Your tour comes complete with travel, accommodation and local guides, and is a private luxury tour of north-eastern France where you will visit Alsace and Lorraine, with stops in Champagne, Burgundy and Oise. This Paris-based tour extends to a 12-day period and highlights include learning French history by visiting Palais de Compiegne (a neo-classical castle reminiscent of Napoleon Bonaparte and his successors), strolling the cobblestone streets of Arras (a city that experienced both world wars), viewing the Reims Cathedral of Notre-Dame (a Gothic church where the kings of France were crowned) and visiting bucolic vineyards and learning how award-winning Riesling wines are produced; a once-in-a-lifetime wine-tasting experience.
Before or after it I recommend our Paris tours and other tours in France.
The North-Eastern areas of France are some of the most beautiful in the country. You will be able to experience some of the best sights in France, visit quaint little French Villages as well as museums. In this tour, see the town of ‘Reims’ where you will sample champagne wine and tour champagne caves. On top of this all you have the world famous Notre Dame Cathedral at your doorstop as well as battlegrounds that saw intense action during the World Wars. One location that is a particular hit with the locals is the village of Riquewihr, a 16th Century Village. Also in this region you will be able to climb the surrounding hills and have beautiful panoramic views over France and even Germany.
Top towns to visit here are Colmar, Mulhouse and Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace Region.
Alsace - Lorraine - Champagne - Burgundy - Oise
- Royal city of Compiègne tour - Arras city walking
tour - Lille tour - Reims - Champagne tasting
and winery tour - Verdun battlefield tour - Metz,
Strasbourg, Obernai and other charming towns and
villages in Alsace and Lorraine - mediaeval and
feudal castles guided tours - waterfalls, breathtaking
landscapes and many natural attractions
Today begins with your A La Carte France chauffeur-guide collecting you by limousine from your Paris-based accommodation. You may also request to be collected from Paris airport. Take a short drive to Chateau de Compiegne - the royal residence of Louis XV, built between 1755 and 1799, and restored by Napoleon. Within its perimeter is Musee du Second Empire, featuring the life of Napoleon III, Emperor of the Second French Empire. Then you head to the city of Arras and visit the 16th-century Town Hall, which was destroyed in the First World War and restored by the French government along with 154 other structures.
Overnight in Lille.
Today begins with a Lille private walking tour at the Palais des Beaux Arts. Marvel at antiques, sculptures, ceramics, scale models, and paintings of Donatello, Veronese, van Dyck, Rubens and other popular European artists. Fifteen minutes away is Grand Place; a historic square surrounded by old buildings and cafes. In the vicinity is La Vieille Bourse, a monument inspired by Flemish-Renaissance design, used by businessmen and traders of the era. Notice its quadrilateral shape around the arcaded courtyard. From here your A La Carte tour will take you to Laon City, where you can see its underground tunnels below the citadels. Overnight in Reims
Today you will experience Reims and Verdun with your A La Carte France tour guide. Your first stop here is Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims, a 13th-century Gothic church, where you will find the remains of Saint Remi, the archbishop who instituted the anointing of kings in France. See the masterpiece of French architect Jean d'Orbais - beautiful facades and intricate interiors with stained glass windows. Nearby is Palais du Tau, where archbishops of Reims lived, and banquets following coronations were held.
Later in the day, the chauffeur-guide drives you to Verdun - notorious for the 300,000 French and German soldiers who were killed in an epic battle 100 years ago. The remains, which are UNESCO listed, are reminiscent of the World War era.
Overnight in Monthairon (Verdun area).
The fourth day of your tour takes you to Metz, the capital of Lorraine. Here you can enjoy the Romanesque, medieval, classical and German architectural styles in the city including the Saint-Etienne de Metz, which is the seat of the Bishop of Metz and one of the highest naves in France. Your A La Carte France tour guide will also show you the Cour d'Or Museum which is housed in a former Carmelite convent and features gothic sculptures and paintings, and the Pompidou-Metz Centre, the largest modern and contemporary museum outside Paris. From here, travel by limousine to Nancy, the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, to see more spectacular architectural masterpieces.
Overnight near Nancy.
In Nancy, enjoy a pleasant guided walk of Place Stanislas a large pedestrian square that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is surrounded by unique 18th-century architecture. Your A La Carte France tour guide will also take you to see the Musee des Beaux-Arts which offers an impressive collection of artwork by Picasso, Rubens, Tintoretto, Perugin, and other French and foreign artists, and the Lorraine Historical Museum which was created in 1793 and is housed in an 18th-century building.
Following lunch visit Strasbourg City, the seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. The visit includes a private guided walk of La Petite France on Grande Ile, where you can view picturesque architecture, shops and cafes.
5 nights in a typical village of Alsace.
Today your A La Carte France chauffeur-guide takes you to the historical town of Obernai, the birthplace of Sainte Odile, patroness of Alsace. From here, take the Alsace Wine Route for wine tasting in the vineyards of Mittelbergheim and Dambach-la-Ville. Your guide will then take you to to Mount Sainte-Odile; originally home to Benedictine nuns and a popular destination for Christian pilgrims. You can also visit Mur Paien, an 7th century fortress made from 300,000 stones, and originally designated for Celtic worship. Another stop is Landsberg Castle which was built in 1197 and features Romanesque gemel windows and oriel window in the chapel. The final stop of the day is Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg, a medieval castle with breathtaking panoramic views of the valleys and the woods.
