Another Paris

This was my first trip to France. Gray and wretched - here it is, my impression of Paris! Either my friend stabbed me and brought me not to Paris, or the emigrants changed the city beyond recognition. Although how do I know what he was like before my arrival ?! I know Paris from Hugo's stories and from the film Amelie. The French women also turned out to be different from the films. Ordinary, not Catherine Deneuve.

Provincials

I didn’t see Paris normally, I didn’t go to the famous “Moulin Rouge”. We were taken to the provinces, the French track is boring and not brutal. There is no mystery in it, like we have, when you do not know what awaits you. You go too smoothly, you don't feel the steering wheel. I got the idea to do Dakar here. Let them feel what real off-road is! The French are spoiled for good roads, quality wine and welfare benefits. We have developed immunity even to the apocalypse, so I sarcastically glanced at my escorts.

We drive past French villages. Our guide says that the French themselves love the provinces, they are attached to their homes and neighbors. Oddly enough, but he speaks of Paris casually, as a bustling and dirty city. I agree with him. But I am silent, the guide and so sideways in my direction. He is pissed off by my impeccable English and my godless pronunciation merci, excusez moi.

After a 7 hour flight and disappointment in Paris, I want to send a friend. He deprived me of Thai massage and all inclusive hotel. Mark saves him. He is the owner of a winery with bottomless barrels of red and white wine. Red wine with a lightly roasted steak was a perfect end to the evening.

Morning in the village

The morning in the French countryside is not the same as ours. There are no crowing roosters and, in principle, living creatures. This pleases, no one intrusively wakes up. But lying in bed when the owners are already working, I found it uncomfortable. They get up early. Mark rides a 56 hectare farm on a horse - Domain Sant'Anne. Driving through the vineyard could ruin him. I join Mark, get into the carriage, his son talks about the family business.

Red, white and rosé, still, semi-sparkling and sparkling wines are made under 60 different names, which differ in appearance from very dry to very sweet. Four completely different types of wines are produced from Chenet Blanc grapes: dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling. These are the traditions that arose under the influence of the whims of the local climate. This grape variety has an inherent excess natural acidity and, if it receives enough sunlight, it has a high sugar content. But from the point of view of viticulture, the Loire Valley is considered a northern region, wine producers are obliged to take into account late frosts, cold winds and changeable weather in summer. In sunny years, winemakers strive to produce the most intense wines from sweet and savory grapes, but in other cases they only manage to make semi-sweet or dry wines. Species diversity is at the heart of the Loire winemakers' predicament, since you cannot build a reputation on inconsistency. With the exception of wines such as the finest Savenniere, chaené blanc dry wines are too often dry, harsh and sour. They do not add to the reputation of the Loire, but their characteristics are similar to Champagne wines. While still wines with such characteristics are disappointing, sparkling wines are delight. It is not surprising that during the period of the rapid development of the champagne trade in the 19th century. the production of sparkling wines began in Saumur. Today the Loire is renowned as the largest sparkling wine market outside of Champagne itself.

Spirit Hunter Louis

My friend clearly liked France. What makes free wine and pretty French women! I was still thinking about Thai massage and ocean relaxation until Mark suggested I go to Chambord Castle. This is the hunting lodge of the kings, where, I suspect, they took their girlfriends. Previously, turners also bought houses with servants, arranging dinner parties in the castles, while the legal wife decided the fate of the people in Versailles. I was more interested in the legends of local ghosts. I don't believe in them, but the French are sure that they are found here. Actually, that's why I went to the hunting lodge of Louis. Now these same hunting lodges are being bought by our oligarchs.

I lagged behind the guide and turned on the headphones for Russian-speaking tourists. If we omit the long introduction, then the story of Chambord is interesting.

Chambord Castle is a citadel of medieval architecture. It was built by order of King Francis I in 1519 and served as a hunting lodge. King Francis spared no expense for the construction of the castle, he was not embarrassed by his debt to Spain. He threw all the forces of engineers and workers to build his "house". Moreover, he raised the tax to the church and forced his subjects to smelt silver. The design of the building was developed by the Italian architect Domenico da Cortona, but it is also rumored that Leonardo da Vinci had his hand in the work. It was he who suggested the elements for the decoration of the building. Also Leonardo da Vinci designed the stairs in the castle. The central staircase is made with a double spiral winding. There are 77 staircases in the castle. They say that Francis specially ordered the construction of many stairs so that his favorites did not collide with each other. The beautiful Constantinople with numerous columns served as the inspiration for the creation of the Chambord castle.

