PALACES AND CHATEAUX of the LOIRE
Fontainebleau, Angevin Strongholds and Chateaux of the Loire
6 Days / 5 Nights
 This delightful short tour of the Loire, with soupcon of fabulous mediaeval cities such as Chartres and Fontainebleau, for added taste, will surely stimulate the travel palate! We’ve taken a good handful of the most luxurious chateaux of the Loire, mixed with some 12th century castles of Henry II and bride, Eleanor of Aquitaine, added the jewel of Fontainebleau, and topped off with some of the most magnificent cathedrals in northern France.
When mixed with Back-Roads Touring Co’s traditional policy of finding things behind the tourist façade, and a collection of excellent and intimate accommodations, you have the perfect week’s holiday to add to a few days in Paris.
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DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR 2009
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Tour
Code
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Depart Paris
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Return Paris
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CHAT
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Sunday
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Friday
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CHAT01
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10 May
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15 May
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CHAT02
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24 May
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29 May
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CHAT03
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07 Jun
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12 Jun
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CHAT04
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21 Jun
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26 Jun
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CHAT05
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05 Jul
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10 Jul
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CHAT06
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19 Jul
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24 Jul
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CHAT07
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02 Aug
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07 Aug
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CHAT08
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16 Aug
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21 Aug
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CHAT09
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30 Aug
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04 Sep
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CHAT10
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13 Sep
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18 Sep
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CHAT11
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27 Sep
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02 Oct
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CHAT12
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11 Oct
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16 Oct
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Price per person in GBP Pounds Sterling
£980 Twin share / GBP £1090 Single room
Australian dollar prices calculated at the time of booking
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TENTATIVE
ITINERARY
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NIGHTSTOP |
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DAY ONE - Sunday
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Departing Paris (central location pick-up) at 0.8.30, we commence our tour with a short drive south to Fontainebleau. This is an ideal start to our themed tour; the Palace of Fontainebleau, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The work of many French monarchs, it is arranged around a series of courtyards. The city of Fontainebleau has grown up around the Forest of Fontainebleau, a former royal hunting park, and is breathtakingly lovely.
A drive of an hour or so delivers us to another simply exquisite city; Chartres. The town is best known for the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, widely considered to be the finest gothic cathedral in France with stunning stained glass windows. Its historical and cultural importance is recognized by its inclusion on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The steep, narrow streets of the old town contrast with the wide, shady boulevards of the newer city. There are several fine museums to visit, depnding on time, such as one dedicated to military uniforms and other to stained glass.
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Chartres |
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DAY TWO - Monday
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Our second day sees us first driving through pleasant countryside and traditional vilages to Le Mans. This is a well-preserved old town boasting its cathedral: Cathédrale St-Julien, dedicated to St Julian of Le Mans, who is honoured as the city's first bishop. There are remnants of a Roman wall in the old town and Roman baths by the river.
Our next major stop is Angers, once the capital of the great Angevin (Plantagenet) empire of the 12 century which extended from Scotland to the Basque country. An imposing castle dominates the mediaeval town. Another highlight of our stop in this centre of tapestry will be the famed ‘Apocalypse Tapestry’. This amazing, hand-woven, work of art dates back to the late 1300s. There’ll be time here to enjoy a late lunch and to explore the narrow streets of the old quarter or visit museums.
And finally to Saumur, our nightstop.
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Montsoreau
nr Saumur |
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DAY THREE - Tuesday
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This is our first day on the Loire.
The pretty and peaceful town of Montsoreau makes an excellent base for our explorations of the eastern Loire. Our filled day will include a visit to the local wine caves, seeing the troglodyte hill dwellings, visiting the fine local chateaux at Saumur, and spending time in the wonderfully picturesque Chinon, the 16th century birthplace of the great comic writer, Rabelais.
Naturally, as this is a Back-Roads Touring Co. tour, you can expect a few hidden treasures despite this region being one of France’s most visited tourist regions.
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Montsoreau
nr Saumur |
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DAY FOUR - Wednesday
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The Loire Valley is justly famed for its incredibly rich chateaux. In truth, there are almost too many to choose from! One we shall definitely be visiting today will be Villandry, justly famed for its magnificent gardens. And not far away is the château that reputedly inspired the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ story, Château d’Usee. Believe it or not, there’s even a local château with the largest collection of cadillacs outside of the USA!
We’ll also include the serene Azay-le-Rideau where the Renaissance exterior of the local château is a sight to behold.
The mediaeval Tours is also one of today’s jewels. Some tour participants will enjoy wandering at leisure around the old town, while others may simply find it a time ‘to sit and stare’. As ever, within the framework of a Back-Roads Touring Co. tour, there will be an opportunity of doing either with some ‘organised independence’.
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Beaugency |
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DAY FIVE - Thursday
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The whole development of secular French architecture, from feudalism to classicism, can be traced at Blois Château. Medieval towers, gothic roofs and walls, Renaissance interiors, sumptuous interiors. They are all here.
It’s almost unbelievable that just a few kilometers away is yet another at Ambois, and a few kilometers further Chambord, the first great, classical French palace. Or perhaps the jewel of Renaissance architecture, Chenonceau châteaux.
There’s even a small palace in Beaugency itself!
There can be little doubt that the palaces of the Loire, set as they are in some of the most splendid gardens, and these set amidst wonderful countryside, will have given you several never-to-be-forgotten days (and several rolls of film or hours of video footage!).
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Beaugency |
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DAY SIX - Friday
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Our final day takes us first through the city of Orléans made famous, of course, by Jean, Maid of Orléans. We’ll only briefly visit this fairly modern city before driving on the short distance to Chartres.
Here you’ll have time to enjoy shopping in the ancient, picturesque streets. We’ll explore the St-André quarter and some of the fine houses and restored mill-races and laundry-houses.
The undoubted highlight, however, will be our visit to Chartres Notre-Dame Cathedral. Pilgrims have been coming here for eight centuries to admire and seek inspiration from the most magnificent, and certainly most extensive stained glass windows to be seen anywhere in the world.
You are dropped at a central Paris location.
We can arrange pre/post tour accommodation, sightseeing, transfers and services throughout Europe, the UK and Ireland.
<< Go to other European tours
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Tour ends in Paris |
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