens, travel to Amboise, former site of the French royal court,
for some time at Château du Clos Lucé, the site of Leonardo da
Vinci's death in 1519.
It was originally home to the Amboise family during the Middle
Ages, and then under the reign of Louis XI in 1471. Later, it was
used as Charles VIII's summer home. The château was saved from
destruction during the French Revolution by the Amboise family.
Da Vinci's lasting legacy on the Château is very much apparent
when you visit. Spending the last 3 years of his life here, he
completed several projects for King Francis I under the title of
'Premier Painter, Engineer, and Architect of the King'. Displayed
in the basement are 40 replica models and 3D animations which show
you the extent of Leonardo da Vinci's engineering knowledge.
Leonardo's gardens at the Château are also delightful to wander
around. Learn how nature inspired his work with the caves, streams
and waterfalls. There are also models of his more famous
engineering work, including an assault chariot, aerial screw, and
paddle boat.
Day 7 - Return to London
Transfer to Tours' station for the train to Paris. In the
capital board your Eurostar service back to London St Pancras.
What's Included
Accommodation
- Ibis Rambouillet, Rambouillet
- Ibis Tours Centre Gare, Tours
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