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           THE LOIRE VALLEY & BURGUNDY

THE LOIRE VALLEY & BURGUNDY  12 DAY ITINERARY: 

Day 1 Our trip begins in Paris with approximate 9:15 a.m. transfer to the Loire Valley. We’ll arrive in time for an elegant lunch at the Domaine de Beauvois, a beautifully restored manor house dating from the 15th century and our home during our four-night Loire Valley program. After settling in, we’ll depart for our late afternoon balloon adventure, drifting through the countryside with its meadows, vineyards and concentration of Royal chateaux. Evening dinner party in the hotel’s elegant dining room.

Day 2 After breakfast we’ll visit one of the Loire’s most famous and loveliest chateaux, 16th century Chateau Chenonceau. This romantic architectural masterpiece with its impressive gardens spans the River Cher and is filled with period pieces and magnificent art. Elegant lunch in Amboise at 18th century Chateau Choiseul, followed by a visit to famous Clos Luce, the last home of Leonardo da Vinci. It contains furnishings of da Vinci’s time, with examples of his sketches and an astonishing display of models of da Vinci’s many inventions. Late afternoon balloon adventure, landing at twilight, with dinner prepared by our own chef in an 11th century fortress.

Day 3 Morning visit to renowned Chateau Villandry, the last great Renaissance chateau built in the Loire Valley. Its magnificent 16th century gardens were restored to their original glory in the early 1900’s, and are resplendent with fountains, lawns, a reflecting pool, an extensive topiary garden with flowers, and a kitchen garden of fruit trees and herbs. The overall effect of this enormous display is stunning. Visit the friendly goats at a cheese farm then relax for a superb lunch at Chateau D’Artigny, the elegant former home of Coty, the French perfume magnate. We’ll continue to Chateau Azay le Rideau, appearing to float gracefully on the Indre River, then join our pilots for a late afternoon balloon adventure, drifting gently through the chateau country’s luxuriant landscapes. Dinner this evening in a medieval setting.

Day 4 Morning visit to the brilliantly restored Chateau Langeais, a Middle Ages fortress dating from 1465. An excellent example of period military architecture with richly decorated apartments, its 10th century stone tower is the oldest existing “keep” in France. Lunch will be at Tours’ finest restaurant, the Michelin two-star inn of chef Jean Bardet where he and his wife, Sophie, take good care of us. After lunch enjoy Place Plumereau, Tours’ delightful medieval quarter filled with lively cafes, boutiques and galleries. Late afternoon balloon adventure, landing at twilight, followed dinner in the fireplace-warmed and candle lit chambers of the 11th century fortress, Cinq-Mars-la -Pile.

Day 5 Morning visit to the imposing fairytale castle of Chateau d’Usse with its romantic white turrets, pointed towers, and chimneys that inspired the writing of Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty. Farewell luncheon at our hotel and depart with Buddy Bombard for your French country transfer to Burgundy. We begin with a visit to the medieval fortress of Sully, constructed at the end of the 14 th century. King Charles VII was provided shelter here by Georges de la Tremoille and Joan of Arc also stayed at the castle. We’ll stop at Briare with its unusual aqueduct over the Loire River. Built in 1896 and lined with lanterns, it is the longest canal bridge of Europe. Dinner and overnight at tucked-away 15 th century Auberge de Templier, one of the eight original ‘Relais & Châteaux’.

Day 6 We’ll continue traveling back in time to the massive 10th-century feudal castle complex of St. Fargeau. The Castle is surrounded by a moat and set within a 292 acre forested park, with a working farm teaching trades hundreds of years old. First used in the 980’s as hunting place for the Bishop of Auxerre, it evolved through centuries of renowned owners who rebuilt and added to the castle’s original architecture and roof beams still exist from the 1600’s. After lunch we’ll explore the ancient village of Epoisses, founded by monks and known for its wonderful cheese. Dinner and overnight at lovely Chateau Vault de Lugny, a sumptuous country house dating to the 13 th century.

Day 7 This morning we depart for the historical basilica town of Vezelaywith the ruins of its 9th century Benedictine abbey, which, soon after its founding, acquired the relics of St. Mary Magdalene and became an important place of pilgrimage. The town’s 12 th century monastic church is an exquisite example of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture. After lunch our final drive takes us through vineyard landscapes and quaint French country settings for late afternoon arrival and check-in for 5-nights at Beaune's Hotel le Cep, a restored 14th-18th century chateau with beautiful antique furnishings, classified historical courtyard, and stunning gardens.

Day 8 Morning at leisure in Beaune and meet your fellow Burgundy guests for an elegant lunch at Le Montrechet, one of the area’s most notable restaurants. Enjoy your first lateafternoon balloon adventure just-above-the-rooftops of 14th century castles and romantic villages, landing at twilight. Enjoy dinner prepared by our own chefs in the vaulted, candlelit chambers of 14th century Chateau Savigny-les-Beaune.

Day 9 After breakfast we’ll visit the 14th-17th century wine cellars of Patriarch, the largest in Beaune with four million bottles. Our wine expert will touch on the enjoyment of fine wine during a sampling of the fine Burgundies open for tasting. For lunch we’ll be the private guests of our good friend and one of Burgundy’s most famous personalities, the Countess de Loisy, who entertains us with stories of her ancestry, winemaking and the German occupation of her 15th century home during WWII. She will take us on an interesting tour of her wine making estate and its extraordinary cellar, with 3,000 wooden wine barrels! Visit the 12th century monastic winery of Clos de Vougeot with its gigantic 2-storey oak grape presses, home of Burgundy’s prestigious wine society, The Confrerie des Chevalier du Tastevin. Then we’re on to the 4 1/2 acre vineyards of Romanee Conti, the most expensive red wine in the world. Our late afternoon balloon adventure will take us through Burgundy’s vineyards and villages, ending with an elaborate candlelit buffet in the ancient cellars of Chateau Savigny-les-Beaune. A surprise is its very uncharacteristic collection of 92 jet aircraft on the back lawn, and more than 200 motorcycles on its top floor!

Day 10 After breakfast we’ll visit the small workshop of Claude Gillet where 50 wine barrels a day are made by hand, and 14 th century, fairytale cliff-top fortress, Chateau de la Rochepot with its surrounding storybook village. The castle is one of the best existing examples of a true Middle Age fortress. Enjoy a lavish lunch at the Hostellerie de Levernois and free time to browse around Beaune’s medieval square and pedestrian shopping area. Late afternoon balloon adventure followed by a festive dinner party prepared by our own chef, in a romantic, medieval setting.

Day 11 Explore the marvelous 15th century Hospice de Beaune, Burgundy’s most important architectural landmark which functioned as a charity hospital until 1979. Elegant lunch at Chez Morillon, one of Beaune’s most celebrated restaurants, with a visit to the Wine Museum of Burgundy, once the medieval residence of the Dukes of Burgundy. Late afternoon balloon adventure through Burgundy’s pristine historical scenery, followed by dinner and graduation ceremonies in the flower-filled orangerie of Chateau de LaBorde, Buddy Bombard’s home in France.

Day 12 Morning departure for Paris with lunch enroute, arriving Paris late afternoon.

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