Smelly cheese or fries

After a long excursion, a zhor attacked me. In my search for a cafe, I was helped by French women who were leaving the castle. They turned out to be atypical Europeans, they knew where Kazakhstan and Astana were. The feeling of pride was replaced by a momentary anger after the mention of Borat. They apparently expected me to wash my hands in the toilet, but I decided to disappoint them and behaved like an English dandy. In a cafe, we ordered oysters, somewhere I read that they have a positive effect on potency. I don’t know about the wellness functions, but it tastes like a nightmare! Nothing beats horse meat, oysters and frog legs in the furnace! Send brie cheese there, too, which smells like bachelorette socks.

The first 2 weeks of September 2008.
Tour operator "DSBV"
Nice-Avignon-Pont du Gare-Nimes-Carcassonne-Bordeaux-Cognac-Angouleme-Saint Emilion-Arcachon-Sarles la Caneda-Rocamadour-Toulouse-Arles-Marseille + rest in Nice

The trip was just wonderful, very interesting and informative, albeit very difficult. Moreover, the flight was to Genoa (Italy), and then by bus to Nice. The tour was just for endurance, because in extreme heat (it was more than +30) I had to walk almost 10 km with my feet almost every day, and even over mountains, steps, abbeys. We must pay tribute, we had all the hotels on the route from "3+" to "4 stars" with "buffet" breakfasts, i.e. with a hot buffet, which is very cool and a rarity for excursions in France. I liked Nice, however, the dominance of the Russian speech, you feel like in Sochi, and I went to speak French. An unmatched panoramic view opens from the Chateau mountain: the Bay of Angels, the English promenade, palaces, parks, shops, restaurants. Bright sun, blue sky, turquoise sea. And all this is poetically called the Cote d'Azur! But personally, I would never have chosen Nice for a beach holiday. The beach is a large pebble, very, very prickly feet. And the equipped beach is no different: only a sunbed - 20 euros, a soft mattress - 5 euros, an umbrella - 5 euros, and entering the water is just as stupid. I had to buy special swimming slippers.

Next we move to Avignon, famous for its bridge over the Rhone river, the papal palace and the Notre dame de dom cathedral. Rona is amazingly good, its banks are simply buried in lush vegetation, and the emerald waters rush in a stormy stream. In one of the restaurants in the center of Avignon, a waiter approaches us, a purely Russian boy from Samara, whose mother married a Frenchman. Now he is French too. We taste amazingly tasty fish and wash it down with rose wine. Mmm ... How lovely! From Avignon we are taken to a wine tasting at Chateau Laurent Charles Brott. These chateau used to be castles, but now the chateau is a manor with outbuildings and endless vineyards. The tasting is conducted by the young owner himself and even with a guided tour. Of course, we buy 3-4 bottles of wine at a price of 20 to 50 euros each, remembering that a suitcase on the way back should weigh no more than 20 kg. From Avignon we move to a place called "Pont du Gard" (literally, "bridge over the Gard river"). Here, too, the Roman legionaries left their legacy. Luxurious, in several tiers, aqueduct, which was built not by slaves, but by the Romans themselves with a good technical education. And a quiet village nearby. In the river, you can clearly see how fish is teeming, and herons are standing on the banks. I would be an artist, I would directly sketch this landscape! Then we go to the city of Nîmes. He's not small at all. On its coat of arms there are crocodiles. Residents are still fighting with the company "La Costa", which allegedly stole their crocodiles. The city is decorated with huge arenas, reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum, by the way, bullfights are still held here, but bulls are not killed. There are a lot of beautiful squares and fountains, from the oldest to the super stylish and modern. All comers are allowed into the city hall, the doors there simply do not close. The canal itself, along which we are walking, is beautiful. We go to the "Garden of Fountains", admire the temple of Diana, no one knows in what century it was erected. It's hot, strong sun, no less than +33, and it's already September. But the photos will turn out great.

