France in the Fall

Group Trip
September 11 to 24

September 11 and 12, 2016
Group Trip Days 1 and 2 
Burgundy (2)
Don and Colleen depart hotel by private car which delivers them to a hotel TBD at or near CDG 
Meet LaValleys and James at that CDG area hotel

We leave the busy city and move on to ultra-quiet, rural Nitry (232 K) in farming and cattle part of Burgundy (not to be confused with wine part) this is where all of those baguettes and beef Bourgogne come from! There are many beautiful villages and historical sites in this part of Burgundy.

We stay two nights in a sprawling former manor farm converted to a restaurant and hotel with very creative and large by French standards rooms decorated to match old professions (shoemaker, clock maker, dress maker, etc) The cooking here is typical French but more geared toward the Everyman tastes, simpler food but still excellent.

This hotel does not have air-con. In the countryside it's not needed. The walls of this old building are thick and it stays comfortable. Even so, a fan can be provided if you desire.

Here is where we will be staying:

http://www.beursaudiere.com/uk/index.php

Chateau Bussy-Rabutin

See:

• Vezeley where relics of Mary Magdelene are kept
• Chateau Bussy-Rabutin, lovely countryside castle with garden (pic above)
• Abbaye de Fonteney, the best of the abbeys in this region

September 13 and 14
Days 3 and 4
Beaune (2)
(120 k)
Wine area of Burgundy

See:

• Chateauneuf, picturesque hamlet on the way
• Beaune itself, ancient hospital from 1400s
• Wine tasting in an interesting cellar
• Meursault - nearby - famous for white Burgundy

James was in Beaune on July 20 and while there he visited a tiny bed and breakfast which he thinks will be just perfect for our stay in this ancient small town. The B&B has only four rooms, personal service and it is sort of hidden away, an exclusive retreat right in the center of town.

You can walk to everything. Beaune is a culinary capital of France and you will have a wide variety of styles to choose from.

This small B&B does have air-conditioning. Check it out here:

http://www.hotel-fatien-beaune.com/en/

Chenancoux Chateaux

September 15, 16 and 17
Days 5, 6 and 7 
The Loire Valley
Amboise (3)
(Our longest drive at 400 Kilometers or about 3.5 hours with a stop for lunch and a walk around an interesting place)
In the heart of chateau country
Stay in the town where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last few years of his life as a guest of the King of France

We stay in a charming and classy bed and breakfast just about five mins walk from the heart of Amboise and all restaurants, etc. Your rooms have a view of the imposing Amboise chateau.

This luxury B&B has A/C. Rooms are reached via a winding staircase (ample
room and staff carries our heavy bags for us)

Visit our home base in Amboise here: http://www.manoirlesminimes.com/en/

See and do on our second and third days here:

• Leonardo's retirement home
• Chenancoux Chateau, built by women for women with men's money!
• Nearby small city of Tours with its wonderful stained glass from 1300s
• Troglodyte caves, interesting!
• Wine tasting

 

Stained glass in the Tours Cathedral dating back to the 1300s

September 18 and 19
Days 8 and 9 
Brittany
(Second longest drive at 348 Kilometers)
Stay in a chateau (2)

See and do on our second day here:

• Mont-Saint-Michel (worth two hours and not more)
• Nearby Cancale (famous for mussels and oysters)

 A couple of images from Dinan, wonderful medieval town

On the way up to our chateau bed and breakfast we stop and visit Dinan, a fabulous old medieval town loaded with half-timbered houses and atmosphere

Our home base, an early 17th century chateau called "La Ballue" has just four rooms and a family suite. It was built in 1620 on foundations of a much older castle right on the dividing line between Brittany and Normandy. Rooms are huge and full of antiques. We have received permission from the owner to create our own "picnique" in the evenings, which will be a fun way to enjoy the chateau without having to leave and drive to dinner at the end of a busy and eventful day.

Visit the chateau here: http://www.la-ballue.com/en/home?gclid=CN2H9qvdhcgCFSIewwodZLEPTw

The hotel we use in Bayeux is perfectly situated for all of the sights.

This is the view from one of the rooms. 

September 20, 21 and 22
Days 10, 11 and 12
Normandy
Bayeux (3)
(Short drive of about 90 mins)

See and do:

• The most important sites related to the D-Day invasion
• Bayeux Tapestry which is world-famous and recounts the Norman invasion of England in 1066
• Nearby Honfleur, a very pretty and very old port town

 

 The church in St-Mere-Eglise where American paratrooper

John Steele hung from his parachute during "The Longest Day."

 American Military Cemetery with nearly 10,000 

brave men killed during and after the invasion

Saving the best hotel for last, we stay in a luxury 4-star located in the direct center of the town. The owners have created the perfect hotel which caters almost exclusively to what North Americans want. It is by far the winner in several polls of our guests who have been to France with us. The service here is so good you'll want to take the staff home with you. Full mod-cons here.

Visit the hotel here: http://www.hotel-villalara.com/en/index.php#/index.php

(Most hotels where we stay are class upper three and four star. All are places where we have stayed with guests before, so they have passed the test)

 You will enjoy plenty of the wonderful French 

bread and pastries during your trip

 Honfleur, Normandy

September 23
Day 13
En Route to Paris CDG

A pleasant countryside tour through the Calvados region with a stop or two in picturesque hamlets or small towns.
Stop and visit Monet's Garden at Giverny
Stay final night in a hotel near CDG (1)

September 24
Departure Day (Day 14)
Drop off by James at terminal CDG

No, not our tour van. But a fun car anyway!

Thank you


James Derheim