Day 18 Tuesday 20 Sep
Reims and the Champagne
Tour the Champagne district today with a
local guide beginning with the UNESCO
world heritage listed Reims Cathedral of
Notre-Dame and the Palace of Tau, the
grand residence of the Kings of France
preceding their coronation at the Cathedral. Next you drive into the Champagne
countryside where perfect villages dot the
world’s most famous vineyards and visit
the grand Vranken- Pommery champagne
estate for a tour and tasting. A Farewell
Dinner is arranged for you in a regional
restaurant tonight.
Overnight Reims
Breakfast ● Dinner
route to the fairy tale village of Riquewihr. High on every listing of France’s
most beautiful villages, it is said that a
more delightful village anywhere in Europe could not be found. Surrounded by
rolling hills of perfect rows of vines you
visit a wine cellar where noted Rieslings
are produced and have free time to enjoy
the historical architecture and village
ambience before returning to Colmar.
Overnight Colmar
Breakfast
Day 14 Friday 16 Sep
Colmar to Strasbourg
Mittelburgheim is another of your most
beautiful villages and another which is
steeped in Franco- German culture. Stop
for lunch before continuing to nearby
Strasbourg, the charming principal city
of the Alsace. Set on the banks of the
River Ile and a stone’s throw from the
River Rhine, Strasbourg is a magnificent
historical landmark and seat of the European Parliament, the European Court of
Human Rights and the Council of Europe. Check in to your character hotel in
the old town for the next three nights.
Overnight Strasbourg
Breakfast
Day 15 Saturday 17 Sep
Strasbourg
Sightseeing in Strasbourg with a your
local guide today includes the UNESCO
protected Grand Ile historic centre. It has
the distinction of being the first whole
city centre to receive the honour of
UNESCO world heritage listing. You
also visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, La
Petite France, the Museum of Alsace and
Le Chateau de Rohan and the see the
European Parliament buildings. Dinner
tonight includes regional cuisine, quiche
and other local specialities. The Alsace
is world renowned for its very fine food.
Overnight Strasbourg
Breakfast ● Dinner
E&OE
Day 16 Sunday 18 Sep
Strasbourg
Today is at your leisure to relax and
explore Strasbourg. Your tour leader is
on hand to assist you. You may wish to
cross the Rhine to Germany, take a train
or take a walk through Strasbourg’s
German Quarter. You might choose to
take a river boat to admire the old
town’s renaissance timber framed houses from its waterways or see the superb
collection of artworks at the Musee de
l’Oeuvre.
Overnight Strasbourg
Breakfast
Day 17 Monday 19 Sep
Day 19 Wednesday 21 Sep
Reims to Paris
Depart for Paris this morning. On arrival
you check in to your hotel and enjoy a free
afternoon and evening. Your tour leader is
on hand to assist you.
Overnight Paris
Breakfast
Day 20 Thursday 22 Sep
Paris to Dubai
Depart Paris today on your afternoon
flight to Dubai. Here you connect with
your flight on to Adelaide.
Breakfast ● Meals in flight
Day 21 Friday 23 Sep
Arrive in Adelaide this evening.
Strasbourg to Reims
Take the motorway today from Strasbourg to Reims in the heart of France’s
magnificent Champagne district. Stop
for lunch in Nancy, the former capital of
the Duchy of Lorraine. Continue to
Reims this afternoon where you settle in
to your hotel.