Then we move to the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. As the French say, site, i.e. its central part is fenced off by fortress walls with loopholes. The beginning of its construction dates back to the 15th century. I was there with my husband 6 years ago, we went by car to Carcassonne from Spain. Nothing changed. Everything is just as beautiful, there are several museums: schools, ghosts and the Inquisition (the latter, by the way, is very interesting). And now about the town itself. It is located on very convenient routes, so everyone wanted to "get their hands on it." He was very often besieged. And according to legend, during a long siege, Madame Carcassus began to throw pigs from the fortress walls. By this she wanted to show the besiegers that the besieged inhabitants still have a lot of provisions. The siege was lifted ... Since then, the city has been called Carcassonne, and the bas-relief of Madame Carcassonne is inscribed on the Narbonne Gate. By the way, it was here that the film "Robin Hood" was filmed with the participation of Kevin Costner. A wonderful town. But we lived outside the walls of shite, already in a simple city, however, also very old. Our hotel was called Terminu. Simple 3 stars +, the only hotel of this level, all the others were normal European "fours". I didn’t like the hotel, the reception was like a train station in the design plan, but the hotel had a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. The rooms are tiny, between the sink and the bathroom directly to the toilet itself, I made my way sideways and exhaled air !!!

After Carcassonne we move to Bordeaux. Surprisingly, there are very few hiking trails through this city. However, I did not like it very much. A large industrial city, very modern. And the wide and very dirty river Garona flows through it. True, it is not dirty from industrial waste, like our Moscow River, but from the clay banks. I liked only the long embankment with a fountain, all in flowers, but I had to call it that way "Customs Embankment"! We live in Bordeaux for 3 whole days, going on excursions and returning to it. Here we have a very decent 4-star hotel in the Novotel chain. The room is large, spacious, with a luxurious bathroom and an isolated toilet. And what a good restaurant in this hotel, one might say, right with delicious delicacies! We drink wine little by little, but at breakfast, before lunch, at lunch, before dinner, at dinner, and after dinner. And we don't even get drunk. The wines are incomparable!

Then we move to the city of Cognac, which stands on the most beautiful river Charente. An amazingly beautiful bridge, covered with flowers. I can not resist taking pictures. The castle (chateau) itself belonged for many years to Baron Otar, who specialized in the production of cognac. Here the cognac is real, but everywhere else there is only brandy. And several centuries ago the chateau belonged to Francis I. He was an extraordinary man at that time. Tall, healthy, oblique fathom in his shoulders and bent horseshoes with his hands. But he was very fond of the female sex, that's why he died prematurely. He had a mistress, Belle Froniere, and her husband could not forgive that she was the king's favorite. He "rewarded" his wife with syphilis, that - the king. The sad result is that all three died prematurely ... But Francis did not forget about his wife, who bore him 7 children. We go into the chateau. The excursion in Russian is conducted by a simple Ukrainian girl, who has lived and worked there for a long time, in a simple long dress stylized as a peasant woman. But we see mannequins in medieval clothes. Bah! Yes, this is Francis the First himself with Claudine of France and his retinue. I can not resist taking pictures! And then they take us through the vaulted halls and down to the basements, show the storehouses, talk about the distillation system. And ... finally, a tasting. They pour in a little, a little, and only 2 varieties. Of course, we also buy everything for Otar cognac, the price is from 20 to 240 euros per bottle, depending on V.S.O.P. or X.O.

