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7-Nights A Week In… The French Riviera, Provence and Paris - Land Journey from $6,490
Tauck
OFFER ID 1553102
A Week In… The French Riviera, Provence and Paris
Some of them first came to the south of France at the invitation of innkeepers, wise men all, who asked artists like Matisse, Chagall and Picasso to spend the weekend as their guest and leave behind a painting or sculpture in exchange for a good meal and bed. Many, like Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh, stayed on, leaving a legacy of painted memories that forever illuminate places like Nice, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Aix and St-Rémy-de-Provence...
Thankfully for us, much of their work is available to us in museums from Provence to Paris to destinations the world over, where moments in time are immortalized, landscapes are honored for eternity and a week filled with culturally rich discoveries and artful treasures lingers long after you return home... For one week, savor the bounty of Provençal life at tastings in wineries and olive orchards alive with local flavor... in architectural icons inspired by Romans, poets and popes... and in joie de vivre of Paris, aglow with glamour, past and present. Begin in delightful Nice; explore glittering Monte-Carlo, historic Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, and see firsthand what inspired van Gogh in St-Rémy. Enjoy an adventurous walk on the Pont du Gard; a locally guided visit inside Avignon's fortress-like Palais des Papes; and a high-speed rail journey to Paris for a three-night stay highlighted by a River Seine luncheon cruise and more in the storied French capital.
7 nights from $6,490 per person
Tauck World Discovery: A Week In… The French Riviera, Provence and Paris
Day 1 Nice, France
Arrive Nice
Tour begins: 3:30 PM, Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée. Explore Old Town on a guided walk this afternoon, then join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your five-star luxury hotel, occupying a former Art Deco casino located on Nice's legendary Promenade des Anglais.
Meals: D
Day 2 Nice, France
Discovering Nice and Monte-Carlo
A marvelous day in southern France begins with a panoramic tour of seaside Nice, whose "Old Town" recalls the days when aristocrats and royals spent their winters here; see the Port and the Promenade des Anglais and the Cimiez District, a leafy, upscale neighborhood in the north of the city known for its historic, elegant apartment buildings, expansive gardens and Roman ruins. Here, you'll enjoy a visit to Musée Marc Chagall, a national museum spotlighting religious-inspired works by the Russian-born painter who made France his home. Next, head for Monaco to get a taste of life in glamorous Monte-Carlo, including lunch on the terrace of the elegant Fairmont Monte Carlo. Then spend some free time in Monaco-Ville, the oldest part of the city (also known as Le Rocher, or "The Rock"), where you have time to explore as you please. Return to your hotel in Nice for the evening.
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Aix-en-Provence, France
Where Impressionists Dreamed
From Nice, begin the day with a visit to the picturesque walled town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a Provençal hilltop town that was built in the 13th century, for an orientation tour led by your Tauck Director; you'll be taken with its medieval look and easily understand why it became an artists' enclave. After some free time to explore Saint-Paul-de-Vence on your own, continue on for an afternoon spent among the fountains, squares and medieval center of lovely Aix-en-Provence; imagine great artists like Paul Cézanne and others at work amidst the spectrum of colors found in "Aix" as you explore and enjoy lunch as you please in town, and join your local guide for a walking tour. Arrive late afternoon in St-Rémy-de-Provence to spend the next two nights at charming Le Vallon de Valrugues & Spa, where you'll enjoy dinner this evening.
Meals: B, D
Day 4 Avignon, France
St-Rémy & Avignon
No journey in Provence is complete without exploring the landscapes that inspired Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, where olive groves, cypress trees, and flowers the colors of the rainbow greet you. You'll do just that when you join your Tauck Director for an introductory tour of St-Rémy-de-Provence, where van Gogh spent a year of his life at a monastery that served as an asylum - a period of creativity that produced 150 of his most beloved paintings, including Starry Night, Wheat Field with Cypresses and Irises. This afternoon, en route to Avignon, visit an olive oil estate for a tour and tasting. Avignon has reigned as one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities since the 14th century when it was briefly the capital of Christendom and the home of the Roman Catholic popes. Following an orientation tour of this well-preserved riverside city, explore the four-towered, fortress-like Palais des Papes with a local guide, revealing the treasures and lifestyles of the pontiffs who reigned here for almost 70 years. Join us this evening for a memorable dinner at one of Avignon's top restaurants, featuring a wine tasting, before returning to your hotel in St-Rémy.
Meals: B, D
Day 5 Paris, France
An eternal Aqueduct & The TGV to Paris
Depart St-Rémy this morning and travel to the Pont du Gard - a testament to human ingenuity. The three-level, 164-ft.-high "bridge" was built by the Romans to carry fresh water over the River Gardon nearly 2,000 years ago; a very rare opportunity to cross the very top of the bridge through the aqueduct where the water once ran and a visit to the museum. After a boxed lunch, board the high-speed TGV train in Avignon for a rapid rail journey in first class to inimitable Paris and a three-night stay at the newly renovated Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra; dine at the hotel this evening.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 Paris, France
Bonjour la Cité... and a Seine lunch cruise
A guided orientation tour today gives you a great overview of Paris and includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and more. Then, combine two Parisian pleasures as you feast on a sumptuous lunch from the kitchen of Chef Alain Ducasse while gliding along the River Seine aboard Ducasse sur Seine, a floating restaurant created by the famous chef. Ducasse sur Seine is the only electric restaurant boat on the Seine... from an environmental perspective, it emits significantly less noise and no pollution. As the soul of Parisian cuisine comes to life on your plate, the city's landmarks float by, each one a unique confection. Explore more of the amazing French capital as you wish for the rest of the day and evening.
Meals: B, L
Day 7 Paris, France
A grand farewell to Paris
Join our local guide this morning for a visit to a Paris museum, then spend the afternoon exploring this fabulous city as you please. Join us for our farewell dinner tonight at a venue with memorable views of this remarkable city - and bid adieu to Paris in true Tauck style!
Meals: B, D
Day 8 Paris, France
Journey home
Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. Your transfer is included from Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra to Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Orly Airport or a Paris train station. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: B
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Cruise Vacations of Orange County
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