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

DAY    2            ARRIVE PARIS (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 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. 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    3            PARIS (THE AGE OF REVOLUTION & 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. Our afternoon continues with a visit to the nearby 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    4            PARIS - VERSAILLES - BAYEUX AREA (1 NIGHT)
This morning we leave Paris for Normandy. We will stop 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 continue to Bayeux, a city rich in Norman history and the first French town to be liberated during the D-Day Invasion, on June 7, 1944. Our afternoon will include a visit to the Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, which houses the spectacular Bayeux Tapestry. One of the most famous tapestries in the world, it is actually embroidery on a band of linen, 231 feet long and 20 inches wide. The tapestry depicts some 58 scenes in eight colors, which tell the story of the conquest of England by William the Conqueror.

DAY    5            BAYEUX AREA - THE D-DAY INVASION BEACHES - MONT                           ST. MICHEL AREA (1 NIGHT)
Today will be dedicated to the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day. Our first stop will be Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where some 13,000 American paratroopers dropped from the skies in the early hours of June 6, 1944 in support of the landings on Utah Beach. An American flag was unfurled at the town hall at 4:30 am, the first to be flown on French soil on D-Day. We continue with a Walk on Utah Beach, where we will view the US Monument, followed by a visit to the D-Day Museum, which is housed in an original bunker. Our day continues to Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches, before visiting the German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer. Our D-Day sightseeing concludes with time to explore Pointe du Hoc, the enemy command post of the entire invasion front, which is filled with monuments and memorials, and the American Military Cemetery, where over 9,000 Americans who died in the Normandy campaign are buried. Late this afternoon we continue to our hotel on or near Mont St. Michel. (Hotel on the Mont is subject to availability)

DAY    6            MONT ST. MICHEL AREA - FOUGERES - TOURS - LOIRE                           VALLEY (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we explore Mont St. Michel, one of the most enchanting sights in France. We will make the steep climb up Grande Rue, lined with 15th and 16th century houses, and explore the Mont, before we visit the Abbey, known as the "Marvel of the West." Ramparts encircle the church and a three-tiered ensemble of 13th-century buildings called La Merveille, which rise dramatically to the pointed spire of the abbey church. Our day continues into Brittany, where we will stop for a visit to Fougeres, a fortress town near the border of Brittany and the Loire Valley. We will explore the remains of the 11th-15th century Chateau de Fougeres, and those that choose can climb the castle's ramparts and towers to get a feel of what it would have been like to live and fight in a medieval castle. We continue to Tours, where we will explore the charming Old Quarter, including Place Plumereau, Charlemagne's Tower and St-Gatien Cathedral.

DAY    7            THE LOIRE VALLEY (CASTLES AND KINGS)
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. This afternoon 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, for wonderful views of the Loire.

DAY    8            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 behing 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    9            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    10          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 artists 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    11          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    12          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    13          AVIGNON - AIX-EN-PROVENCE - CANNES - NICE (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we travel to Aix-en-Provence, the ancient capital of Provence, former watering place for the Roman legions and the home of the Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne. Before entering the city, we will stop at nearby Montagne Ste-Victoire, the mountain peak outside of Aix, which inspired many of Cezanne's most famous works. We continue into Aix, where we will take a stroll along the Cours Mirabeau, a particularly stately looking thoroughfare, with lovely shops, sidewalk cafes, and richly embellished sandstone mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries. During our walk, we will view the 1860 landmark fountain on Place de la Libération, before continuing to Cannes, the elegant playground of the rich and famous on the French Riviera. In Cannes, we will have a bit of free time to explore, shop or simply relax on the beach. We continue to our hotel in Nice, on the Cote D'Azur.

DAY    14          NICE & MONACO
This morning we will begin our sightseeing with a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, which encompasses the Bay of Angels. Our morning will also include an ascent to Le Chateau, where we will view the ruins of the earliest settlements in the Nice area, and an Old Town Walking Tour. The old town is nestled at the foot of Castle Hill, and exudes a lively and utterly Mediterranean character. This afternoon we journey to the nearby Principality of Monaco, a sovereign state covering less than one square mile. We begin with a visit to the Cathedral, a Neo-Romanesque church containing a number of early paintings of the Nice School, including a St. Nicholas altarpiece by Louis Brea. Our afternoon will conclude with a visit to the Palais du Prince, the sight of Monaco's government. Our visit will include the Throne Room and the State Apartments, decorated with fine furniture and portraits by European Masters. (Visit is subject to season and the absence of the Prince) After viewing Monte Carlo, the luxurious Grand Casino named after Charles III, which made Monaco famous, we return to Nice.

DAY    15          DEPARTURE FROM NICE
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.