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Beginning in Bordeaux, ending in Toulouse, and passing a myriad of wonderful sights (and restaurants!) along the way, our newest gay group tour in France covers the best of the southwest! Cuisine, architecture, history, scenic beauty, fine wines — it's all here!
Bordeaux isn't just a world-famous wine; it's also a very handsome and sophisticated city along the banks of the Garonne River. Here you'll admire some extremely elegant 18th-century architecture in the historic city center, which has been smartly revitalized over the past decade including the riverside quays, wonderful for strolling. Indeed, the city center is a site with pride of place on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and we explore it on foot taking in a plethora of impressive attractions: buildings, monuments, fountains, quays, churches, and the old quarter. Bonus: Our tour coincides with the bi-annual Bordeaux Wine Festival at which you can taste wines from dozens of producers who set up pavilions along the quays.
Wine enthusiasts will certainly be familiar with the St-Emilion appellation. This tidy, charming, and well-heeled town has been producing Bordeaux wines for over a thousand years. Vineyards creep right up to the town's walls, and we'll stop at one to taste what it has on offer as well as stroll the pretty streets of the village.
The Dordogne River Valley is an irresistible blend of natural and man-made beauty. Farmland and orchards; fields of sunflowers; the meandering river; castles on the cliffs above; numerous charming towns; open-air food markets; and arguably France's best cuisine all come together in an intoxicating harmony. Sarlat, with its cobblestone lanes, beautiful buildings, and numerous shops, restaurants, and cafés, is our picturesque home base as we explore the area. Some of the attractions we take in during these days include the impressive Castlenaud-la-Chapelle (a prominent stronghold during the Hundred Years' War); the "Suspended Gardens" of Marquessac high above the river; and the Château des Millandes (where American-born singer/dancer Josephine Baker lived).
Close to the Dordogne is an area rich in prehistoric cave art. We'll enjoy the region's — in fact, the world's — most famous prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux. Discovered in 1940 this extraordinary collection of cave art painted by Cro-Magnon man was open to the public for just 15 years before it had to be closed in order to keep it from deteriorating. Lascaux II is the stunningly accurate replication of the original 15,000-year-old paintings we're permitted to see. (Note: At the time of itinerary planning a new site is being constructed that will include what's seen at Lascaux II as well as a great deal more of the original site. We may see this depending on the timing of its opening.)
The historic town of Rocamadour in its dramatically steep rock-face setting is quite the sight to behold. Once one of Europe's top medieval-era pilgrimage stops on the route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain most visitors today (us included) are not climbing the stairs on their knees but come to admire the few ancient chapels and wonderful views of the village cut into the sheer limestone cliffs and out over the countryside.
South of the Dordogne Valley is yet another beautiful — and often overlooked — valley, that of the Lot River, which meanders through some striking scenery. We stop in at the postcard-pretty and spectacularly sited village of St-Cirq-Lapopie sitting up above the river with its galleries, shops, and lovely views. Local residents have been ardent in preserving the medieval look of the town. Nearby is the Grotte du Pech Merle, a remarkable cave with prehistoric paintings — certainly rivaling those in the Lascaux area — of mammoths, bison, horses, plus a Cro-Magnon footprint.
Not far from Toulouse is the enjoyable river city of Albi, its attractive traffic-free center done in brick and half-timbered buildings. Here we find its mighty, towering Gothic cathedral, almost fortress-like in appearance, with a greatly ornate interior. Next door is the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum containing the world's largest collection of the artist's paintings, posters, and sketches.
With its buzzy markets, stately architecture, beautiful old quarter, cracking cultural scene, and heaving university population the red-brick city of Toulouse (dubbed La Ville Rose or The Pink City) is one of France's liveliest provincial cities — yet it's greatly overlooked. But not by us . . . we'll see it as a lovely finale to a lovely trip!
The following is our planned itinerary, which is being set out 10 month in advance. We reserve the right to modify some of the specific sights visited during this program.
Day 1 - Thursday, June 23, 2016
Meet at our classy, very central 4-star hotel in Bordeaux in the early evening for a welcome aperitif.
Welcome dinner to follow.
Please Note: We can arrange an extra night or two for you at our group hotel in Bordeaux before our tour begins depending on your travel plans.
Meals: Welcome Drink, Welcome Dinner
Overnight: in Bordeaux, Hotel de Sèze
Day 2 - Friday, June 24, 2016
Full-day walking tour of central Bordeaux. Highlights include:
• A survey of the handsome 18th-century UNESCO-listed architecture the city is renowned for: its public buildings, mansions, squares, and fountains.
• Visit and tasting at a famous cheese shop.
• The city's Old Quarter.
• Le Grand Théâtre, among nthe most beautiful theaters in France and pride of the city with its elegant exterior, dazzling foyer, and frescoed ceiling.
• Cathédrale St-André, with its intricate 14th-century chancel and excellent stone carvings on the façade.
