See the highlights of Paris plus Brittany, the Loire Valley, and the World War II landing beaches in Normandy in a short amount of time – this year during the 75th anniversary of the DDay Landings!
Starting at $3,259
Beautiful scenery combined with famous landmarks, charming châteaux, and fascinating history sum up this tour—with overnights in Paris, elegant Deauville, Caen, Mont St. Michel, and the Loire Valley.
World War II history comes to life as you focus on some of the locations involved in D-Day, June 6, 1944. You’ll visit the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach and Juno Beach Center and Park.
Go even further back in history when you visit the famous 8th-century Abbey of Mont St. Michel perched on a rocky isle; the 13th-century gothic cathedral in Chartres; and the jewel of the French Renaissance, Château Chambord in the Loire Valley, and a huge castle with towers on all corners. Also visit the 16th-century château of Catherine de Medici, Chenonceau, and a fairy-tale castle with a moat, drawbridge, and towers.
To give you a sense of the culture, Globus has also included some out-of-the-ordinary treats. Enjoy a special visit to Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny, created by the master himself; and a wine tasting at a wine cellar in Civray de Touraine.
9-Day Tour from Paris to Paris
- PARIS Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- GIVERNY Visit the home and gardens of Claude Monet
- ROUEN Walking tour, admire the façade of the cathedral
- DEAUVILLE Orientation
- NORMANDY BEACHES Visit Juno Beach Center and Park, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach with the Monument to the Braves, and the American Cemetery and Memorial
- BAYEUX Visit Queen Matilda’s tapestry in the Tapestry Museum
- MONT ST. MICHEL Guided visit of the abbey
- CHÂTEAUBRIANT Morning break
- ANGERS Take pictures of the castle
- LOIRE VALLEY Full-day guided sightseeing excursion, visit Chambord and Chenonceau Castles
- CIVRAY DE TOURAINE Wine tasting at the Père Auguste wine cellar
- CHARTRES Visit the gothic cathedral
ITINERARY DETAILS
Day 1 ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE
Welcome to Paris! At 5:30 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and an orientation drive for a first impression of this magnificent city.
Dinner
Day 2 PARIS
In the morning, an optional excursion to the impressive Palace and Gardens of Versailles, built by the “Sun King,” Louis XIV, is available. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Opéra, Madeleine, Champs-Elysées, and Arc de Triomphe. Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL with its Rose Windows. Later, dinner and a lively cabaret show at one of Paris’ nightclubs might just be the ticket!
Breakfast
Day 3 PARIS–GIVERNY–ROUEN–DEAUVILLE.
In Giverny, a highlight visit has been included to CLAUDE MONET’S HOUSE AND GARDENS. The master of Impressionism created the flower- and water gardens himself, an inspiration for his famous water lily series. Continue to Rouen and admire the façade of the cathedral, which was one of Monet’s favorite subjects for his Series Paintings, where he captured how a subject was visually influenced by the ever-changing light. Twenty paintings of the cathedral existed, and many are today in Paris’ Orsay Museum. Time to stroll along the lovely cobblestoned Rue du Gros-Horloge leading to the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Arrive in Deauville. This seaside resort is famous for its international film festival, and became home to the French high society. Don’t forget to walk the Promenade des Planches, boards in tropical wood, built in 1923 so that the elegant ladies could walk on the beach without spoiling their dresses.
Breakfast
Day 4 DEAUVILLE–NORMANDY BEACHES–CAEN
Focus on the scene of the Allied Forces’ landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Take pictures of the Pegasus Bridge, visit JUNO BEACH CENTER and PARK, then stop at Gold Beach for a view of the Mulberry Harbor remains at Arromanches. Next is POINTE DU HOC. At OMAHA BEACH, see the Monument to the Braves, and visit the AMERICAN CEMETERY and memorial. Continue to Caen for your overnight stay.
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 5 CAEN–BAYEUX–MONT ST. MICHEL.
In Bayeux, admire QUEEN MATILDA’S TAPESTRY, depicting in extraordinary detail William the Conqueror’s conquest of England. Time to further explore the town center before continuing to the Gulf of Saint-Malo. Look forward to a guided visit of the famous ABBEY OF MONT ST. MICHEL, with a history going back to the 8th-century and spectacularly perched on a rocky isle. Overnight on the coast near Mont St. Michel
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 6 MONT ST. MICHEL–CHÂTEAUBRIANT–ANGERS–LOIRE VALLEY
Drive straight across Brittany via Châteaubriant to Angers, and take pictures of the impressive 13th-century castle. Then, continue your journey to the Loire Valley. Tonight, why not sample French cuisine at one of the area’s excellent restaurants?
Breakfast
Day 7 LOIRE VALLEY. EXCURSION TO CHÂTEAUX COUNTRY.
A wonderful day: visit two of the most important castles in the area. Start with the jewel of the French Renaissance, CHÂTEAU CHAMBORD. The castle is the largest château in the Loire Valley, originally built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I. Next is the 16th-century château of Catherine de Medici, lovely CHENONCEAU. End this fascinating day with a WINE TASTING at the Père Auguste wine cellar in Civray de Touraine to learn about the local wines before returning to your hotel.
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 8 LOIRE VALLEY–CHARTRES–PARIS.
On your way to Paris, stop in Chartres and visit its superb 13th-century gothic CATHEDRAL—a jewel of medieval architecture. Tonight, you may wish to join an optional excursion to the artists’ hill of Montmartre, followed by a relaxing cruise on the beautiful Seine River as a proper au revoir, Paris!
Breakfast
Day 9 PARIS
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
Terms and Conditions Include:
*Book and deposit a 2019 Globus vacation (excluding Cuba and Escapes by Globus) to save 5% per person on the land-only portion of the core tour not including extra night accommodations, extensions, taxes/fees tips or supplements. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 4, 2017 and April 30, 2019 for travel in 2019. Does not apply to Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways. Offer is combinable only with the Welcome Back Credit and any applicable air promos. Offer reliant on space availability. Applies to new 2019 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply; see Travel Terms & Conditions for details. May be withdrawn at any time. Available from participating GFOB offices only. EBDA
