LYON – AVIGNON – CARCASSONNE (GB)

LYON-AVIGNON-CARCASSONNE

15 days / 14 nights

Programme

An important place is given in this tour to gastronomy and wine.

Day 1 - Paris (1 night)

  • Late afternoon meeting of the Group at the Hotel.
  • Programm overview and Questions / Answers
  • Group Dinner at the Hotel
Paris, Tour Eiffel
Musée du Louvre

Day 2 - From Paris to Lyon (5 nights)

  • Morning: Transfer by coach to Gare de Lyon TGV to Lyon Part-Dieu.
    Coach transfer to hotel.

    Lyon has been selected as a World Heritage City because of its 20 centuries of a very rich history, its remarkable situation on the confluence of two important rivers joining the northern and southern parts of France, the beauty ot its monuments and streets, the wealth of its industry and commerce, not forgetting its gastronomic reputation.

  • Afternoon : guided visit  of Lyon via river cruise :The right bank, the old Lyon and the left bank which is the peninsula, heart of the city of Lyon.

  • Evening : Welcome dinner – Embark on a famous boat-restaurant for a romantic and gourmet dinner-cruise (2H30).

Vue panoramique de Lyon
Vue sur les quais de Lyon
Ville de Lyon

Day 3 - Old Lyon & Pérouges

  • Morning: Guided visit of the old Lyon, capital of Gaul at the time of the Roman Empire, and then of Christian France : Fourvière, Lugdunum (Lyon in Latin), Old Lyon.

  • Afternoon: Coach excursion to the beautiful medieval town of Pérouges. Return via « le Parc des oiseaux » the largest collection of birds in Europe close to Villars les Dombes.

  • Evening: Group dinner  in one of Lyon’s “bouchon” (typical Lyon restaurant serving Lyon cuisine).

Day 4 - Cooking lesson & Cultural visit

  • Morning: Cours de cuisine followed by lunch prepared by yourself.

  • Afternoon :  Guided visit of the « Traboules » (narrow passage linking 2 streets via houses and courtyards) of La Croix Rousse and the house of the « canut » (silk weaver).

  • Evening : Free.

Cours de cuisine lyonnaise

Day 5 : Visit of Beaujolais region

  • Morning: Coach excursion through the « Pays des Pierres dorées » (golden stone villages) of great interest not only for the beauty of its golden limestone used to build the villages, but it is also a part of the Beaujolais region.  The villages are Marcy (télégraph tower), Charnay, St Jean des Vignes, Chatillon, Chessy, Theizé, Oingt, St Laurent d’Oingt, Ternand, Jarnioux, are all beautiful and charming. Stop for a tasting either in Charnay (Domaine des Terres Dorées) or in the Cave coopérative in St Laurent d’Oingt.

  • Afternoon : Free

    You can choose from a large choice of remarkable museums : Musée des Beaux-Arts  (Lyon has a very rich art collection), Musée de l’Imprimerie (from Gutenberg to photocomposition), Musée des Arts de la Marionnette (Puppet show museum including the famous Guignol), Musée des Miniatures et du Cinéma (ideal to discover the art of special effects), Musée Lumière (where cinema started), Musée du Tissu et Arts décoratifs  (the most important collection of textile the world)

  • Evening :Group dinner followed by a show : les Nuits de Fourvièvres (June + July) in the Roman theatre, programme mixing theatre, circus, danse and music)

Day 6 : Paul Bocuse Day

  • Morning: Guided discovery of Les Halles Paul Bocuse (the most famous covered market, symbol of Lyon gastronomy)
  • Lunch in Bocuse restaurant (world famous)
  • Free afternoon and evening
Table restaurant Lyon
Plat de viande gastronomique

Day 7 - Avignon (5 nights)

  • Morning : Transfer by coach to station. Train to Avignon World Heritage.       Avignon represents « an exceptional example of later medieval religious, administrative and military architecture, which played a capital part … over a vast region in Europe »

    Transfer by coach to hotel.

  • Afternoon : guided visit of Avignon and the Palais des Papes.

  • Evening : Group dinner

Avignon
Pont d'avignon
Palais des Papes Avignon

Day 8 - Whole day coach tour to Arles, World Heritage town and capital of Roman Provence

  • Morning :Guided visit of the Roman amphitheatre, still in good condition, the Roman theatre and baths, the crypto portiques, the St Trophime beautiful romanesque church and cloister, and all the memories of Van Gogh including les Alyscamps.

  • Afternoon : Return via St Rémy de Provence and the extraordinary Baux de Provence

  • Evening: Group dinner.

Arles arènes
Alyscamps
Arles, vue aérienne

Day 9 - Orange & Côtes du Rhône discovery

  • Morning : Guided visit of the World Heritage magnificent Roman theatre  and Arc de Triomphe

    Lunch : Lunch in a gastronomic  restaurant

  • Afternoon: After lunch discovery of the beautiful and famous vineyards round the Dentelles de Montmirail : Cairanne, Rasteau, Séguret, Gigondas and Beaumes de Venise. There will be a tasting either in Gigondas or in Beaumes de Venise.

  • Evening: Free.

Ville d'Orange
Amphithéatre romain de la ville d'Orange
Dégustation de vin rouge

Day 10 - Châteauneuf du Pape

  • Morning:  Guided Visit of the Musée Brotte or La Maison des vins de Châteauneuf du Pape followed by tasting. 

    Lunch in a traditionnal restaurant.

  • Afternoon: After lunch to the incredible World Heritage Roman Pont du Gard

  • Evening: Free.

Visite de vignoble en Provence
Pont du gard

Day 11 - Lubéron

  • Morning: Coach to explore  the famous and delightful Lubéron and  discover its various aspects via Isle sur la Sorgues, Fontaines de Vaucluse, Gordes, Abbaye de Sénanque, the village of «  les Bories », Roussillon.           Lunch in Gordes.

  • Afternoon : Free

  • Evening : Group dinner in a gastronomic restaurant.

Village du Lubéron
Lubéron village coloré

Day 12 - From Avignon to Carcassonne (3 nights)

  • Morning: Leisurely morning in Avignon.

  • Afternoon: Departure for Carcassonne World Heritage 3 nights.With its double walls, 52 towers, castle, old basilica, Carcassonne offers an unforgettable picture of a town in the Middle Ages

  • Evening: Group dinner.

Cité Carcassonne
Carcassonne, vue aérienne

Day 13 - Cruise & Lunch on the World Heritage Canal du Midi

  • Morning : Embark at the port of Carcassonne to discover landscapes still preserved from the Canal du Midi

    Lunch & afternoon: Cruise on the Canal du Midi

  • Evening:  Free.

Canal du midi
Croisière sur le canal du midi

Day 14 - Visit of Caves du Sieur d'Arc & Farewell dinner

  • Morning : Free time for shopping in Avignon.

  • Afternoon: By coach to discover the Blanquette de Limoux.

  • Evening : Farewell Group dinner in gastronomic restaurant

Cave à vin
Pont d'Avignon
Plat gastronomique français

Day 15 - Paris

  • Morning: Return to Paris by TGV – transfer by coach

Service

The price includes
  • Accompanied by Tour Leader/Tour Manager throughout the tour.
  • Ground transport : Trains first class, Luxury coaches.
  • 4 star hotel accommodation, breakfast included.
  • One main meal a day : lunch or dinner including a few gastronomic meals.
  • All expenses related to entries, guided tours and visits.
The price does not include
  • One meal a day
  • Personal charges and expenses
  • Insurances
  • Travel to and from France

15  days / 14 nights

Price and departure dates upon request

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