Next, we move to Angoulême. A medieval town, the old part of the city is located high-high on the mountain again. Oh, crawling up! My poor legs, they are already just buzzing with fatigue! A beautiful old cathedral of St. Andrew, a modern theater, parks, squares, absolutely tiny and narrow streets. It seems that the city is asleep, there are almost no tourists. And then there is a very beautiful and ancient castle, now it is the mayor's office of Angouleme, around a funky square with bright flowers and right there is a monument to Margaret of Angouleme, the most educated woman of her time, by the way, the sister of Francis the First. In our free time, we sit right in a restaurant near the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and, while drinking aromatic coffee, we meditate. we are transported into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Then we move to Saint Emilion. It was because of him that we chose this tour. Here are the best vineyards in France, right here, not in Bordeaux. For information: in restaurants in Moscow, a bottle of high-quality collection wine from the Saint Emilion region costs from 5 to 10 thousand rubles apiece. The small town is also very old, high on the mountain there is a cathedral, and on its chapel there is a clock with such a melodic sound that one involuntarily listens to it, and the spire of the chapel soars high into the sky. Wine shops are invisible. And any one offers a free tasting. I buy a single bottle, but ... for 155 euros. Oh, and my husband will kick me out of the house for SUCH a present !!! Next we drive to Arcachon, famous for its sandy beaches and oyster plantations. The beaches are indeed sandy, though not equipped. But the mass of restaurants with seafood. Well, how can you deny yourself this? This is how our purely excursion tour develops into a gastronomic one. We order a huge plate of seafood, only 24 euros, and more wine! There is a huge dune in the city, its height is 115 meters, the impression that you are in the desert. But the town is very nice, a real resort town and there are pine trees all around!

I really liked the city of Sarles la Caneda (completely old), and we also got to the festive Saturday fair, where local farmers bring their products: excellent cheeses, smoked meats, fish, seafood and foie gru (goose liver pate). The province of Perigot is famous for this particular product. I really, really liked it here. Very old houses, but modern, bubbling rhythm of life! Then there was tiny Arles, where Van Gogh lived and worked. Further, our path lies in the city of Rocamadour. On a sheer cliff, high-high is the Abbey of Rocamadour. When I heard that we were going there now, I almost fainted. "Legs again? !!" - I involuntarily burst out a phrase directed to the guide. It turned out to be easier, they took us to the very top by bus, and from there, gradually down the serpentine paths, we went down to the town itself. The abbey is very old, it belongs to the 11th century, but everything is very beautiful, measured and calm.

And then Toulouse. Very big city. A mixture of antiquity and modernity, an abundance of squares, parks and fountains. And there are a lot of Muslims, blacks and homeless people. While we were relaxing in the "Merkur" hotel in the very center of the city, it was in Toulouse that they tried to rob our bus at night. They planted a window near the driver's seat and got inside, but they stole little, some sweets and cookies, apparently, some teenagers climbed in. But the province of Languedoc has always been considered very, very rich. Remember Geoffrey de Peyrac, Count of Toulouse, who was richer than the king himself, from "Angelica - Marquise of the Angels" by Anne and Serge Gallon? Apparently, now Toulouse is not so rich ...

And then Marseille with its famous islands (Château d'If and Frioul). We ate the famous bouillabes soup in Marseille. A plate for 38 euros, but nothing special, fish soup made from mashed lentils with fish, however, cooked according to a special, secret and long-lasting recipe. But most of all I did not like that French in Marseille is the second, the first is Arabic. There is a lot of Muslim population. It was in vain that Charles de Gaulle let them into France in such a manner. And, finally, the most famous cathedral "Notre dame de la gare", on top of which the golden Mother of God rises, stretching out her arms to the sea and guarding the peace of the inhabitants of Marseille. We ourselves, on a pleasure boat, go first to the island of If (remember the Count of Monte Cristo?), And then to the island of Friul. All this is close, close to Marseille. Honestly, I thought I would see drunken wandering sailors in Marseille hugging whores. It's a huge port. But I didn't see anything like that. And then again to Nice, to our 4-star Hotel Excelier.