Second night in Alsace village
Experience a tour of Les Trois Epis, a locality named after the apparition of the Virgin to blacksmith Thierry Schoere in 1491. Your trip here features short walks on trails and slopes, offering attractive views across tiny villages amidst vineyards. Your A La Carte France private tour will also allow you to enjoy luxury wine tasting from welcoming local wine growers. From here, visit Colmar, the last town in France to be freed during World War II, and home to the historic Unterlinden Museum which features religious masterpieces of Grunewald, Kaspar Isenmann and Schongauer.
Third night in Alsace village
Enjoy a private tour of Riquewihr with your A La Carte France guide. Here you can experience a selection of architectural heritage including beautiful houses from the 15th to 18th centuries, cobbled streets, and colourful, timber-framed buildings with moats and gates. View Le Dolder tower and Musee du Dolder and enjoy the specialty fruity riesling wines of the region.
Travel from here with your minivan to view Le Hohneck, the second-highest summit in Vosges, and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains and the forest.
Fourth night in Alsace village
Enjoy a guided custom tour of Alsatian Eco-Museum, a living museum of relocated Alsatian buildings to displayed to recreate a 19th century Alsatian town. In the museum are preserved houses of a shoemaker, baker, distiller, wine maker, wood carver, weaver, and more. The visit includes a trip to Mulhouse to see Cite de l'Automobile; a museum exhibiting classic automobiles from the Schlumpf collection, and the Cite du Train; the largest railway museum in the world, is a must-see. Your A la Carte France tour guide will also take you for a stroll through Reunion Square where you can see the 16th-century cathedral, town hall, and well-preserved 17th-century houses that are beautifully painted with bright colours.
Fifth night in Alsace village
Today you will visit Collegiale Saint-Thiebaut in Thann; an impressive church built in honour of St. Theobald. Experience the gothic design of its portal, the large decorative characters in the choir stalls, and magnificent stained glass windows. From here, travel by chauffeured limousine to view Ballon d'Alsace; the highest point of southern Vosges Mountain. Enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Black Forest and peaks of Jura Belfort, Bernese Alps, and Mont Blanc. Your A La Carte France guide will then drive you to the town of Vittel, a health resort famous for its bottled mineral water.
Overnight in Vittel
Today your chauffeur-guide drives you to Troyes where you can view half-timbered houses, Gothic churches, and cobblestone streets that are narrow enough to pass objects between houses on either side. You can also experience a personalized tour of the 13th century Gothic church Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Cathedral. Nearby is the Modern Art Museum, where you can learn about hundreds of paintings and sculptures made by artists including La Fresnaye, Soutine, and Balthus. Overnight in Troyes
This is the last day of the A La Carte France luxury tour and your final stop is the town of Sens, alongside Yonne River in Burgundy. Here you can enjoy the historic city by strolling along the shady boulevards and promenades, and view the Cathedrale of Saint-Etienne which was built between 12th and 16th centuries and exhibits sculpted portals on the west facade depicting the life and martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Stephen. Finally, your guide will drive you back by limousine to Paris or to the airport for your outbound flight. Au revoir et bon voyage, honores voyageurs!
bookings for tours shorter than 10 days.
Boutique / Luxury price includes: private
driver-interpreter throughout the tour, private
local guides, transport (air conditioned
minivan or large sedan), all entrance fees
as per suggested itinerary, porterage,
accommodation in boutique / luxury
(best available) style small hotels and Bed
& Breakfasts (comfortable double room with
private bathroom), continental breakfasts,
light lunches (i.e. quiche, sandwich, soup),
dinners in fine cuisine restaurants (3 items to
choose freely à la carte) with best available
local wine (half a bottle per dinner per
person), all taxes and tolls. This price does
not include: optional tipping (not compulsory),
personal expenses, insurance, flights to and
from France, drinks other than mentioned
and optional activities.
no refund for cancellations received
later.
Nancy was beautified in the eighteenth century by Stanislas Leszczynski, the king of Poland and duke of Lorraine. This historic capital of the duchy has some very notable architecture for touring and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stanislas Square is known as one of the most beautiful in Europe; it seduces its visitors and, for the residents, is the heart of the city. The gilded wrought-iron railings, designed by Jean Lamour, seem to connect the buildings to one another, and the celebrated fountains of Amphitrite and Neptune are the work of Barthélémy Guibal. It is among the first squares in France and made even more grandiose by the triumphant arch that is an homage to King Louis XV,
son-in-law of King Stanislas.
In the seventeenth century monk Dom Pérignon studied fermentation and measured the dosage of wine necessary to create what was to become Champagne, Gold of the Marne. Beginning in 1728 the companies of Ruinart, Clicquot, and Heidsieck established the region's fame throughout Europe. The city of Reims, at the heart of the Champagne tour, is so famous that the visitor does not even need to look for it on the map. All the kings of France were crowned here, in the cathedral of Notre-Dame, including Charles VII, who was accompanied by Joan of Arc. Reims city is a city of flowers and many splendid monuments, most notably the elegant,
perfectly proportioned, thirteenth-century cathedral.
Travelers to Verdun discover local delicacies, which include honey, quiche lorraine, wines of the Mosa, the Mirabelle honey tart, the winter hotpot of pork and cabbage, the madeleines of Commercy to be dipped in a cup of tea, and finally the famed dragée of Verdun. The sugared almonds were invented in 1220 by a local pharmacist. He was looking for a way of preserving and transporting almonds, so he covered them with a hard coat of sugar and honey. Good for fresh breath and digestion, they are thought to be, above all, a defense against sterility, and for this reason the dragées are
always present at wedding and baptismal banquets.
