Dreaming of France

ITINERARY:

Day 01 – PARIS ➔ TOURS

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo!At around 17:30h we will leave Paris for the Loire Valley. We will arrive in TOURS, regional capital of the Loire, in the late afternoon. We recommend you use your time here to take a stroll and dine in the beautiful historic downtown.

Day 02 – TOURS ➔ BORDEAUX ➔ LOURDES

Today we’ll journey to the south of France through vineyards, arriving in Bordeaux, whose town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have time for lunch and to explore. We suggest visiting the Port of the Moon and the Cathedral of St. Andrew. We’ll then continue towards the Pyrenees, reaching Lourdes in the late afternoon. Here, you can attend the candlelight procession (held from late March to the end of October) and visit various places of worship. Dinner will be included at the hotel for all our passengers.

Day 03 – LOURDES ➔ CARCASSONNE  ➔ NARBONA ➔ MARSEILLE

We’ll travel through the south of France, stopping in Carcassonne, a city surrounded by some of the most beautiful walls in Europe. You´ll have time to walk and explore. After lunch, we’ll continue to Narbonne, where you’ll have free time to discover this historic Occitan city with its picturesque old town. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Marseille, France’s second-largest city. We recommend a walk through its vibrant Vieux-Port (Old Port), bustling with life and dotted with charming small restaurants.

Day 04 – MARSEILLE ➔ ARLES ➔ AVIGNON ➔ LYON

Villages, landscapes, history – today we’ll see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. In Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage city, we’ll explore its Roman and medieval legacy and be reminded of Van Gogh. In Les Baux, we’ll visit this small medieval village and include admission to Carrières de Lumières, an impressive underground show that combines art, image, and sound in its old quarries. We’ll have time for lunch and a stroll in Avignon, home to the immense Palais des Papes. Our journey will continue to Lyon, where we’ll walk through the World Heritage Site old town and take the cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a huge basilica offering a great view over the city.Note: If tickets for the Carrières de Lumières show are unavailable due to closure or high demand, we will instead transfer to the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.

Day 05 – LYON ➔TOURNUS ➔ SAVIGNY CASTLE ➔ BEAUNE ➔ DIJON

We’ll set off from Lyon and head to the Burgundy region. Our first stop will be Tournus, a quaint little town with an imposing stone gate and a large abbey. After that, we’ll travel to Beaune, where we’ll have time for lunch and to explore the wine capital of Burgundy. We recommend visiting the wine museum or the historic hospice. Next, we’ll visit the Savigny Castle, situated in the heart of this winemaking region. Built in the 15th century, the castle houses extraordinary museums featuring motorbikes, racing cars, planes, and helicopters. Our journey will continue to Dijon, the capital of Burgundy, known for its lively streets and numerous medieval and Renaissance buildings, including the standout Palace of the Dukes.

Day 06 – DIJON ➔ BESANCON ➔ COLMAR ➔ RIQUEWIHR ➔ RIBEAUVILLE ➔ STRASBOURG

While still in the Burgundy region, we’ll stop in Besançon, a city of Roman origin with a beautiful historic center and a 17th-century citadel that overlooks the town. We’ll then continue our journey to Alsace, a French region that has been contested between France and Germany for centuries. Alsace retains its own German dialect, Alsatian, along with architecture and traditions deeply rooted in Germanic culture. Our first stop in Alsace will be Colmar, a city with unique architecture, colorful half-timbered houses and canals winding through the town. Colmar is also famous for its white wine and gastronomy. You’ll have time for lunch and a leisurely walk. In the afternoon, we’ll visit two of the most beautiful towns in Alsace: Riquewihr, a medieval town with cobblestone streets and colorful houses that look like they’re straight out of a fairy tale—it even inspired scenes from Beauty and the Beast— and Ribeauvillé, known for its charming historic center and castle ruins that overlook the town. We’ll arrive in Strasbourg in the evening. We recommend taking a walk around the cathedral area and Petite France, both filled with charming spots and cozy restaurants.

Day 07 – STRASBOURG ➔ EPERNAY ➔ PARIS

We’ll spend time in Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace and home to the European Parliament. The city’s historic center is a true gem, with its picturesque medieval streets, stunning Gothic cathedral, canals and flowers. We’ll include a boat trip through the canals of Petite France, a highlight of the city. After, our journey will continue to the Champagne region, where we’ll include a visit to a traditional cellar and you’ll discover the secrets of the world’s most famous sparkling wine during a guided tour and tasting. Afterward, we’ll make a brief stop in Épernay, the capital of Champagne, where you can take a leisurely stroll through this delightful town, known for its world-renowned wineries. We’ll then continue to Paris, arriving in the evening.

Day 08 – PARIS

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.