• Place de la Bourse, a masterpiece of architectural harmony. Perhaps the city's most magnificent square and sight of the stock exchange.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: in Bordeaux, Hotel de Sèze
Day 3 - Saturday, June 25, 2016
Depart for St-Emilion, one of the most famous wine producing zones in the Bordeaux region. Walking tour of the beautiful medieval village: ancient ramparts, monuments, a maze of narrow (and some steep) cobbled streets and stone stairways linking picturesque small squares. We also see the largest monolithic sanctuary in Europe, carved from the 9th to 12th
centuries from a singl solid block of rock.
Visit to one of the nearby wineries for a tasting. Lunch in town to follow.
Continue east to the Dordogne Valley and check in at our hotel in Sarlat, our base for the
next three nights.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: in Sarlat, Plaza Madeleine & Spa Hotel
Day 4 - Sunday, June 26, 2016
Begin with a walking tour of well-preserved, picturesque Sarlat and its food hall; some of the Renaissance-era maisons particuliers (noble private homes); its maze of 16th-century cobbled streets; and the town's signature honey-colored buildings.
Explorations farther afield in the Dordogne River valley include:
• The now-ruined Château de Castelnaud, a prominent stronghold during the Hundred Years' War between the French and English and sited dramatically with views looking down on the river valley>
• Lunch at a typical farm in the area in a very pretty setting where they serve traditional recipes handed down from their grandparents and using their own produce where possible.
• The sumptuous hilltop gardens of Marqueyssac where paths bordered by 150,000 boxwoods and cypresses are graced with wonderful viewpoints, rock gardens, waterfalls, and verdant glades.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: in Sarlat, Plaza Madeleine & Spa Hotel
Day 5 - Monday, June 27, 2016
The world-famous prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux, an extraordinary collection of cave art painted by Cro-Magnon man 15,000 years ago.
Note: 1. Only the stunningly accurate replica, Lascaux II, is open to the public. 2. Lascaux IV is under construction and may be ready by the time of our visit.
Lunch at a lovely castle (now hotel-restaurant) dating originally from the 14th century
and beautifully sited on the Dordogne River.
A visit to Rocamadour, a remarkable cliff-side village and pilgrimage site from the medieval era, with ancient chapels and gorgeous views.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: in Sarlat, Plaza Madeleine & Spa Hotel
Day 6 - Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Head south towards Toulouse with a stop in St.Cirq Lapopie perched up above the Lot River. The village is considered among "Les Plus Beaux Villages" (the prettiest villages) in the country, and the medieval look of the town is passionately preserved by local residents.
Visit to the nearby caves of Pech Merle with prehistoric paintings comparable to those at
Lascaux.
Continue to Toulouse and check in at one of the city's finest hotels located directly on
the main square.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: in Toulouse, Grand Hotel de l'Opera
Day 7 - Wednesday, June 29, 2016
A full day to explore the red-brick city of Toulouse nicknamed
La Ville Rose, the pink city, with its stately architecture, wonderful markets, impressive historic
private mansions, a southern sensibility (60 miles from Spain), a lively student population, and a hearty cuisine. Highlights include:
• St. Sernin Basilica, the city's most famous landmark and the world's largest Romanesque (11th century) church.
• Capitole / Hôtel de Ville, home to Toulouse's city hall and the city's highly regarded opera company with its murals and paintings in elegantly decorated halls.
• Jacobins Ensemble, with a major masterpiece of Gothic art, the Palmier des Jacobins,
and its lovely cloister.
• Hôtel d'Assézat, the city's most elegant mansion dating from 1555 notable for its
arcades and ornately carved doorways and now home to an exceptional collection of paintings.
• Marché Victor Hugo, a lively hangarlike indoor market.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: in Toulouse, Grand Hotel de l'Opera
Day 8 - Thursday, June 30, 2016
Day trip to nearby Albi, a beautifully preserved provincial capital on the
Tarn River, done in brick and half-timbered buildings with a traffic-free center and home to:
• Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, containing the world's largest collection of Belle Epoque
painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's paintings, posters, and sketches. More than a thousand pieces are organized in themed rooms, including galleries devoted to some of his greatest portraits and scenes from Paris brothels.
• Cathédrale Ste-Cécile, one of the most unusual and dazzling churches in France with
an astonishingly ornate interior contrasting with the massively austere exterior which resembles more of a fortress than a church. It houses the largest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings in any French church
as well as one of the most splendid organs in the world.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: in Toulouse, Grand Hotel de l'Opera
Day 9 - Friday, July 1, 2016
After breakfast you can depart any time that suits your onward travel schedule.
Meals: Breakfast
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• The Dordogne Valley, just oozing the essence of "France" with a raft of bastides (fortified villages), medieval castles, a meandering river, and arguably the country's best cuisine.
• Artwork at world-famous prehistoric sights: the caves of Lascaux II and Pech Merle.
• Not just synonymous with the historic worldwide wine trade, Bordeaux with its very handsome city center — the world's largest UNESCO-listed urban area.
