DAY    1            DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to Paris.

DAY    2            ARRIVE PARIS - AZAY-LE-RIDEAU - LOCHES
                         (4 NIGHTS HOMESTAY)
We will be met at the airport by our Tour manager/guide, where we will board our own private bus and transfer into the Loire Valley. Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the fairytale Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau, the most feminine of the Loire chateau, which is surrounded by a complex system of moats and weirs. Azay was a pleasure palace, lived in during fine weather, and today is often considered a Renaissance museum, with its period furniture, portraits and tapestries. We continue to Loches, where we will meet our host families.

DAY    3            CHAMBORD & AMBOISE (THE LEGACY OF LEONARDO
                          DA VINCI)
Our morning commences with a visit to the Loire Valley's largest residence and the brainchild of Francois I, Chateau Chambord. This massive "weekend retreat" for Francois I took over 15 years and 1800 men to complete. Highlights of our visit will include the Double Spiral Staircase, thought to be the design of Leonardo da Vinci, and a walk along the roof, providing wonderful views of the Loire. This afternoon we visit Chateau d'Amboise, a one-time royal residence that was used to greet royal pilgrims en route from Paris to Santiago, Spain during the Middle Ages. We will see the chateau's original entrance, famous for its huge spiral ramp which could be ridden up on horseback, and the Petite Chapel, which features a plaque suggesting that it is the burial place of da Vinci. We continue with a visit to Le Clos Luce, "The House of Light," a plush palace, where Leonardo spent the last years of his life. The house does a wonderful job of recreating the everyday atmosphere Leonardo enjoyed in his final years, and there are sketches and models of Leonardo's incredible inventions. We return to Loches for an evening with our host families.

DAY    4            BLOIS & CHENONCEAU (THE WOMEN OF THE LOIRE                           VALLEY)
This morning we will explore Blois, often called the "Versailles of the Renaissance," the second capital of France, and the "city of kings." Dominating the town is the Château de Blois, begun in the 13th century by the comtes de Blois; it reached the apex of its power in 1515, when François I moved to the château. The château is like an illustrated storybook of French architecture, highlighted by the François I wing, a French Renaissance masterpiece, containing a spiral staircase with ornamented balustrades and the king's symbol, the salamander. We continue to the little village of Chenonceau, where we will visit the fabulous Chateau, the toast of the Loire! This 15th century Renaissance palace is forever associated with Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, who were responsible for much of the current design. Our afternoon continues as we view the unique Troglodyte houses, before visiting the famous Cave Cellars of the Vouvray Vineyards. We return to Loches for an evening with our host families.

DAY    5            CHINON & ORLEANS (THE MAID OF LORRAINE:
                          JOAN OF ARC)
This morning we will visit the medieval town of Chinon, where Joan of Arc came to convince Charles to unite France. We will visit the Château de Chinon, including: the Château du Milieu, which houses the small Museum of Joan of Arc. We will spend the afternoon in Orléans, where in 1429 Joan of Arc relieved the city from attacks by the Burgundians and the English. We will take a Walking Tour with a focus on Joan of Arc, which will include: the equestrian statue of Jeanne d'Arc in Place du Martroi, rue Royal, pont George-V, the Cross which marks the site of the Fort des Tourelles, and the Hotel Groslot, where we will view the statue of Joan of Arc praying. We conclude our afternoon with a visit to Maison Jeanne-d'Arc, a small museum dedicated to Orléans's favorite mademoiselle, housed in a reproduction of the 15th-century house where Joan of Arc stayed during her local heroics. We return to Loches for an evening with our host families.

DAY    6            THE LOIRE VALLEY - CHARTRES - VERSAILLES - PARIS
                    (3 NIGHTS)    (THE AGE OF FAITH AND THE AGE OF REASON)
This morning we journey to Chartres, where we will visit Chartres Cathedral, the jewel in the crown of medieval churches in Europe. We will tour the Cathedral, which is a testimony in stone to the religious fervor of the Middle Ages. Chartres Cathedral boasts an unrivaled expanse of sculpture, as well as one of Europe's most impressive collections of stained glass windows. We continue with a visit to Versailles, a palace commissioned by Louis XIV around Louis XIII's hunting lodge. Our visit commences as we explore the ornate State Apartments, highlighted by the magnificent Hall of Mirrors. After time to explore the spectacular Gardens and fountains at Versailles, we continue to Paris, "The City of Lights." This afternoon we will take a Seine River Cruise, which will take us under many of Paris' graceful bridges, and past many important landmarks and monuments along both banks - a perfect introduction to the beauty of Paris.

DAY    7           PARIS (THE REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON)
Our morning commences with an ascent of the Arc de Triomphe, a massive triumphal arch commissioned by Napoleon, which today is a symbol of Paris and home to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We continue with a stroll along the Champs Elysees, Paris' most spectacular thoroughfare, which offers a beautiful look at Parisian life and architecture. We return to the Place de la Concorde, before strolling through the Jardin des Tuileries, the beautiful Neo-Classical gardens, which lead to the entrance of the Louvre. We will enjoy a specialist-guided tour through the museum, which will include: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and many of the finest paintings and sculpture from Western Civilization. This afternoon we visit the cathedral of Notre Dame, begun in 1163 on a spot that had already been a religious shrine since Roman times. Over the centuries, the cathedral has been the scene of some of France's most momentous occasions, including the coronation of Napoleon. This evening we will dine in and stroll through the Latin Quarter, a section of the city that dates back to the Roman times, and which is generally associated with artists, intellectuals and political unrest. During our walk we will view the Sorbonne, Paris' oldest university.

DAY    8            PARIS (PARIS OF THE IMPRESSIONISTS)
This morning we will visit the Musee D'Orsay, dedicated to the rich diversity of visual arts from 1846 to 1914, and featuring masterpieces by: Delacroix, Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin and Lautrec. We continue with an ascent to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most recognizable landmark, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889. Paris is one of the most important centers of fashion in the world, and this afternoon we will visit the elegant stores of Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette for a first-hand look at the latest trends in fashion. This evening we will ascend to Montmartre, an area of Paris made famous in the late 19th century as an artists haunt. We will spend time in the Place du Tertre, a square known for its local artwork, before visiting the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, a huge white church which dominates the Parisian skyline.

DAY    9            DEPARTURE FROM PARIS
Our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as our tour manager/guide accompanies us to the airport for the return flight home.