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2009 French Art de Vie
From Bordeaux to Toulouse
7 days / 6 nights
Day 1: Bordeaux
Bordeaux sightseeing in Minibus. Among the places of interest:
L’Esplanade des Quinconces, the largest esplanade in Europe, La place du Parlement, historic central square, Vieux Bordeaux" area between Saint Michel and les Chartrons, The Quartier des Grands Hommes the street names associated with great figures from Bordeaux's and France's past: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire and Diderot.
The Grand Théâtre, imposing building of neo-classical style, The church of Notre Dame inspired by the 'Gesu' style of Roman baroque , built at the end of the XVIIth century.
Cathédrale Saint André, built between the IXth and XIVth centuries is a little gem in the French Gothic style.
The Quai des Chartrons: in the XVIIth it became head-quarters to the wine trade.
The Pont de Pierre: a real symbol for Bordeaux.
Lunch at your leisure.
(Suggestion : the Café du Musée restaurant, in the Musée d’Art
Moderne or Cajou Caffé or le Bistro du Sommelier)
Dinner & Overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 : The Arcachon Basin
Departure for the Arcachon basin. This lagoon sits on the Atlantic coast some 45 minutes west of Bordeaux. On the way we will stop at the Dune de Pyla – highest sand dune in Europe – to catch the beautiful views over the ocean and the interior forested in pines.
Arrival in Arcachon: stroll around the town.
Short boat trip to see the celebrated « tchanquées », picturesque oyster-breeders cabins on stilts.
Lunch; Chez Diego l’Ecailler, a Seafood restaurant on the sea-front.
Continue Towards to Bordeaux, stop at a sturgeon farm: visit and tasting of caviar.
Dinner at Le Chapon Fin restaurant (1* Michelin Guide).
Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 : Bordeaux / Saint Emilion / Gascony
Leave Bordeaux for Saint Emilion. The village is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit to a Saint-Emilion Grand-Cru vineyard.
Lunch in Saint-Emilion.
Saint-Emilion, is a ravishing little mediaeval village on a hill surrounded by wine estates and chateaux. A Guided visit of the town and church, and its surprising underground monuments: The monk Emilion's cave – founder of the town - the catacombs, the ancient underground cemetery as well as the 'Monolith Church', one of Europe's largest in terms of dimensions.
In the afternnon we head for Gascony.
Dinner and overnight at Cazaubon
Day 4 : Armagnac & the Three Musketeers country
▪ Condom: visit to the Armagnac ageing cellars followed by a private tasting of this famous spirit. Visit to the Abbaye Cistercienne de Flaran (XIIth) and its magnificent Simonov collection comprising works of the XVIth and XXth centuries including Renoir, Cézanne, Rodin...
▪ Larressingle, beautiful example of a XIIIth century fortified village carefully restored and which served as residence to the Bishop of Condom. One of 'most beautiful villages of France'.
▪ Lectoure : guided visit of the workshop-gallery devoted to the "Bleu de Lectoure" –the astonishing history of 'pastel' or 'woad', the colour blue extracted from the pastel flower and the basis for the whole region's 'Golden Age' in the XVIth century.
Lunch at leisure.
(We suggest the hôtel de Bastard – Member of the 'Musketeers Circle' – association of the best Gascony chefs.)
▪ Auch : Mediaeval town with an impressive architectural heritage. At the foot of the staircase lies the statue of the Count of Armagnac, captain of the King's musketeers.
Dinner and overnight at Cazaubon.
Day 5: Pau / Saint-Bertrand de Comminges / Toulouse
Departure for Pau, the elegant city located in the foothills of the mighty Pyrenees Mountains.
Visit of the King Henri IV's castle. The handsome Renaissance windows and other details on the inner courtyard were added by Henri d'Albret. Louis-Philippe renovated it in the nineteenth century, and Napoleon III and Eugenie further extended it. With somefine tapestries and bits of Henri-IV memorabilia, like the turtle shell that allegedly served him for a cradle.