Overnight Reims
Breakfast
EDUCATIONAL and CULTURAL TOURS
223 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000
T (08) 8223 1272 ● F (08) 8232 3690 ● E [email protected]
TTA 183
ATAS A11046
PHOTOGRAPHS: Romain.pontida; Wikiwand; Russ Bowling; Jonathan Martz;
Mschlindwein; Giraud Patrick; Stephanie Martin; Brian Jannsen; Espirat
...enriching lives through cultural exchange
Geneva Switzerland ● Annecy ● Yvoire ● Chamonix ● Baume
les Messieurs ● Besançon ● Colmar ● Eguisheim ● Riquewihr
Strasbourg ● Reims ● Champagne District ● Paris
T
he picture post card villages of eastern France abutting the Swiss and
German borders are some of the most charming in the world. These
fairy tale villages nestled amongst breathtaking valleys, lakes and
mountains offer a glimpse of ancient Europe and are astoundingly unspoilt in a
tourism sense. Many of the villages on this exciting new itinerary are members
of the prestigious ‘Association of France’s Most Beautiful Villages’. Their history, art, cultural treasures and traditions are explored from the French Alps to
the magnificent Alsace- Lorraine and the French Champagne district. Beginning in Geneva on the Swiss border to France and departing from Paris this
tour allows you to savour idyllic landscapes and authentic villages and towns at
an unhurried pace. Travelling on country roads and lodging in boutique style
hotels join our delightful French Australian tour leader Dominique Lukehurst
on this unique discovery of simply beautiful French villages.
is as pretty a village as you could ever
imagine. Its houses, lanes and gardens
are amassed with floral blooms. It is an
International Laureat of floral decoration
and is a member of the Association of the
most beautiful villages in France. Enjoy
the flowers and quaint harbour and don’t
miss the superb Garden of Five Senses.
Overnight Annecy
Breakfast
Day 8 Saturday 10 Sep
Baume les Messieurs
Tour the Baume les Messieurs caves this
morning. Here you can see great stalactite filled rooms which have been nicely
lit for maximum impact. You also pause
in the hilltop village of Chateau-Chalon
to admire the views over the vineyards
and valleys. The afternoon is at your leisure to potter and enjoy.
Overnight near Baume les Messieurs
Breakfast
Tour Leader: Dominique Lukehurst. French born Dominique has taught
French language at the WEA for numerous years. She has led many international tours and has a great sense of humour and endearing, caring personality.
Day 9 Sunday 11 Sep
Inclusions: Flights Adelaide to Adelaide ● Fully Escorted ● Local Guides ●
Hotel Accommodation ● Meals as per itinerary ● All Entrance fees as per itinerary ● Pre and Post tour get togethers ● Study Notes
21 Days $ 9390 Twin share
+ Airline Taxes ($190 as of Sep 2015)
Single Supplement $1485
Balance Due 22 June 2016
Day 1 Saturday 3 Sep
Depart Adelaide
Depart Adelaide this evening with Emirates to Dubai.
Overnight in flight
Meals in Flight
Day 2 Sunday 4 Sep
Dubai to Geneva- Switzerland
Depart Dubai this morning on your flight
to Geneva. This lovely city is perfectly
situated on the shores of Lake Geneva and
is enveloped by the European Alps. An
international headquarters of diplomacy,
its Swiss culture and sophistication is evident at every turn. You arrive early afternoon and are taken to your hotel to rest,
relax and soak up your gorgeous surroundings.
Overnight Geneva
Day 3 Monday 5 Sep
Geneva
Take a walking tour this morning with a
local guide through old Geneva to see the
famed flower clock, the Place Bourg du
Four, St Pierre Cathedral and the charming old town centre. After free time to
enjoy lunch you have a boat cruise on
Lake Geneva. Admire the imposing water
fountain le Jet d’Eau which soars from the
lake and the pictureque Alps as you
cruise. A Swiss Fondue welcome dinner is
arranged for you this evening.
Overnight Geneva
Breakfast ● Dinner
I’Isle, Annecy cathedral and the Basilique
de la Visitation to explore also. You are
free to sample one of the numerous restaurants and eateries this evening.
Overnight Annecy
Breakfast
Annecy
As one of France’s most desired towns to
visit, Annecy is worth spending time in
rather than simply rushing through. Today is a day of leisure providing you the
opportunity to do this at your own pace.
Your tour leader is on hand to help you
get the most out of your day.
