France & Romance

Paris, Loire Valley, Provence, Nice12 days

About

From the ‘city of light’ and romance in Paris, to the castles and valleys of the Loire, and on to the glamour and glitz of the French Riviera, this is the tour for you if you want to experience the gastronomic delights and heavenly romance of a country that is steeped in exquisite food, wine and romance.

You should experience it because...

France is one of the romantic countries in the world. Make the most of its capital city and wander hand-in-hand along the Seine, sip coffee and watch the world go by at a street-corner café, and wander through the romantic artists’ quarter of Montmartre.

Romance, castles & Riviera

See some of the art world’s greatest masterpieces at the Louvre.

The Loire Valley is dotted with luxurious chateaux – there are even some castles that have been converted to hotels.

Use Cannes as a base to browse more than 100 museums and 50 art galleries along the Riviera.

Places covered 12 Days

Day 1 Paris, sightseeing, attractions
Day 2 Paris – Louvre
Day 3 Paris – Versailles
Day 4&5 Loire Valley
Day 6 Carcassone, sightseeing and attractions
Day 7&8 Arles, sightseeing and attractions
Day 9&10 Provence – wine tasting
Day 10-12 Nice – Monaco
Day 13 Depart

Days Details
1 Paris, sightseeing, attractions Check in to the hotel and enjoy the city. The City of Lights is unlike any other place on earth. Known for its glorious monuments, museums and markets, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, Montmartre to the Marais, Paris has something for everyone. Discover for yourself Paris - “je ne sais quoi.” Climb to the top of Arc de Triomphe for some of the best views of the city, or take the elevator up the Eiffel Tower. Visit the great cathedral of Notre-Dame, which sits along the banks of the Seine. Eat well at a five-star restaurant or a humble bistro, and take time to window shop along the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. Spend an afternoon wandering Montmartre and imagining what it was like when the lure of this ancient area of Paris lured artists, writers, painters, musicians, sculptors, and architects to inspire their works of art. Take a walking tour of the Sacre-Coeur rising above Montmartre and climb the 234spiralling steps that lead you to the basilica’s dome – there is a spectacular view of the city from here. Make time to simply enjoy some of the city’s finest eateries and window shop at your leisure.
2 Paris – Louvre Get the most out of the Louvre – the most famous art museum in the world. The most famous pieces here are the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory. See the Egyptian antiquities; much of this was brought back by Napoleon’s army during his Egyptian campaign (1798-1801). The Louvre was originally a fortress and later became home to France’s royalty. Napoleon’s large and luxurious apartment has been kept intact, and it’s well worth a visit. See the Medieval Louvre – an underground walk around the original 12thcentury foundation of the Louvre itself. And wander the long and expansive corridors of the Renaissance paintings section.
3 Paris – Versailles Visit the most famous jewel of France, Versailles Castle, well known as the Sun King's Estate. The palace of Versailles is one of the most visited French monument because of its architecture, its gardens and also because of its history. Located in the prosperous, leafy and bourgeoissuburb of Versailles, just outside Paris, the baroque chateau was the kingdom’s political capital and the seat of the royal court from 1682 until 1789.
4&5 Loire Valley This is France’s fairytale land – the Loire Valley is studded with storybook villages, time-burnished towns, and turret-topped chateaux. There is magic and romance at every curve in the road. The must-see castle is Chenonceau that arches over the River Cher – there is splendour throughout the fabulous castle and gardens with its sumptuous furnishings and strikingly beautiful formal gardens. Chambord is the most magnificent Loire chateauand the building sums up French history perfectly. If you have time, visit the lovely gardens at Villandry, by the River Cher – the gardens are vast, terraced, and laid out with geometric formality as if created with set-squares and compasses rather than spades.
6 Carcassone, sightseeing and attractions Perched on a rocky hilltop and bristling with zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, from afar the fortified city of Carcassone looks like something out of a children’s storybook. Located in the area of Languedoc,the Old Town of Carcassone retains its magical charm. Wander through the Old Town and discover hidden boutiques, stamp museums, and dusty toy car shops while wandering from one medieval site to another. Visit La Ferme Fromagerie with its enormous cheese wheels, and stop for a coffee in Place Carnot, the central square.
7&8 Arles, sightseeing and attractions Arles is a beautiful Provencal city. See the ancient arena where bull fights and bull games still happen during the summer months. It provides great views of Arles and insight into Roman times in France. Visit St. Tophime Church, located on the Place de la Republique – it has a fantastic Romanesque entrance. And visit the Arles Folk Museum for a feel for life in Provence and the tradition in Arles. Vincent van Gogh came to Provence for inspiration and he settled in Arles and painted many works here. Buy a map of all 12 at the tourist office and try to find them on your own.
9&10 Provence – wine tasting Head off in to Provence for some of the best wine-tasting experiences in the world. Provence spans several very different winemaking regions – you won’t have time to cover the whole region, two days is just enough to sample a taster. If you can, start in Toulon and head down to Saint –Tropez across the vineyards that cling to the edge of the Mediterranean, and then turn inland through classic Provencal landscapes of lavender fields and olive groves in to the wild countryside of the Massif des Maures. Stop at village bistros along the way – they serve delicious dishes of Provencal cuisine.
10-12 Nice – Monaco And finally, time to get romantic in Nice, with its year-round sunshine and universal appeal. Take a two-hour Vieux Nice Baroque Tour or a themed tour such as art deco, neoclassical and belle-epoque Nice, and learn much more about the history and culture of this popular destination. Visit the Musee Matisse, about 2km north of the centre, and enjoy the fascinating assortment of works by Matisse. Hop on board the Train des Pignes that chugs between the mountains and the sea and is one of Provence’s most picturesque rides. It rises to 100km, with breathtaking views out to see. Head down to the Plage Publique des Ponchettes, Nice’s most popular beach, and swim in the warm clear blue Mediterranean sea. Try out one of Nice’s fabulous restaurant – La Table Alziari is run by the grandson of the famous Alziari olive oil family, and the day’s menu is always chalked on a blackboard. Squeezed into just 200 hectares, Monaco might be the world’s second-smallest country (the Vatican is smaller). Monaco Ville, also called Le Rocher, points skywards on a tall rock and overlooks the sea. Built as a fortress in the 13th century, the palace is now the private residence of the Grimaldis – see the changing of the guard there, it takes place daily at 11am. For a glimpse into royal life, tour the state apartments at the Palais due Prince. Enjoy the aristocratic atmosphere, the lavish furnishings, and the expensive 18th and 19thcentury art. And visit the ‘jewel in the Riviera crown’ the rocky little village of Eze. It’s the medieval village itself that is the main attractions, with small higgledy-piggledy stone houses and winding lanes (and plenty of galleries and shops), and the mesmerising views of the coast.
13 Depart