Lunch at leisure.
Then depart to Saint-Bertrand de Comminges : both the Romanesque-style "Saint Just Valcabrère" basilica, built during the XIIth century from the architectural fragments of Roman buildings and the "Saint-Bertrand de Comminges" cathedral. Built in 1550, the cathedral houses a historical organ: one of France's finest classical instruments. (Concerts in July and August)
Departure for Toulouse. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Toulouse
Day 6 : Toulouse
Visit of the principal monuments of the city:
▪ The Capitole : the actual City Hall and National Theatre are housed in thismagnificent building on the square of the same name: the façade with its 8 columns of pink marble,
▪ La basilique Saint-Sernin, the largest Romanesque church in Europe and compulsory halt on the pilgrims' way to Santiago de Compostella.
▪ The Jacobins, founded in the XIIIth and XIVth centuries this beautiful monastery made entirely of brick is an excellent example of Languedocian Gothic. Where the tomb of St Thomas Aquinas is located.
▪ Musée des Beaux-arts, installed since 1793 in the Augustins convent, hosts a remarkable collection of Romanesque and southern gothic sculptures.
n The Renaissance-style Hotel d'Assézat houses the Bemberg Fondation: Renaissance bronzes and Venetian scullptures and paintings.
Lunch and dinner at leisure.
Gourmet dinner in a 1-star Michelin restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Toulouse
Day 7 : Depart Toulouse
Breakfast at your Hotel.
End of our services.
Included in prices : - Transport in luxury coach
- The services of a professional guide throughout the tour with commentaries in English.
- Accommodation and meals for the driver
- Accommodation in 4* stars in Bordeaux and 3* hotels in other cities
- Breakfast from day 2 to day 7
- 6 dinners (including 2 gourmet dinners, 1 in Bordeaux and 1 in Toulouse)
- 1 seafood gourmet lunch in Arcachon
- Visits as mentioned
Prices available on application
Not included in prices:
- Flights.
- Drinks, other meals not mentioned in the program.
- Any other options, tips or personal expenses, luggage handling
- Insurance.
Optional excursions :
1 day Excursion Carcassonne + additional night in Toulouse
Visit the citadel which dominates the old town. It's a town within a town,
a maze of narrow cobbled streets within severe ramparts of thick walls
and turreted towers, but bustling with life and colour. Traffic-free, you will be able to look around at your leisure.
At the centre of the Citadel lies the Chateau Comtal, a fearsome castle where the lords of Carcassonne lived and ruled.
Lunch where you will in Carcassonne.
(Suggestion : restaurant Auberge des Lices)
In the afternoon you may like to explore the lower or Roman town - the 'Bastide St Louis' and the banks of the Aude River and Canal du Midi.
Return to Toulouse.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Toulouse
1 day Excursion Albi, Cordes-sur-Ciel and Gaillac vineyards +additional night in Toulouse
Drive to Albi, magnificent pink-bricked town on the banks of the Tarn. Admire the fortified cathedral of Saint Cecile, a masterpiece of the Southern Gothic style - it presents a startling contrast between its austere, defensive exterior and its sumptuous interior decoration - before touring the Toulouse-Lautrec museum in the old Bishop's Palace, imposing fortress (XIIIth century).
▪ Cordes-sur-Ciel The remarkable nature of the setting with its exceptional architectural legacy has made Cordes-sur-Ciel one of the most significant mediaeval towns in France and a major site or our European Heritage.
Gaillac vineyards stretch across the western part of the Tarn department between Toulouse and Albi on both sides of the Tarn river. Abbaye Saint Michel Tasting Cellar : A tasting of the Gaillac wines is organized in this beautiful mediaeval building in the town of Gaillac itself.
Lunch where you will. Return to Toulouse. Time at leisure.
Overnight Toulouse.
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