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

DAY    2            ARRIVE PARIS - CHARTRES - THE LOIRE VALLEY
                          (2 NIGHTS)
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 first stop will be in 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 to our hotel in the Loire Valley.

DAY    3           THE LOIRE VALLEY (CASTLES AND KINGS)
This morning we visit 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 designed by Leonardo da Vinci, and a walk along the roof, providing wonderful views of the Loire. 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.

DAY    4            THE LOIRE VALLEY - LASCAUX - LES EYZIES - SARLAT
                          (2 NIGHTS)
After an early morning start, we drive south to the Perigord, Quercy and Gascony region of France. Our afternoon begins with a visit to the Lascaux Caves, where scientists have completely reproduced the polychrome prehistoric paintings (17,000 years old) that were discovered in 1940. We continue to the town of Les Eyzies, an area where Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon men lived in caves throughout this region, leaving behind fascinating carvings and paintings. We will visit the Musee National de la Prehistoire, before exploring the Grotte de Font de Gaume and the Grotte des Combarelles, both of which possess spectacular prehistoric wall paintings. We continue to Sarlat for the evening, where we will take an evening Walking Tour through the narrow, winding cobblestone streets, where we will view the facades of 15th and 16th century houses, and the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral of St. Sacerdos.

DAY    5            DAY TRIP TO DOMME & ROCAMADOUR
This morning we begin with a visit to Domme, one of the many medieval fortified towns founded in southwest France by the French and English. After time time to explore the village at our leisure and take in splendid views over the alluvial valleys of the Dordogne, we continue to nearby Rocamadour, the medieval pilgrimage center that dramatically clings to the cliffs of the gorge. We will take a Walking Tour of Rocamadour, where we will view the Grand Stairway, the Chapel of St. Blaise, St. Anne's Chapel, the Basilica of St-Sauveur, the Chapel of St. John the Baptist and the Chateau. Our day will also include a visit to the Chapel of Notre-Dame, Rocamadour's most hallowed shrine, with a prized statue of the Black Virgin.

DAY    6            SARLAT - ALBI - CARCASSONNE (1 NIGHT)
This morning we journey to Albi, where we will visit the Cathedral of St. Cecelia, constructed over two centuries to look as much like a fortress as a cathedral. We continue with a visit to the Berbie Palace, the former Bishops' Palace, which now houses the Musee Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The museum contains the most complete permanent collection of the artist's work in the world, including painted masterpieces and 39 drawings entitled At the Circus. This afternoon we continue to Carcassonne, a medieval walled city that has been preserved almost untouched since the end of the Middle Ages. As we approach Carcassonne, we will view the daunting fortifications that confronted Charlemagne during his 9th century siege.

DAY    7            CARCASSONNE - AIGUES MORTES - AVIGNON (2 NIGHTS)
We begin with a Walking Tour of Carcassone, including the ramparts, bridges and towers. We will also visit the Basilique St-Nazaire, famous for its Siege Stone, and the Chateau Comtal, a fortress within the fortress, which consists of a moat, five towers and defensive wooden galleries on the walls.We continue through the Camargue to the town of Aigues-Mortes, a perfectly preserved walled town, established by Louis XI in the 13th century as a sign of his great power and fortitude. We will explore the spectacular town, including an ascent of the Tour de Constance, where we will walk along the rectangular walls, and enjoy subperb views over the Carmague. We continue to the walled city of Avignon.

DAY    8            PONT-DU-GARD, NIMES & ARLES (ROMAN PROVENCE)
Today we will explore Roman Provence, beginning with a visit to Pont-du-Gard, a three-tiered Roman aqueduct, which is almost entirely intact. At over 2,000 years old, Pont-du-Gard is a startling example of Roman engineering. We continue to the Roman city of Nimes, which had its water supplied from the aqueduct. Nimes was an important city in the Roman period, and is home to many of France's greatest treasures from Roman antiquity. Our tour of Nimes will include the superb Roman Amphitheater, built during the reign of Augustus, and the Maison Carree, the best preserved of all Roman temples. This afternoon we visit the Roman City of Arles, where we will visit the Roman Amphitheater, one of the best-preserved monuments of Roman Provence, which dates from the reign of Vespasian, and the well-preserved Ancient Theater. After time to explore the other Roman and art treasures of Arles, we return to our hotel in Avignon.

DAY    9            AVIGNON - PARIS (3 NIGHTS)
Today we drive through central France to Paris, "The City of Lights." Upon our arrival 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. 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    10          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 ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most recognizable landmark, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889.

DAY    11          VERSAILLES & PARIS (ENLIGHTENMENT &
                          IMPRESSIONISM)
This morning we journey just outside of Paris for 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 will return to Paris for a visit to 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. 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 artist's 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    12          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.