€ 3,500 per person	(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
Price Per Person in Twin Sharing Accomodation
(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
All rates mentioned are an approximate price per person on a twin-sharing basis, and are based on a minimum of 4-6 adults travelling together. Rates are subject to change based on the number of passengers and the time of year. (Flights, visas, travel insurance, lunches & dinners, personal expenses not included. There may be some itinerary activities not included also – please ask). Inclusions : - Traditional ,Boutique or Heritage accommodation where possible or Quality accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) in centrally located 4*Hotels . -Meals – breakfast in all destinations - Internal Travel by rail - ferries - coach as applicable -Guided sightseeing excursions as per the itinerary -First arrival and last departure transfers Most Holidays are based on Independent Travel . Holidays could be Customised to your requirements and you could choose to upgrade to Selfdrive or Exclusively Private basis .

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Take a city-break in Western Europe at any time of the year, if the sun is shining enjoy the sights and if it’s chilly or raining simply dive in to a museum, bar, restaurant or city attraction and get lost in the moment. Wrap up for winter Christmas markets in Germany & Belgium, head out to the Scottish highlands and moors in spring, cruise along Dutch canals, German rivers & Italian lakes in the summer, and be prepared for winter sun, snow & scenic beauty in the French, Italian, Austrian & Swiss Alps.

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About Us

Freedom Holidays is passionate about creating inspirational tailor-made travel to Europe and beyond. Our business is your pleasure and our expert and dedicated team is here to listen to your travel needs down to the ‘nth’ degree, leaving you ‘free’ to enjoy your holiday of a lifetime with no gimmicks, no hassle, and no stress. What makes us different? With 14 years experience of providing quality tailor-made customised holidays with an ‘off-the beaten-track’ themed approach, we take you to well-known destinations as well as far flung locations (or a mixture of both), leaving you safe in the knowledge that you will be looked after every step of the way.

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