Day 1 Departing from Paris. Dijon

We leave the buzz of Paris behind and head south, our first stop is the magnificent palace of Fontainebleau standing in the heart of a vast forest in the Ile-de-France. Home to the kings of France since the 12th century, it boasts a wealth of architectural treasures and precious objects, here you will experience a true sense of history as we explore this famous and iconic landmark. Heading further south we enter the region of Burgundy and Chablis, home to some of the worlds most famous wines. We visit the village of Chablis, surrounded by vineyards with delightfully romantic names, here we taste the delicious wine and learn more about the grapes from our local expert. We continue on through Burgundy, and to Dijon, considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in France. Perhaps best-known today for its eponymous mustard, which is still produced locally. The town has a delightfully-preserved medieval centre and a wealth of museums as well as great restaurants and wine bars, and tonight we sample its fine cuisine together.
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Overnight - Dijon

Day 2 Dijon

This morning we set out from Dijon to explore the delightful “Route des Vins” of the Beaune wine region, where so many famous dénominations can be found. The area boasts a wealth of prestigious names such as Nuits-Saint-Georges, Pommard, Gevrey-Chambertin and Chassagne-Montrachet - music to the ears of all wine lovers! The pretty and thriving village of Beaune is the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or, and lies at the heart of the Wine Road. Beaune is thought to be one of the best places in France for wine tasting. However, it is not only a haven for wine, here you will find the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu, the most splendid medieval charity hospital to be found in France and a marvel of Burgundian-Flemish art. We spend time exploring this pretty town and have the opportunity to sample the local produce as we listen to our wine expert tell us more about the region. After a leisurely day exploring the delights of this region, we return to Dijon where you have the evening free to dine in one of the many excellent eateries.
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Overnight - Dijon

Day 3 Colmar

After a delightful stay in the heart of Burgundy, today we move further east towards the region of Alsace, which has at different times in history been a territory of both France and Germany and the influences of both countries are reflected here in its language, architecture, customs, traditions and cuisine. Our route takes us through the ancient city of Besançon, full of little historical gems, where from the Citadelle there are magnificent views of the forested countryside. We then follow the stunning Vallée du Doubs with its spectacular scenery, cascading waterfalls and grottos. The Gorge du Doubs, lying between the towns of Morteau and Monteliard, is simply stunning. We make our way to lovely Colmar, a town full of Alsacien history and artistic wealth as well as being the centre of an important wine region. This quaint town is an absolute delight and you have plenty of time to explore tomorrow, but tonight we enjoy a local Alsacien dinner together, washed down with fragrant Gewürztraminer or tasty Riesling. Strongly based on Germanic culinary traditions, the most famous gastronomic symbol of the region is undoubtedly sauerkraut, or “choucroute” in French, the tasty slow-cooked white cabbage, which we will no doubt sample.
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Overnight - Colmar

Day 4 Colmar

The day is yours to spend as you wish in this delightful corner of France. Explore the old town with its picturesque timbered houses, take a canal ride around “Little Venice”, scour the delightful little shops for gifts, or enjoy tasting the local brews and wines in one of the many cafes and bars. A visit to the Unterlinden Museum, home to several masterpieces including paintings by Holbein, Renoir and Picasso is a must. Colmar is a jewel of a town, and around every corner there is something interesting to see or do.
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Overnight - Colmar

Day 5 Colmar

This morning we make our way to Strasbourg, the capital city of the European Union and a symbol of reconciliation between the people of Europe. The city, lying at the “crossroads of Europe”, is full of art, boasts one of the finest gothic cathedrals in Europe, offers superb shopping and has excellent restaurants. As we make our way back to Colmar, we take a detour to Obernai, a charming town with traditional half-timbered houses. Another fascinating day in the heart of Alsacien France.
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Overnight - Colmar

Day 6 Nancy

We leave Alsace behind and follow the Route des Crêtes, a strategic road built during the First World War to carry supplies over the mountains. Once the object of bitter fighting, today it offers amazing panoramic views of the Vosges Mountains and even the Black Forest of Germany. Our journey continues through the lovely Vosges Forest scenery as we continue on to the town of Nancy, the artistic and intellectual capital of the region of Lorraine, and formerly the capital of the Dukes of Lorraine. Famous for its Art Nouveau style of architecture, the city is quite different in character to Alsace, though Lorraine has been equally subject to German influences throughout history.
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Overnight - Nancy

Day 7 Épernay

Today we call in at the pretty and busy city of Metz, on the banks of the Moselle River. The city is effectively two towns, the original French quarter located around the magnificent cathedral, and the elegant and grand “German Town” with its clear Germanic influences. Metz was hugely important in France’s defences against the Germans, and the city is ringed by forts which formed part of the Maginot Line. Our final destination today is Épernay, home to many of the world’s most famous champagne houses such as Moët et Chandon, Mercier, Mumm, Veuve Cliquot and Taittinger. Champagne itself is one of the great historic provinces of France, and tomorrow we will go down into the cellars and learn all about its most noble and popular wines.
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Overnight - Épernay

Day 8 Épernay

Today is all things champagne! All champagnes are produced within a few miles of each other outside Épernay and Reims, not far from the Abbey of Saint Pierre, where the monk Dom Pérignon is believed to have invented bubbly by accident! We drive through the vineyards and visit a well-known and boutique champagne house in the region with commentary from our local wine expert. Épernay’s most famous street is the Avenue de Champagne, lined by magnificent 19th century mansions built in Renaissance and classical style and home to all the great and prestigious champagne houses. The real spectacle is yet to be seen, descend into the cellars where you will see millions of bottles of champagne waiting to be popped open for some special occasion! Tonight we gather for our last evening together and enjoy a glass of bubbly and a delicious farewell dinner.
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Overnight - Épernay

Day 9 Paris

Before we head back to Paris we visit Reims, Champagne's main city. It was here in the magnificent cathedral that the kings of France were traditionally crowned. During the Great War most of the medieval city was lost and the city was extensively rebuilt in the 1920s in an Art Deco style. Thankfully, the wonderful Cathedral of Our Lady remains, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it continues to draw visitors from all over the world. A charming city with wide and attractive avenues, Reims is a fitting end to our travels. From here we travel back to the capital, sadly this is the end to our fascinating tour of three very different yet equally enthralling regions of this great and varied country.
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Tour Photos