‘Escape to the Chateau’, Tour 20 Sept - 2nd October

Welcome to my tour page. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to travel and lived in Europe and the UK for many years. I now take small groups to Europe and share my favourite places and some hidden gems the regular tour operators tend to overlook. I love shopping at the various markets overseas and we visit lots of market's, ranging from local food markets, cozy Christmas markets, large Brocantes with 100’s of stalls selling a diverse range of antiques and collectibles and beautiful vintage or thrift shops we stumble upon along the way.

I studied tourism and worked in events for years and love organising these unique tours for you.

I am running three tours next year. If you are interested in joining you can pay the $50 holding deposit and I will forward a booking form, contract and a more detailed itinerary for you.

I hope you love what I have planned and join us next year.

Have you always wanted to visit France - have a slight obsession for rummaging at Flea markets, love good food, dream of staying in the French countryside & visiting French Chateaus/Castles, enjoy a little history, then this tour is for you! Welcome to next year's very exciting tour visiting Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley including a full day with Dick and Angel from ‘Escape to the Chateau” at their stunning home in the Mayenne region. We will visit charming medieval villages, stop at some very moving World War 2 sights along the Normandy coast line, spend a night on the island of Mont Saint Michel and watch the sunset and tide rush in, visit local French farmers, try some of their fabulous French produce, wine/calvados and more foodie delights famous in those regions, walk in the footsteps of Kings and Queens at some of the famous Chateaus in the Loire Valley, visit the last home of Leonardo de Vinci & his final resting place.

And last but not least we will visit the largest annual Flea Market event in Paris, Chatou Foire.

Highlights

A full day with Dick and Angel working alongside them and their staff that we have become accustomed to seeing on the BBC show “Escape to the Chateau”, in Dick’s walled garden. Followed by a 2 Course Lunch in their L'Orangerie,of the same standard they serve at weddings, followed by a bit more work in their garden and finishing the day off with a little ‘something’ in their salon and a quick tour of the inside of their stunning Chateau to end what sounds like an AMAZING day!!

A night on the island of Mont Saint Michel

Visit to largest Brocante (Flea market) event in Paris

Lunch in the oldest restaurant in France

Itinerary

20 - 21

Sept We will meet in the the medieval city of Roeun situated on the river Seine, Normandy's historic capital, famous for its Cathedral and where Joan of Arc was imprisoned & burnt on the stake.

Welcome lunch is included at the oldest restaurant in France (1345) in Roeun - subject to availability, otherwise we will book into another equal standard restaurant in the historic district.
Day 2 we will visit the Flea market held every Sunday and explore Rouen’s historic centre.
That afternoon we will travel to the harbour village in Honfleur.

21 - 23 Sept

Two night stay in Honfleur a charming picture perfect medieval harbour village. Day one, you will have free time to explore Honfleur at your leisure. Lots of beautiful little shops and foodie places to enjoy.
Day two: Will be a day travelling the local French countryside visiting a local Calvados/cider producer at a French Chateau, passing through and stopping at some picturesque villages such as Beuvron en Auge which has some delightful shops and a number of lovely antique/vintage shops to explore on our way to Bayeux.

23 - 25 Sept

Bayeux is a town on the Aure river in the Normandy region of northwestern France, 10 kilometers from the Channel coast. Its medieval center contains cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and the towering, Norman-Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame. We will be staying in an 18th century mansion 800 metres walk from the town centre. The park around it is planted with 200 year old trees & has a pretty pond.

Day one - you can explore the local town market in the morning & visit the National war memorial museum after lunch, which tells the story of the D day landings and all the participating forces during WW2. Or you can choose to visit the Cathedral and explore the beautiful old town centre, or do both!

Day two - we will stop briefly at Omaha beach and the very moving American war cemetery on route to the island of Mont Saint Michel. We will also stop at Caramels D’Isigny the original producer of caramel (famous in this region) on the way to Mont Saint Michel to lighten the mood after our reflection at the WW2 sites.

