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Paris to Normandy
| Resort: | Paris to Normandy |
| Operator: | Avalon Waterways |
| Destination: | Europe, France |
| Price From: | £1999.00 |
Itinerary Day 1 Paris (Embarkation)
Day 2 Vernon – Les Andelys Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Included today: Choice of excursion to Giverny or Bizy Castle; guided walk in Les Andelys; visit the Parish church of Le Petit Andely. This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at Giverny or a visit to Bizy Castle. Claude Monet lived at Giverny for almost 43 years. See his collection of Japanese prints, his charming house, and his biggest sources of inspiration including the lily pond and Japanese Bridge. Alternatively, visit Bizy Castle, built in 1740 and nicknamed ‘Normandy’s Versailles’. It is known for its famous stable, magnificent courtyard and water garden. Alternatively, you may want to attend a painting class and find inspiration to paint a real masterpiece. This afternoon arrive in Les Andelys, situated on a bend of the Seine and one of the most beautiful places in France. Join a Local Guide for a walk of the town, including a visit to the Parish Church of Le Petit Andely. The imposing Chteau Gaillard overlooks the town. Built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196 fearing an attack from France’s king, the chteau fortress was constructed in just one year and is truly a masterpiece of Middle Ages military architecture. Day 3 Caudebec Included today: Excursion along the ‘Normandy Abbeys’ route. Today, join an excursion along the ‘Normandy Abbeys’ route, a short drive from Caudebec. More than 100 abbeys once covered this region, that has a microclimate particularly suited to the production of fruit such as apples, pears, plums, and cherries. The afternoon is free to explore on your own or to join in an optional excursion to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur. Day 4 Caudebec Included today: Choice of excursion to Normandy Landing Beaches or A Taste of Normandy tour. Today, choose between an included excursion to the historic Normandy Landing Beaches – visiting some of the most poignant sights of World War II such as Juno Beach, Pegasus Museum, and the British and Canadian Cemeteries, or a ‘Taste of Normandy’ tour which gives an in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important produce include dairy, apples and grain. Camembert cheese is a speciality, as is Calvados, a strong apple brandy that you’ll have the chance to taste at a local distillery. And for a touch of history, visit the Bayeux Tapestry. Day 5 Rouen Included today: Guided sightseeing, see the astronomical clock. Rouen, the capital of Upper Normandy, is an important commercial city perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned and later burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Join the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses and Gros Horloge, an intricate astronomical clock dating back to the 16th century. Visit the splendid Gothic cathedral, once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. Day 6 Conflans Included today: Choice of excursion to either Auvers-sur-Oise or Napolean and Josephine’s Chteau de Malmaison. After breakfast, why not join either our guided excursion to Auvers-sur-Oise, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or visit Napoleon and Josephine’s Chteau de Malmaison just outside Paris? Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it ‘the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation’. Day 7 Paris Included today: Guided ‘Heart of Paris’ walk. Join a guided walk through historic Ile St. Louis with its narrow one-way streets and Ile de la Cite, the centre of Paris where the medieval city was founded and home to Notre Dame Cathedral. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-Elysees with its lavish cafes, or perhaps visit the Louvre Museum or Montmartre with its gleaming white Sacre Coeur Basilica and bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. Day 8 Paris (Disembarkation) Disembark and transfer to the airport or station for your journey to the UK.
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