LA BELLE FRANCE

La Belle France’s delights are incomparable. A custom tour must include Paris, with its magnificent art collections, dazzling music, art and, of course, great food and wine in the City of Lights. From the Middle Ages to the modern age, explore diverse periods of French history and culture in specially designed walking tours, and private guided tours of the Musée d’Orsay and other museums. Outside the city, visit the beautiful gardens and Baroque architecture of the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, the private home of Louis XIV’s finance minister, and Fontainebleau, the Renaissance chateau that was former home of Francis I and Napoleon.

Louvre, Paris

Farther afield, you might design a cultural exploration with The Grand Tour to sunny Provence and the charming villages, geologic splendor, and rich archeological history of South West France that offer respite from the excitement of Paris. Or explore the ancient French provinces—Normandy, Brittany and the Loire—a rich mix of history and political intrigue among landscapes of orchards, cornfields, and rich pastures dotted with village spires and ruins of medieval castles.

Travelers can wander the charming town of Bayeux, home of the eponymous 1000-year old Tapestry depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, take in the famous landing beaches of the Battle of Normandy, the turning point in World War II for the Allies, then head south and inland to the tranquil Loire Valley, sheltered between limestone cliffs and  long famed for its gastronomy.

Along the way, travelers will enjoy the rich commentary of expert guides, relish fine dining at some of the city’s finest restaurants and tastings of exceptional wines. Grand Tour accommodations are always in four or five-star luxury hotels in the heart of city centers, for a cultural experience you won’t want to miss.

Château de Fontainebleau

Pont d’Avignon, Avignon