From Nice we went to the Principality of Monaco, beautiful and respectable. Solid Rolls-Royces, Lamborghini and Porsches. Wonderful gardens of Albert I and the princely palace itself. Everyone is allowed into it now. And then in Monte Carlo, which is part of the city of Monaco. We also visited the famous casino. The entrance ticket is personalized, issued only with a passport and it costs 10 euros. They don't let you take pictures, which is a pity. Just a gorgeous palace with stucco moldings and huge crystal chandeliers. Yes ... I won't be a lady. And although by Moscow standards everything is in order with my money, but it was there that I strongly felt and understood, HOW MUCH a beggar I am! And HOW I am far from this world. However, this did not upset me. I didn’t play in the casino, I just don’t know how, I was rooting for our men! And now, in general, a little about the French: they eat a huge amount of bread and croissants, while remaining not just slender, but dry like a vobla. There are a lot of expensive branded clothing stores in Nice, a friend bought a blouse for her student daughter for 270 euros in the Sonya Rykiel brand store on Paradis street. Don't go to this street. The most expensive shops, the prices in which are incredibly "off scale". Sizes of fashionable clothes are generally from 1 to 3 sizes, i.e. from the 40th to the 46th. And on the pedestrian street Masséna the best restaurants. We especially liked the restaurant "Le Mirador", seafood and pickled mussels served right in the shells are very good there! In general, I really liked the measured way of life of the French. They never rush anywhere at all, enjoy and taste life to the fullest. Everyone is obsessed with their body. In the morning, be sure to jog, bike or roller-skate, and then aromatic coffee with a pile of croissants and the morning newspaper. They actively fight against smoking, in restaurants they don't even give ashtrays, but put them on the street, on open verandas. And they themselves smoke a lot! The voucher cost almost 2 thousand euros for 15 days (the price for August 2008), I spent more than 2.5 thousand euros there. Everything in the amount of more than 4.5 thousand euros. But she remained unspeakably pleased. I plunged into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, breathed in the real scent of France, talked with the French from the bottom of my heart, learned a lot, and bathed a little and sunbathed. Yes, the tour was very difficult, but since I survived, it means that it is available to everyone. I highly recommend this tour to amateurs and deep connoisseurs of France.

KMP Group - tour operator in France with over 27 years of experience in this popular tourism destination.

We offer you a wide range of tours around this amazing country, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. Today, France is the most visited country in the world by tourists. The number of tourists coming here is more than 86 million people a year. A rich history, special atmosphere and French sophisticated style are the main reasons for this popularity.

Besides, France Is a country of haute couture, exclusive cuisine and winemaking. Having visited Paris, Nice, Marseille, Lyon or Bordeaux once, you will certainly want to come back here at least once again.

Location and climate: The northern and western regions of France are occupied by low mountains and plains, the snowy Alps rise in the southeast, mountains occupy the center, east and southwest of the country. The geographical location of France allows tourists to visit regions that are completely different in terms of climatic and cultural characteristics. The southern Mediterranean regions - Cote d'Azur, Provence and Occitania - are one thing, and Norman, Brittany and the central regions of the country are quite another. And all this is very difficult to see in one tour of France! Each region is so unique and gives so many new emotions and impressions that any traveler wants to stay here longer. We will help you choose among this variety exactly those tours that will be most interesting to you.

Climate of France also varies considerably across regions. In the central regions - maritime, temperate and rather mild, which allows you to comfortably travel around the country almost all year round. The southern regions of the Mediterranean Sea are located in the subtropical zone. In the eastern regions of France, the climate is continental. January average temperature: 1-8 ° C, July average temperature: 17-24 ° C;

The most favorable time to visit Paris is May and September-October, the Riviera is September. Mountainous regions have their own microclimate inherent in high-altitude regions. The best months to visit Corsica are from May to June and from September to October.

Capital: Paris

Time: Time in France is 2 hours behind Moscow

Currency: National currency is Euro

Official language: The main language of communication is French, but throughout France there is the possibility of communication in English. In addition, German is spoken in Alsace, and different provinces have their own dialects of French.

The tour operator in France KMP Group offers not only sightseeing, but also wine, wedding tours, with visits to ancient castles-hotels, rest on the beaches of the Cote d'Azur and much more.

Popular resorts

France is one of the first countries dreamed of as a travel destination. Holidays in France are both magnificent palaces and museums, where the originals of the greatest works of art are kept, and streets, which are described in the works of the classics, and with which the most important events of European and world history are associated. These are both the most prestigious ski resorts and first-class seaside resorts on the Cote d'Azur, where the most influential people in the world rest. Holidays in France are a combination of modern French luxury, the charm of small cozy restaurants with exquisite cuisine and a modest French province.

