Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Paris
Your tour commences this evening with a welcome dinner in your hotel. This is an ideal chance to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers.
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Your Paris Hotel – Mercure Paris Montmartre
The Mercure Paris Montmartre hotel is located in the heart of Paris: it sits at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur, close to the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret and a short walk from the city's department stores. With very good public transport links, you can enjoy easy access to the whole of the city.
Day 2: Paris
This morning we are joined by an expert guide for a Paris panoramic city tour which will bring alive the city; from the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre and Notre Dame. Your afternoon will be free to explore the shops, cafes, museums and grand boulevards that Paris is famous for. This evening we will take an Illuminations drive to see Paris’ major landmarks bathed in glorious light. We will also be stopping at the Latin Quarter, located on the ‘left bank’ of the River Seine, which is renowned for its narrow winding streets packed with cafes, bars and bistros. You will have free time to select a restaurant and enjoy a romantic dinner in this very Parisienne atmosphere.
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Day 3: Ypres
We depart Paris and mid morning cross the uplands of the Somme to visit the 2nd Australian Division memorial at Mont St Quentin, on the outskirts of the historical town of Péronne. In 1918 the ‘Diggers’ stormed and took this heavily fortified town under intense machine gun fire. Lunch time is at leisure in the old town of Péronne. Later this afternoon we continue to Ypres where we stay the next four nights. Between 1916 and 1918 thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers came to Ypres where some of the heaviest fighting in World War 1 took place. Completely destroyed in the war, the town was lovingly re-built, carefully restoring the grand old buildings and picturesque square. Tonight, after a buffet dinner in your hotel, you will attend the sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, a moving ceremony repeated every night since 1928.
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Your feature hotel in Ypres – The Novotel Ieper Centrum
The hotel is modern and certainly not unique. It is a feature hotel because of its incredible location in the very heart of the old town; 50 metres from the gothic town square and barely 200 metres from the famous Menin Gate. Our selection of this hotel is very important as we stay here four nights.
Day 4: Ypres
This morning your Tour Manager will take you on a walking tour through the centre of town, to see the magnificent Cloth Hall, St Georges Chapel and St Martin’s Church. We have also included a visit to the ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum - a remarkable interactive experience of World War 1 located in the Cloth Hall. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. Time to dine out in one of the numerous local Belgian cafes and restaurants, and of course you can again attend the sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
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Day 5: Ypres
A fascinating day to discover the battlefields and memorials associated with some of the most costly operations fought in by Australian soldiers – the battles of the ‘Flanders Offensive’ of June to November 1917. In the morning we visit the site of the Battle of Messines, the New Zealand Memorial, the beautiful Toronto Avenue Cemetery and the Island of Ireland Peace Park. After time at leisure for lunch in Ypres, we drive up the famous Menin Road to visit Hooge Crater Cemetery and Museum (this small, private museum is in a renovated Chapel and small school), Hill 60, the 5th Australian Division Memorial and New Zealand Memorial at Polygon Wood, and the British Commonwealth’s largest war cemetery at Tyne Cot. What happened in this area east of Ypres in 1917 was eventually summed up in one terrible word – Passchendaele!
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Day 6 - Ypres
We have included a delightful excursion today to the charming city of Bruges. Recognised as one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities, Bruges is riddled with canals, bridges and quiet back streets and is often called the Venice of the North. Wander the quaint and picturesque cobbled stone streets lined with tiny lace boutiques, tempting chocolate shops and cosy cafes. Maybe take a cruise along the canals or a ride in a traditional horse drawn carriage through the old town to admire the historic architecture. Or simply relax in one of the pavement cafes on the glorious old market square. On our return to Ypres, we will visit Essex Farm Cemetery, the site of the composition of the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
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Day 7 - Amiens
Today we journey through the old Western Front battlefields from Ypres in Belgium to Amiens in France. After crossing the border, we will stop at VC Corner (Australian Cemetery), Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery and the Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles, scene of Australia’s first major battle on the Western Front. From there we visit the most spectacular British Commonwealth memorial in France – the Canadian National Memorial on Vimy Ridge. Later this afternoon we will travel across the old Bullecourt battlefield and view the moving statue of an Australian soldier at the Bullecourt ‘Digger’ Memorial. You will be staying the next two nights in Amiens, the capital of the Picardie region, and a city which has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Your hotel is located in the city centre within easy walking distance to the picturesque city canals, Jules Verne’s House and the Notre-Dame – Amiens’ masterpiece 13th century gothic cathedral. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel.
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Your Amiens Hotel – Mercure Amiens Cathedrale
Your hotel is located in the city centre within easy walking distance to the picturesque city canals, Jules Verne’s House and the Notre-Dame – Amiens’ masterpiece 13th century gothic cathedral.
