| PARIS TO
PARIS INCLUDED EXCURSIONS IN PACKAGE 220 Euro per person
Les Andelys Caudebec-en-Caux The Normandy is known for its wealth of churches, monasteries, and culinary highlights. At first you drive by bus to the town of Villequier, where a stroll takes you along the banks of the Seine River past picturesque half-timbered houses. Sadly, the town will always be associated with the drowning of poet Victor Hugo's young daughter and her husband during the Seine flood in 1843. A section of the Victor-Hugo-Museum commemorates the couple. Afterwards, you drive to the 7th century Benedictine Abbey St. Wandrille which suffered great damage from attack by the Vikings in 841 and was rebuilt in the 11th century. To this day monks live in this monastery. You visit the parvis and the 14th-15th century cloister before you have some leisure time to independently explore the area. Before you return to the ship, you visit the church Notre Dame of Caudebec-en-Caux, a masterpiece of intricate Late Gothic architecture. The bus will take you to beautiful Honfleur. After a short walk you reach the historic city centre of Honfleur, a place with a rich seafaring tradition. The picturesque harbour, labyrinthine lanes and traditional half-timbered houses make Honfleurs the epitome of the Normandy town. From the old fishing harbour the tour takes you inside St. Catherine church close by, a wood building in late gothic style with a separate belfry. Before returning to the ship by bus, there is still some time at your disposal. Giverny is a small town in the vicinity of Vernon and well known to art lovers. Here you find the house and gardens where the great French Impressionist Claude Monet lived (1840-1926). To inspire him year round the artist, who grew up in Le Havre, planted a sea of flowers around his house, now home to the Claude Monet Foundation. It was here that Monet painted the famous water lilies. During a walk through the gardens you can assure yourself of the authenticity of the original. The land of painters, especially Impressionists, Normandy has over decades attracted many artists eager to capture the region’s hazy light that hangs like a veil on canvas. Paris This is a round trip via boulevards, avenues and squares, taking you past gardens and famous buildings through the centre of the metropolis with the distinctive flair. You will see the gothic Notre Dame cathedral on the Île-de-la-Cité, the old and the new opera house (Opéra de la Bastille), the ministry of justice, the cathedral Les Invalides, the Place de la Concorde with the Egyptian obelisk which had its original place in front of the temple at Luxor, the baroque Place des Vosges in the architecturally most beautiful part of Paris, the magnificent Champs-Elysées boulevard, the triumphal arch and the Eiffel tower. Please note that the order of sights may vary due to high traffic volume in the city center. If individual sights cannot be accessed, they will be substituted for other sights.
OPTIONAL TOURS: Caudebec-en-Caux A drive across the countryside takes you from Le Havre to the seaside town of Fécamp dominated by the former abbey, one of the largest houses of God in France. First you visit the remnants of the fortress emplacements of the Atlanticwall. From there you have an imposingly view over Fécamp, Channel and the Alabaster Coast. It was here in 1510 in the cloister at Fécamp that the first “Benedictine”, a liqueur or elixir of 27 plants and spices, was made. King Francois I. declared Benedictine his favorite drink. You can visit the distillery where the drink is originally made, and of course, try some of the product. In the “Palais Benedictine” museum you find numerous paintings and sculptures from the late middle ages. Possibly the most attractive town of this so-called “Alabaster Coast” is the much visited seaside resort “Etretat”, which is picturesquely set atop the chalk cliffs, flanked by powerful rocky crags. After a short walking tour you have some free time to explore the area. If the excursion starts in Caudebec-en-Caux, the order will be the following: Etretat, Palais Benedictine, cliffs. (approx. 5 hours.) RouenRoute of Abbeys - Structures of Converted Pagans After the Christianization of the Normans a huge effort was made to rebuild the churches and monasteries in the newly founded duchy. The Norman monasteries were places of erudition, devoutness, and godliness, but also reforms. Some of the cloisters have survived to this day, others are destroyed with only ruins left. A 30-minute scenic drive takes you along the enchanting "Route des Abbeys" to the town of St. Martin de Boscherville and the 12th century "Roman St. George Abbey". Afterwards, you visit the nearby town of Jumieges known for its 7th century abbey that was founded by Saint Philibert and was destroyed in 1790. Today, the ruins of Jumieges are among the country's most imposing. A 60-minute walking tour takes you through the ruins of the abbey church of "Notre Dame", one of the most beautiful buildings of Norman Romanesque architecture and famous for its two high towers and the nave's remaining walls. Vernon Vernon is situated on the borders of Normandy, high above the Seine valley. Visited by the famous and praised by poets, Vernon offers picturesque ruins, intact monuments, shadowy walks and ancient residences, but also modern buildings can be found. As you will see during your tour of the city, Vernon has a unique blend of past and present which creates its charming individuality and makes it a visitors’ magnet. You visit the church Collegiale Notre Dame (built from the 12th to 16th century) with its elaborate frescoes. From the church square you make your way through narrow lanes with beautiful historical houses to the city museum. The museum is dedicated to fine arts, but nevertheless does not neglect local history and archaeological findings from the region. It also contains numerous impressionist works, among them two original Monets. Paris A 30-minute bus ride (traffic dependent) takes you to beautiful Versailles located on the outskirts of Paris. In the 17th century this famous Baroque palace with its vast landscaped gardens was to be copied numerous times all over Europe. As a reflexion of Absolutism, Versailles stood for power, monarchs, mistresses, pomp, opulence, art, and courtesans. Your visit starts with a 75-minute walking tour through the “Grands Appartements” including the unique Hall of Mirrors (is restored at the moment) and Coronation Hall. Afterwards, you have some free time to stroll through the gardens. Please note: The walkway from the bus across the palace’s courtyard is a 300m (984 ft) cobblestone path. You may encounter a waiting time at the entrance gate. It is not possible to return to the entrance gate during the walking tour through the “Grands Appartements”. |
