France Wine Country: 10 Days Escorted Tour Wineries, villages and chateaux--this embodies the rural France of the three distinct wine regions of Champagne, Alsace and Burgundy. The lifestyle is simpler, yet rich with tradition, culture and history. The aroma of freshly baked baguettes fills the morning air, where age-old cathedrals and courtyards define the towns and villages. People take the time to savor a good meal, enjoy the pretty views of vineyard hillsides, and share the warmth and pride of their storied communities with a heart-felt "bonjour." Inclusions Highlights Features Itinerary Dates Inclusions 2 nights at the Hotel Scribe in Paris 2 nights at the Hotel Sofitel Strasbourg 2 nights at the Chateau d'Isenbourg in Rouffach 2 nights at the Mercure Dijon Center Clemenceau in Dijon 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners Highlights Explore Paris and visit the Louvre with an expert local guide Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Reims Ride the TGV train to Strasbourg Sightsee Strasbourg and enjoy a canal boat-ride Visit Colmar's charming Unterlinden Museum Explore the Alsatian Wine Route (the Alsace Route du Vin) See the famous Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg Winery visit in the Burgundy region Tour the Hospices de Beaune in Dijon Chateau la Rochepot

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart
Board your overnight flight to Paris.

Day 2 - Arrive Paris, France
Welcome to the city of light and the capital of France, Paris. Remainder of the day is free to relax before this evening's reception and dinner. HOTEL SCRIBE

Day 3 - Paris Sightseeing/Louvre
Explore Paris with a local guide. Drive along the Champs-Elysees promenade from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where Marie Antoinette met her untimely end. See Sainte Chapelle and the dominating, yet graceful, Eiffel Tower. Notre Dame Cathedral, the essence of Gothic architecture with its fanciful stonework and elegant flying buttresses, sits on an island in the Seine River, and Sacre Coeur Basilica is atop Montmartre hill. Visit the Louvre, a former palace and now a truly great art museum. The museum holds crown jewels and Master Paintings by Rubens, da Vinci, Raphael and Renoir. The Mona Lisa is here, as is the incomparable Nike of Samothrace. Lunch is out on the town in Paris. HOTEL SCRIBE

Day 4 - TGV Train/Reims/Strasbourg
Depart on the high-speed TGV train for Reims, known for its cathedral and setting for coronation of French kings. Sightseeing upon arrival includes the 11th century Basilique St. Remi and visit a wine cellar for a taste of the local Champagne. Then re-board a TGV train for the countryside glide to Strasbourg. HOTEL SOFITEL STRASBOURG

Day 5 - Strasbourg
Explore Strasbourg this morning. Visit the rose-red Cathedral de Notre-Dame, considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe. The colossal spire towers over the famed Astronomical Clock and Chateau des Rohan. The entire historic city center (Grand Island) of Strasbourg is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your afternoon is free, before dinner on the town overlooking the beautiful city canals, followed by a bateau mouche boat-ride. HOTEL SOFITEL STRASBOURG

Day 6 - Colmar/Rouffach
Depart for charming Colmar, where a local guide awaits. See the 15th century Ancienne Douane, the twin-turreted Maison aux Arcades and visit Unterlinden Museum, formerly a Dominican convent and now an art museum. The prized work of art is the Isenheimer Altar, a masterpiece of Renaissance painting by Matthias Grunewald. This afternoon arrive at your delightful chateau on the Alsatian Wine Road, overlooking the town of Rouffach. From the hotel you can look across the Rhine Valley to Germany's Black Forest. CHATEAU D'ISENBOURG

Day 7 - Alsatian Wine Route/Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg
Explore the charming Alsatian Wine Route (Alsace Route du Vin) as it meanders among a string of towns and villages, through 50,000 acres of vineyards. The hillsides are dotted with medieval castle ruins and stretch to the Vosges Mountains. Stop at the Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg, a castle-fortress dating from the 12th century. Its history is long, pillaged in the Thirty Years' war and restored by the German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1901. Enjoy wine tasting this afternoon before returning to Rouffach. CHATEAU D'ISENBOURG

Days 8 & 9 - Dijon/Burgundy/Beaune
Your final two days are in France's Burgundy region. Stay in the age-old capital of Dijon, known for its wine and cuisine. On Saturday sightsee Beaune and tour the Hospices de Beaune, founded in 1443 as a hospital, now showcasing medical history as well as fine art. Visit the Chateau la Rochepot, which dates from the 13th century and complete with drawbridges, watch towers, walls 9 feet thick and a Guard Room large enough to hold the entire village's population during wars of times long ago. Drive through the Bourgogne River Valley before your farewell dinner back in Dijon. MERCURE DIJON CENTER CLEMENCEAU

Day 10 - TGV to Paris/Conclude
Rise early for the TGV train arriving directly at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, at 9:36AM. Please schedule ample check-in time for return flights.

Travel Dates & Rates

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• Land only rate is per person based on double occupancy. International airfare is not included. Please inquire about our competitive rates at the time of booking. With the purchase of international airfare from Maupintour, arrival and departure transfers are included. Single supplement is from $1249. Pre/post nights are available upon request. Reservation deposit is $500 per person. Travel insurance is highly recommend.

Prices subject to change without notice until time of deposit. All dollar values not denoted as US or CA are in US Dollars.