25 - 26 Sept

We will arrive in Mont Saint Michel around lunchtime. It is a unique island topped by a gravity-defying Abbey, the Mont-Saint-Michelis one of France's most stunning sights. That afternoon you can climb to the very top to visit the abbey and enjoy exploring the island once all the tourists depart as we are staying overnight. You will be able to watch the tide rush in and out from your hotel rooms. The next morning you may wish get up early to walk the streets and take photos before the crowds return.

https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/unmissable-sites/the-mont-saint-michel/

26 - 28 Sep

Today we leave Mont Saint Michel after breakfast and will drive to the charming town of Dinan. Dinan is a pretty town in Brittany with half timbered houses, cobbled wobbly streets, flowers and huge city stone walls and the most delightful shops including a gorgeous haberdashery that sells antique French linen and vintage red striped tea towels amongst other many beautiful things! You will have a full day at leisure in Dinan. Late afternoon we will drive to Laval to our hotel in the Mayenne region, 20 minutes drive from Dick and Angels Chateau!

Day two is very EXCITING!! As we will spend a full day with Dick and Angel from ‘Escape to the Chateau’. We will work in their beautiful walled garden in return for a 2 course lunch served in their L’Orangerie by both Dick and Angel & their staff we have seen on tv. After a bit more work in the garden after lunch, we will enjoy a tour around their chateau and a little ‘something something’ in the salon to end the day!
We will then return to our hotel for a rest or you may want to continue partying with the guests you met at the Chateau during the day!

28 - 29 September

This morning we leave Laval and drive to Amboise for one night. Amboise is a small market town in the Loire Valley and was once home to the French Royal court. Leonardo de Vinci has his tomb here. We will visit the once Royal castle and Leonardo’s former home. That evening we are staying in a stunning Spa hotel in the French countryside. https://www.theoriginalshotels.com/en/hotels/domaine-des-thomeaux

Day 2 - you will have time to enjoy the facilities and grounds of our spa hotel, perhaps book in a treatment or 2! That afternoon we will visit Chateau de Chenonceau a stunning French Chateau known as the ladies palace. All will be revealed on a guided tour of the property! https://www.chenonceau.com/en/

29 - 30 Sept

We leave Amboise and arrive in Chambord still in the Loire Valley that evening. We will be staying near the incredible Chateau de Chambord which we will tour with a guide the following day. https://www.chambord.org/en/

30 Sept - 2nd Oct

2 night stay in Paris. After our tour in Chambord we will drive to Paris and spend our final days in a lovely spa hotel in the heart of Paris.
Day 1 We will catch the metro and train to Chatou Foire the largest Flea market event on the outskirts of Paris. You will have a full day to rummage and shop for vintage treasures. If you want to ship something home, shippers are present at the fair and can give you a quote on the day. However, you do have to take taxes and charges into account back home which can be as much as the shipping cost itself!
That evening we will have a farewell dinner on the waterfront by the Eifel tower.

Day 2 This morning you may like to take advantage of the spa facilities in the hotel before checking out at 12.00pm and parting ways. The hotel will store your luggage for the day if you want another afternoon in Paris.

Important Details

Travel insurance is mandatory

Price:

$50 holding deposit, this does not mean you are booked on the tour. It just holds your place until you have completed a booking form and payed your full deposit of $1500 minus the $50 ($1450).

I will email the booking form & a contract to you.

$6500 per person sharing twin/double rooms. This can be paid in two instalments minus your deposit.

$2500 end of March and $2500 at the end of June plus your initial deposit of $1500.

$7000 solo single rooms - if you would like to share, please ask and I can see if any fellow traveler's would like to share with you.

The price includes all breakfasts excluding Paris, accommodation in 3 and 4 star hotels, a welcome lunch and farewell dinner, a full day with Dick and Angel, entry fees to the Chateaus and museums we visit, transport on an air conditioned mini bus, excluding the metro and trains in Paris. Room service, room taxes and additional meals are not included, Tips are not mandatory in France, but appreciated by local tour guides.

Look forward to traveling with you. Bon Journee