Day 8 - Amiens
In 1916 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought in the Battle of the Somme. Today we experience the tragedy of the 1916 Somme Battlefield including the Adelaide Cemetery (site of the exhumation of Australia’s Unknown Soldier in November 1993) and the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. We have included a visit to the Franco-Australian Museum at the Victoria Primary School in the village of Villers-Bretonneux. We also visit the Australian memorials at Pozières. In the taking of this small village, over 23,000 Australians were injured with 8,000 losing their lives. The memorial at the windmill simply reads, “This spot was the centre of the struggle in this area and was captured by Australian troops who fell more thickly on this ridge than on any other”. Later we visit the New Zealand Memorial at Longeuval and the vast and tragic Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Returning to Amiens your evening is free. Make sure you visit the grand old market square and the glorious gothic cathedral.
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Day 9: Caen in Normandy
Your morning stop will be in the medieval city of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. We continue to Normandy where we spend a fascinating afternoon exploring the Normandy landing beaches and visit Arromanches-les-Bains, and the Landing Beaches Museum. Here you discover the remains of Mulberry ‘B’ Harbour, often referred to as the ‘key to Normandy’. We will also visit the Pegasus Memorial and Museum, at Ranville, dedicated to heroic men of the 6th airborne division who played a pivotal part in the 1944 invasion. Your next two nights will be spent in William the Conqueror’s city – Caen. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel.
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Your Normandy Hotel – Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance
Stay in the heart of Normandy in the city of William the Conqueror. The Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance, located in the city centre, offer comfortable rooms all with air-conditioning and was recently renovated in 2009.
Please note 13 July 2011 dept will be accommodated at Holiday Inn Caen City Centre.
Day 10: Caen in Normandy
Driving through the lush Normandy countryside, dotted with small, pretty villages, ancient farms and apple orchards, we visit the amazing structure of Mont St Michel. The abbey is perched atop a rocky outcrop linked to mainland France by a narrow causeway. The giant monastery dominates the tiny village below, and the entire complex has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. On our way back to Caen we visit the magnificent Bayeux Tapestry, depicting William the Conqueror’s invasion of Britain in 1066. The remainder of your afternoon will be at leisure in Caen with its well preserved historical old town, heritage buildings, castle and abbeys.
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Day 11: Amboise in the Loire Valley
Today we make our way to the verdant Loire Valley where, during the 15th and 16th centuries, the Kings of France and their courtiers had their holiday palaces. Driving south we reach the town of Usee with its 16th century chateau overlooking the Loire and Indre River Valley. Accredited as the castle in Charles Perrault’s story ‘Sleeping Beauty’ it is also sometimes called the ‘Castle of Dreams’. Lunchtime will be spent in the village of Azay-le-Rideau with its graceful chateau, which sits on the lakeside. We then visit the gardens of Chateau Villandry. Inspired by the classic gardens of the 16th and 18th century, different levels of the gardens include ponds, topiary, ornamental hedges and an extraordinary kitchen garden covering 12,500 square metres. We spend the next two nights nearby in the charming royal city of Amboise. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel.
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Your Loire Valley Hotel - Hotel Novotel Amboise
The Novotel Amboise is located in the heart of the Loire Valley amidst its legendary chateaux, including Chenonceaux, Chambord, Cheverny and more. On top of a hill overlooking Amboise and its chateau, this 3 star hotel offers airconditioned rooms, a restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
Day 12: Amboise in the Loire Valley
Today you have the opportunity to explore two of the region’s wonderful chateaux. Firstly Chenonceaux, where you enjoy both the interior and also the stunning gardens (audio guide included). Possibly one of the most photographed of the Loire Chateaux, the former home of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, spans the river Cher on a series of arches. We also stop and view the magnificent Chateau of Chambord. This enormous chateau was created by King Francois I as a hunting lodge within the surrounding grounds, which consisted of over 5,000 wooded hectares. Lunchtime is taken today in Blois, known for its historic castle and old town with narrow cobbled stone streets. This afternoon we return to Amboise with its Royal Palace and the famous Manor House ‘Le Clos Luce’- where Leonardo da Vinci once lived as a guest of King Francois 1st. Your afternoon and evening will be entirely free to explore and enjoy the city sights.
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Day 13: Paris
First stop of the day will be at Chartres to take in the inspirational cathedral with its soaring aisles, beautiful stained glass and delicate carvings. This afternoon we take a guided tour through Louis XIV’s magnificent Palace of Versailles, where the Versailles Treaty, which brought World War 1 to an end, was signed. The royal state rooms, with the ‘Sun Kings’ Hall of Mirrors, are extraordinary. On arrival in nearby Paris we check into our hotel where we spend our last night. Our farewell dinner tonight is in a traditional French restaurant.
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Your Paris hotel – Mercure Paris Montmartre
The Mercure Paris Montmartre hotel is located in the heart of Paris: it sits at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur, close to the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret and a short walk from the city's department stores. With very good public transport links, you can enjoy easy access to the whole of the city.
Day 14: Paris
Sadly, your Chateaux, Boulevards and Battlefields tour ends this morning after breakfast.
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