"LA BELLE FRANCE"         

DISCOVERING FRANCE - LINGUA MUSICA'S SPECTACULAR 31ST MUSIC & ART TOURS
       PARIS • HONFLEUR • BAYEUX • BORDEAUX•TOULOUSE•AIX-EN-PROVENCE•AVIGNON•NICE
Picture
Detail of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman invasion of England in the 11th Century
​

​Tour Leaders:

Roma Randles, Lingua Musica Founder & Cultural Advisor
​Deborah Tresise, Tour Leader & Manager
 ________________________________________
​
Discover the magic of France

- Enjoy a choice of two mini breaks, each rich in French history and culture.

- Indulge in the richness of French art, history and culture, from Parisian elegance to the breathtaking beauty of the Dordogne region, steeped in fascinating history and surrounded by castles, chateaux and vineyards, concluding with the French Riviera on the sparkling Mediterranean.
 ________________________________________
Enquiries: [email protected]
 ________________________________________
Pricing:

Per person, twin-share:  About AUD$8,000
Single Supplement:        About AUD$1,300
 ________________________________________
Inclusions:
​
- 17 nights accommodation in first class hotels including all breakfasts.
- All transportations (private a/c buses, high speed rail journeys).
- Sixteenlunches or dinners.
- All guided excursions mentioned in Itinerary.
- Classical music performances.
- Qualified and experienced local guides in all locations.
- Services of Lingua Musica throughout tour.
What is not included:
​
- International airfares.
 ________________________________________
​xcfcs


​Short Break 1 

Proposed Schedule - Paris, Deauville, Honfleur, Chateauroux, Nohant

We start our beautiful French tour in Paris, France's capital and major European city, global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Paris is often referred to as the city of love and romance, with its 19th-century cityscape criss-crossed by beautiful tree-lined wide boulevards and its many bridges spanning the River Seine.

Our boutique Hotel Le Regent is an historical French residence of charm and comfort right in the middle of the lively Latin Quartier, within an easy walk to the many of the most important attractions, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Musée du Louvre, Musée des Artes Décoratifs, Musée de Cluny, Eglise Saint-Sulpice and of course the River Seine, with its vibrant Parisian markets and street artists situated along its banks and its historic islands with their myriad of tiny streets and traditional Parisian stores, the Ile de La Cité and the smaller Ile Saint-Louis. 

Day 1: We meet in the late afternoon for our Welcome Briefing. Our local guide will then take us on an interesting stroll through the bustling narrow streets of this fascinating quartier, with its multitude of cafes, bookstores, boutiques, antiques and flowers. This quartier is also home to the famous Ecole des Beaux Arts. Our first Parisian experience will conclude with our Welcome Dinner at the famous Le Procope, the oldest restaurant in Paris.

Day 2: After breakfast we will set out for a guided walk, including via the famed Paris Metro, to the Musée Rodin. Following a talk about the life and works of Rodin there will be ample time to  admire the works of Auguste Rodin (1840 -1917), forever the supreme master of sculpture, and to wander through this so beautiful and interesting small chateau with its delightful gardens. We will lunch in the charming Restaurant Rodin, situated in the gardens.

Our afternoon will be spent at one of the most interesting of the Parisian Museums, La Musee National du Moyen Age, located in the famous Boulevard St Michel.

We will make our way back to our hotel via an easy stroll along the Boulevard St Germain and including a visit to the wonderful medieval Eglise St Germain and an interlude for a coffee or aperitif at the Cafe de Flore, Les Deux Magots or another of the very famous cafes frequented by Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and their renowned associates. Their animated discourse of yesteryear readily spring to mind. These cafes were the centre of the Existentialism movement. The Boulevard St Germain remains today to be the top intellectual and cultural site for Parisian life.

Evening at leisure. Time for you to explore the very lively Parisian Latin Quarter, right on our doorstep.

Day 3: This morning we set off on another journey of discovery, again through the Latin Quartier, however in the opposite direction towards the famed Ile de La Cité and its Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (sadly still not restored following the devastating fire of 2019). We will also visit one of the most famous bookstores in the world, Shakespeare and Sons, situated on the Left Bank. This is a remarkable institution, originally started in 1919 by the undaunted efforts of American, Sylivia Beach. We will continue along Rue Saint Louis en L'Isle, with its numerous pretty cafes, where we will enjoy a traditional Parisian lunch. An absolute must along this routei is the beautiful little Eglise Louis en Lille, with its baroque interior, so calm and restful, a welcome soujourne from the bustle of the Parisian streets. Our time in Paris may coincide with one of the classical performances regularly held in this Eglise.

We will have time to rest before attending dinner and a Music Performance later in the evening.

Day 4: Today you may wish to join us on our optional visit to Monet’s House and Garden at Giverny. We will travel by private air-conditioned minibus with our driver and guide for a day excursion, including lunch.

Or you may wish to enjoy a free day for independent discovery. Options include a visit Musée de l'Orangerie of Monet's Waterlillies fame, wander through the Jardin Tuileries, Le Louvre or the Musee Dorsay. Or simply explore Paris in its entirety using the famous "hop on/ hop off" tourist bus service.

Our time in Paris concludes with an early evening Bateaux Mouche cruise along the River Seine and dinner in atmospheric Parisian style.

Day 5: Deauville

Departing after breakfast we travel by first class TGV train journey from Gare Saint Lazarre, Paris to the picturesque coastal town of Deauville, situated in Normandy. On arrival Deauville/ Trouville, we will be met by our driver. With our luggage safely stored in the minibus with the driver, our local escort will conduct a short walking tour of this elegant seaside city amnd you will have time to peruse the very glamourous boutiques, as well as stroll along the surprisingly wide sands of this fashionable resort town, as well as enjoy lunch at a cafe of your choosing. 

Later in the afternoon we will rejoin our minibus and embark on a delightful drive through the Normandy countryside ... renowned to be the prettiest part of rural France and one of which we have so many wonderful memories of our times holidaying throughout the years.

Within the hour, we will arrive at beautiful Honfleur, situated on its pretty port. What a place!!! An enchanting maze of cobblestoned streets and squares, intriguing corners, tucked away delights, including an extraordinary array of ateliers whose windows display such a variety of art and creativity, items ranging from luxurious clotingh to exotic sweet delicacies. All set against a backdrop of most intriguing architecture, half-timbered structures in every direction, houses, hotels, shops, halls, not to mention the gorgeous facades of the churches. Amidst this stands the home of their one famous musical resident, Erik Satie.

Our Honfleur hotel, the Hotel le Cheval Blanc overlooks the pretty port with its fishing boats. On arrival, time to rest and unpack before we embark on a guided tour of this charming town with our local guide.

Dinner at a restaurant on the port followed by a performance at the home of Erik Satie.

Day 6: Bayeux

This morning we embark in our minibus on a day trip for a visit to the famous Musee de la Tapisserie de Bayeux. These renowned tapestries depict the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England. Thought to date from the 11th century, this great work incorporates some seventy scenes from these events, and embroidered on a linen cloth using coloured woollen yarn.

We will also visit the imposing Cathedral of Bayeux. Lunch will be included, after which you will have time to stroll around this beautiful country town before returning to our beautiful Hotel Cheval Blanc.

Evening at leisure.

Day 7: Bayeux

This morning a further a day excursion, this time to visit the site of the famous D-Day Landings. Our destination will be Pointe du Hoc, considered to be an excellent location for an overall view of the very long miles of beaches ......



​Evening at leisure.

Our wonderful tour concludes after breakfast.