• The charming village of St-Emilion, home to some of the world's most famous Bordeaux wines.
• Albi's mighty medieval cathedral and the city's museum with works of native son Toulouse-Lautrec.
• Stunning hilltop medieval villages like Rocamadour with cliff-face sanctuaries and St-Cirq-Lapopie riddled with cobbled lanes, flower-filled alleys, and pretty views.
• Toulouse, "La Ville Rose" – or The Pink City –with its red-brick buildings, southern passion, lively student atmosphere, buzzy markets, and stately architecture.
• Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Fascinating and lively food markets with delicacies such as foie gras, truffles, walnuts, cheeses, and fine wines.
• Accommodations for 8 nights in carefully selected high-end properties
- 2 nights at Hotel de Sèze in Bordeaux;
- 3 nights at Plaza Madeleine & Spa Hotel in Sarlat
- 3 nights at Grand Hotel de l'Opera in Toulouse
• Buffet breakfast each morning in the hotels
• Lunch every day (except the arrival and departure days)
• Welcome and farewell dinners plus one dinner in Sarlat
• Limited regional wines with group meals
• Welcome drink
• Entrance fees for all sights mentioned in the itinerary
• Wine tasting at a St.Emilion winery
• Licensed private tour guides for all cities and towns mentioned in the itinerary
• Venture Out tour escort accompanying the group throughout the trip
• Ground transportation in a private comfortable buses
• Airfare
• Five dinners
• Gratuities for drivers, porters, and restaurant staff
• Additional hotel nights pre- or post-tour that may be desired or required by flight schedules or other
factors
• Airport or train station transfers at the beginning and end of the tour
• Travel Insurance
• Passports and other expenses of a personal nature such as minibar charges, laundry, phone calls, etc.
The following are the hotels that we plan to use for the tour at the time of publishing this itinerary. We reserve the right to make changes to the accommodations.
Hotel de Sèze, Bordeaux, 2 Nights
Respecting its early 19th-century provenance an artful blending of that traditional style with contemporary, high-tech flair has transformed this building into an elegant 55-room 4-star hotel that sits right in the heart of Bordeaux, just a stone's throw from the Garonne River where the bi-annual Fête du Vin (Wine Festival) will be coinciding with our stay. Its restaurant has a refined atmosphere and menu, and the bar is a lovely spot for a pre- or post-prandial drink. The staff here in this charming historic mansion are professionally attentive and ensure personalized service. Tastefully decorated rooms have soundproofed windows, minibars, and free wifi among other amenities, and there's even a spa on the property.
Plaza Madeleine & Spa Hotel, Sarlat, 3 Nights
Constructed in the 19th century this elegant stone building, conveniently located in town, underwent a recent extensive refurbishment. With 39 rooms it's a 4-star hotel that, while we question some of the decorative touches, is the best option in town as you can walk out the door and stroll around beautiful Sarlat quite easily on your own. It's got a spacious wine bar-pub, an outdoor terrace, a small pool, as well as wet and dry saunas and a jacuzzi. Bathrobes, slippers, and free mineral water in the rooms are nice touches.
Grand Hotel de l'Opera, Toulouse, 3 Nights
Fabulously situated on the main square, the
Place du Capitole, this historic grande dame of Toulouse hotels in a building dating from the 17th century exudes classic grandeur and old-world charm with a lobby decked out in soaring columns, Second Empire bergères,
and blue velvet sofas. The 57 rooms of this 4-star hotel come with bathrobes and slippers. You may be interested in the highly regarded Michelin-starred in-house restaurant - or perhaps the less fussy brasserie.
Other nice features include the charming bar,flower-filled courtyard, the wet and dry saunas, and massage services
At the time of publishing this program Bordeaux's airport is served by nonstop
flights coming in from Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly), London Gatwick, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome,
Lisbon and some minor European airports.
Additionally, France has an extensive network of high-speed trains, and Bordeaux is very well connected. Paris to Bordeaux, for example, is a little over three hours.
Toulouse's airport is served by nonstop flights departing to Paris (Charles
de Gaulle and Orly), Frankfurt, Munich, London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Zurich, and some minor
European airports.
Toulouse is also well connected via high-speed rail to all points in France
and beyond.
The cities that we visit have to be explored on foot. We cannot drive through
them on our bus (even on a smaller bus) as the roads in the city centers are from medieval days. In general,
adding it all up, you should be comfortable walking a total of about two miles each day (but not all at once)
and standing while visiting many of the sights. Occasionally there are places to take a seat. Please check with us if you have any concerns in this area.
We have structured the days in this program in the most logicallyn flowing way
in order to keep driving times to a minimum. However, some days will see more driving than others. None of the
driving is done at long, uninterrupted intervals. We stop throughout the day for our visits, thus breaking up
the day's activities. Our transportation will be in a comfortable small tour bus, and at no time will it feel
like an endless road trip. Days 3 and 6, the transfer days, involve the longest driving times: about 3-3½
hours but broken up by our visits and lunches along the way.
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