Overnight Annecy
Breakfast
Day 7 Friday 9 Sep
Day 4 Tuesday 6 Sep
Geneva to Annecy
Cross the border from Switzerland in to
France on a leisurely drive this morning to
Annecy- truly one of the most heralded
towns in all of France. Topping just about
all of France’s most beautiful towns lists,
Annecy is sure to delight. On arrival you
have an orientation walk culminating at
the Chateau d’Annecy castle which dominates the old town and houses an historical museum. Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore the picture perfect lanes
and waterways at your own pace. There
is another local museum at the Palais de
Day 6 Thursday 8 Sep
Baume les Messieurs to Besançon
Depart for Besançon after breakfast stopping in the pretty village of Ornans in the
Loue River valley over lunch. It is just a
short drive this afternoon on to Besançon
where you check in to your hotel for the
next two nights. Besançon is true gem; a
small provincial capital crammed with art
and history which is perfectly unspoilt in
a tourism sense. Its fine citadel is now
UNESCO World Heritage listed.
Overnight Besançon
Breakfast
Day 5 Wednesday 7 September
Yviore
Take a relaxing side trip today to medieval Yvoire on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Here you discover 700 years of history in
the form of a 14th century castle, fortified
city gates and medieval ramparts. Yvoire
Annecy to Baume les Messieurs
After breakfast you wind along French
country roads to Baume les Messieurs,
classified too as one of the most beautiful
villages in France. It is a perfect ensemble of unspoilt streets set in a tranquil
landscape of forested limestone peaks. A
small river flows through its idyllic centre. You visit the late 6th century Benedictine Baume Abbey where you have a
guided tour detailing its remarkable history and see the noted 16th C retable, a
beautiful and intricate framed alter piece.
Take a scenic drive through the three
gorges known as the Cirque le Baume.
Overnight near Baume les Messieurs
Breakfast
Day 10 Monday 12 Sep
Besançon
This morning you explore the Citadelle
of Besançon with a local guide. It is said
to be one of the finest masterpieces of
defensive architecture designed by Vauban. It is perched in the neck of an oxbow formed by the River Doubs, giving
it great strategic importance. It has magnificent views over the old city quarter
and is very well preserved. In the afternoon you are free to amble and explore at
your own pace. There is the astronomical
clock inside the Cathedral and the Fort of
Beauregard to see and the Musee des
Beaux Arts to discover. Known as the
‘Little Louvre’ this galley is considered
to have one of the best permanent collections of art in France outside of Paris.
Overnight Besançon
Breakfast
Day 11 Tuesday 13 Sep
Besançon to Colmar
After breakfast you travel to Ronchamp
to visit the church of le Corbusier and to
pause for lunch. In the afternoon you
continue to beautiful Colmar. Close to
the German border, the Vosges Mountains and the River Rhine, delightful
Colmar has so much to offer. Like
scenes from a picture book, fairy tale
houses line the lanes and canals and the
floral displays are magnificent. In the
heart of the Alsace, Colmar has changed
hands many times between France and
Germany adding to its rich history and
cultural blend. Check in to your hotel
for the next three nights. Dinner tonight
is enjoyed together in a German style
wine cellar restaurant following a traditional folklore show.
Overnight Colmar
Breakfast ● Dinner
Day 12 Wednesday 14 Sep
Colmar
Just beyond Colmar’s fringes is the village of Eguisheim, voted the favourite
village of the French people in 2013.
Spend the morning here before returning
to Colmar for some free time. There is
the old town to explore and the charming canals of ‘Little Venice’. Admire the
half- timbered architecture, beautiful
churches and fountains, markets and
museums. The Musee d’Unterlinden
houses an outstanding collection of artworks and artefacts and is noted as the
most visited museum outside of Paris.
Housed in a 13th century Dominican
convent its most well known sight is the
Isenheim alter piece.
Overnight Colmar
Breakfast
Day 13 Thursday 15 Sep
Riquewihr
Visit the Haut-Koenigsbourg medieval
castle and French national historic site
in the Vosges Mountains this morning
then continue along the Alsatian wine