PARIS & THE LOIRE VALLEY
Paris FRANCE
WESTERN LOIRE
Angers Cunault Montreuil-Bellay Luynes Saumur Tours Chinon Amboise Villandry VALLEY LOIRE ris
ÎLE-DE- FRANCE
in nearby Le Marais, bustling with daily life amidst a mix of stately buildings, peaceful squares, chic boutiques, art galleries and museums. Don your apron and chef’s hat for a hands-on cooking class, à la Julia Child, as you learn how to prepare a mouth-watering meal, paired with the perfect wine and cheese. Bon appetit! Walk off your gourmet lunch this afternoon as you explore the city on your own. A French lesson this evening makes it easier to find a great spot to have – and order – dinner. Meals BL
Discover the good life in a magnificent Loire Valley château in Breze (above) and the village of Saumur (left)
1. ARRIVE PARIS / PARISIAN RHAPSODY Tour begins: 2:00 PM at Hôtel Vernet. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer you to your boutique hotel in Paris’ Right Bank. Settle in, freshen up and meet us for a walking tour through the intellectually stimulating, bohemian-inspired Latin Quarter, so named because the students and teachers at La Sorbonne, reigning over the narrow streets here, spoke Latin. Cross the bridge onto the Ile de la Cité to Notre Dame Cathedral, looming large as perhaps the most historically significant building in Paris. A glass of wine, an aperitif or a cup of coffee or tea may sound really good about now, so kick back at our cocktail reception that welcomes with Parisian refreshments. Revived, we’ll head out to a guinguette (local vernacular for intimate neighborhood pub, off the radar for tourists) for drinking, dining and dancing! Meals D
2. A BIKE RIDE & A COOKING CLASS After a delicious petit dejuener (a term you will speak with ease after today’s French lesson), hop aboard a bicycle for a ride
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3. A TAPESTRY OF SIGHTS, PARIS TO ANGERS It’s all aboard the high-speed TGV train for a ride out to Angers at the western end of the Loire Valley for Culturious insider discoveries. First up is a visit to the moated Château Angers to get a close look at the 77-piece Apocalypse Tapestry – priceless yes, with a colorful history as an orange tree canopy and a damage-control covering for a French church that’s equally priceless. Half-timbered homes were in style in the 15th-century; see them on a walk through town, then head out to your own lovely château overlooking the Loire River. This is what the French call douceur de vivre – and we do too! Meals BD
4. A BIKE RIDE TO A COUNTRY CASTLE The best way to explore the country lanes of Loire Valley villages is by bike. Pedal to Breze for a visit to the privately owned Castle of Breze; if you’re game, challenge yourself to a stroll down in a labyrinthine tunnel system that dates back to the Middle Ages. Come up for lunch and a stop at the National Equestrian Center, more evidence of the “good life” here in the Loire Valley, before indulging your own Culturious interests in Saumur. Meals BL
5. OF CHAMPIGNONS, BOATS & GILDED ARTS Mushrooms are a staple of French cuisine; learn more about them on an optional visit this morning to the Musée de Champignons. Lunch at a small café gives you the energy you
NEW!
TGV High Speed Train
Loire River
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