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Itinerary

OCTOBER 9 – USA / PARIS: Fly transatlantic overnight from Chicago to Paris, France. Dinner is served and in-flight entertainment is provided.

OCTOBER 10 – PARIS / BAYEAUX: Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport, you will be welcomed to France in the arrivals hall by your local Tour Guide. Depart and start your journey towards Bayeux. Along the way, your Tour manager will have suggestions of somewhere to pause for coffee and croissants (not included). On arrival in Bayeux, enjoy a walking tour including a visit to Bayeux Cathedral. Afterwards, check in to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant within walking distance of your hotel. (D)

OCTOBER 11 – ROUEN / HONFLEUR: This morning, make your way to Rouen, Normandy’s vibrant, historic and cultural capital. Enjoy a brief walking tour followed by some free time to explore independently. Then visit Père Magloire*, one of the oldest houses of Calvados. Discover the incredible history of Normandy and Calvados through a captivating tour. Step in to the mesmerizing alchemy of transforming apples into this enchanting spirit. The tour ends with a tasting of three exceptional Calvados. Next, visit lovely Honfleur, known for its picturesque port and houses with slate-covered facades. Return to Bayeux for overnight. (B)

OCTOBER 12 – NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES: After breakfast, begin your exploration of some of the momentous events that took place on D-Day June 1944, with a visit to Arromanches, one of the command centers of the whole Operation. Remains of the famous Mulberry harbors still float incongruously in the sea, part of the ½ million tons of concrete that was floated across the Channel at a speed of 4mph to supply a roadway from the supply ships to the shore. The memorial museum contains fascinating scale models and film footage of this great expedition as well as a 360° circular cinema showing more dramatic footage in the film, ‘The Price of Freedom’. See the famous coastline at Pointe du Hoc, which the US Rangers scaled, demonstrating a triumph of planning, training and execution by elite and well-led troops. Further eastwards along the coast is the sector known as Omaha Beach, also captured by invading American forces. Examine several sites here from both the German and US perspective and hear about Operation Aquatint, a failed 1942 British Commando raid on the area. Your day ends with a poignant visit to the US Military Cemetery and Interpretation Center at Colleville-sur-Mer, the final resting place of over 9,300 US soldiers located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. Return to Bayeux for overnight. (B)

OCTOBER 13 – MONT ST MICHEL: After breakfast this morning, venture to one of France’s most recognizable landmarks today: Mont St Michel, a village perched on a tidal island located in the mouth of the River Couesnon. Surrounded by water and sand flats, the granite outcrop is crowned by an abbey that took more than 500 years to construct. Legend has it that Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of Avranches in 708, inspiring him to build it here. Explore the steep, narrow, cobblestone streets and climb over 350 steps to reach the abbey, whose spire is more than 500 feet high, and as a whole is an outstanding architectural achievement. You may also like to explore the charming village of Mont St Michel with its narrow passageways, historic houses and little shops. Before returning to your hotel, dependent on time, you may visit another town in the area, such as St-Lô, Bayeux, Avranches or Villedieu-Les-Poêles. Then visit Fromagerie Durand for a tour of where authentic PDO camembert is made, using raw milk and ladled. During your self-guided tour, you’ll be able to see the molding room, salting room and drying room, all from an external gallery. Of course, a tasting follows the tour. Return to Bayeux for overnight. (B)
Please note: Access to the Mont St Michel may require you to walk 900 meters/ 985 yards from the car park to the shuttle service, and the walking on the island is strenuous and requires a good level of fitness.

OCTOBER 14 – GIVERNY / PARIS: Enjoy breakfast in the hotel. Depart from Bayeux and make your way to Paris. Pause in Giverny to visit the beautiful house and gardens that inspired Monet. The house is still decorated in the original color schemes Monet admired and, in the gardens, the famous Japanese bridge and water lily pond create an iconic picture. Then continue to Afterwards, continue to Paris for overnight. (B)

OCTOBER 15 – PARIS: After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit to the Louvre Museum, once a palace of kings and now home to some of the most well recognized art in the world. A large, glass, steel-rod and cable pyramid designed by the American architect I.M. Pei now covers the main entrance, juxtaposing the ultra-modern with the classical façade of the palace. Treasures dating from antiquity to the 19th century are housed here, among them the Venus de Milo and Ghirlandaio’s The Visitation. Perhaps the most famous work here is Leonardo de Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Afterwards, make your way to Notre Dame Cathedral. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, Notre Dame is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It is distinguished by its elegant flying buttresses, its impressive rose windows and its two emblematic towers which dominate the western facade. The cathedral has witnessed many historical events, including the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte and the canonization of Joan of Arc. Then on to visit Saine Chapelle, where you will be dazzled by the 1113 stained glass windows of this jewel of the radiant gothic style. Afterwards, return to your hotel. (B)

OCTOBER 16 – PARIS: After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure in Paris. (B)

OCTOBER 17 – VERSAILLES / PARIS: After breakfast, morning excursion to visit the awe-inspiring residence of the great Sun King Louis XIV, Versailles. Housing up to 20,000 people, the huge palace was the glory of the king’s reign before he was sent to the guillotine. The famous Hall of Mirrors is 70 meters long, stretching the length of the west side. It was here that the 1919 Treaty of Versailles was ratified, ending World War I. The gardens are also vast and beautiful, and there is a little tram you can take throughout the grounds. This afternoon, make your way to the iconic Eiffel Tower and a visit to its second floor. Enjoy panoramic views overlooking the Trocadero area of Paris. Then enjoy views of top city attractions and a delicious dinner on an evening Seine River cruise. Enjoy the city from a different perspective as you gaze out over famous city sights such as the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. Afterwards, return to your hotel. (B/D)

OCTOBER 18 – PARIS / USA: After breakfast, transfer to Paris airport for your return flight home to the US.

IMPORTANT: This tour includes walking tours. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surface.

→ Inclusions

 Inclusions

• Round-trip air from Chicago on United Airlines
• Bayeux – 4 nights, 4-Star Novotel Bayeux
• Paris – 4 nights, 4-Star Crown Plaza Republique
• Breakfast each morning, except day of arrival
• Welcome dinner in Bayeux
• Seine Dinner Cruise with panoramic seating and wine
• Luxury motorcoach for transfers and sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary
• Professional Tour Manager
• Walking tour in Bayeux
• Visit Bayeux Cathedral
• Full day excursion to Rouen and Honfleur
• Brief walking tour in Rouen
• Visit Père Magloire for tour and Calvados tasting
• Full day Normandy Landin Beaches
• Visit Arromanches D Day Museum
• Full day excursion to Mont St Michel, including entrance to the Abbey
• Camembert tasting at Fromagerie Durand
• Visit Monet’s Garden
• Visit Louvre Museum
• Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
• Visit Sainte Chapelle
• Visit Versailles Palace
• Visit the second floor of the Eiffel Tower
• Hotel porterage of one suitcase per person
• Portfolio of e-documents
• 24-hour emergency customer service while in France

IMPORTANT: This tour includes walking tours. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surface.

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