When purchasing tours to France, most tourists first go to Paris. Stroll the streets of Montmartre, taste real French coffee, sit and sip on wine, praised by many connoisseurs. On the numerous stairs and bridges of Paris, you will surely meet lovers - believe me, it is impossible not to fall in love here. There are more than 200 museums here, including the Louvre, the Picasso and Rodin museums and the Paris Wine Museum. The heart of Paris is Notre Dame Cathedral, from which distances to other cities are measured.

When planning your trip to France, be sure to plan a visit to Disneyland Paris - a world of exciting adventures that will delight your kids. All the attractions of this legendary Disneyland cannot be avoided in a whole day.

You can also opt for the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse or Lido Cabaret. Or admire the views of the French capital from the Eiffel Tower, and then dine at the famous restaurant Altitude 95 (58 Tour Eiffel), which offers a beautiful panorama of the Seine and Trocadero square.

Tours to France are in great demand among tourists, most of the tourist routes invariably pass through this country. We have developed for you the most interesting routes and excursions to all the significant sights of Paris and other regions. Choose the most suitable tour for you and call us - we will be happy to help you visit the most alluring and romantic country in the world!

Day 1 Moscow - Nice: Arrival v Nice.Detailed information on recommended flights from Russian cities and transfers is presented in the "Recommended Flights" section under the tour description. Transfer and accommodation at the hotel. We also organize transfers from Genoa... Free time.

After noon walking tour of Nice , founded by the ancient Greeks, which in the 19th century turned into a popular seaside resort of the European aristocracy. Many artists have tied their destiny to Nice. V Matisse Museum is one of the largest collections of paintings by the master. V Marc Chagall Museum the works of the famous artist on biblical themes are presented. Free time.

Day 2 Nice - Verdon Gorge - Moustiers San Marie - Roussillon - Marseille: Departure for a journey through the south of France along the scenic national roads. Visit by road Verdon Gorgewith a stop at the lake of the Holy Cross... Then You will stop at a mountain village Moustier San Marie(~ 140 km), then you will have a stop at Roussillon(~ 100 km), which is a member of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France" Association, with a short excursion and its famous natural park with ocher hills. Free time for lunch.

Then you will go to Marseille (~ 95 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Marseille. Free time. While in Marseille, you should definitely tryBouillabaisse - Bouillabaisse, a Provencal fish soup, which is usually prepared for 2 - 3 people and which will cost about € 50 - € 60. Bouillabaisse of Marseille can be tasted, for example, in a restaurant Les miramar at Quai du Port 12.Alternatively, you can also have a good dinner in a restaurant. Toinou at Cours Saint-Louis, 3 located near the Old Port. Here you can try almost everything that local fishermen catch: oysters, shrimps, crabs, mussels, scallops, snails, which are delivered here 6 times a day!

Day 3 Marseille - Avignon: Sightseeing tour of Marseille, a port city in the south of France, founded by Greek traders in the 7th century. BC. At the top of the city is the Romano-Byzantine Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, which offers a magnificent view of Marseille and is part of a city tour. The most famous modern buildings are the Radiant City complex, designed by Le Corbusier, and the CMA CGM Tower skyscraper by architect Zaha Hadid.

Free time. Recommended to visit Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations- a building in the form of a huge black cube near the Old Port. From the roof of the museum there are wonderful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the old port, and the building itself is connected by a pedestrian bridge with the Fort Saint-Jean - St Jean of the 17th century. There is a good restaurant on the roof of the museum with original cuisine Le Môle Passédat- address Quai du Port, 201. Lunch according to the "formula" will cost ~ € 20 here. Relocation Avignon(~ 105 km). Hotel accommodation.

Day 4 Avignon - Pont du Gard - Nimes:Walking sightseeing tour of Avignon - medieval city, famous for the Papal Palace of the XIV century. The Papal Palace is a historical and architectural monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest palaces in Europe. The Theater Festival is held annually in Avignon. Free time in Avignon. Recommended to visit Papal palace, along which you can walk with an audio guide in Russian. If you climb to the very top, you can see a beautiful panorama of Avignon overlooking the famous Avignon Bridge and the Rhone River. Free time for lunch.

Afternoon trip to the monument of the Roman era - the aqueduct bridge Pont du Gard(~ 25 km). The Pont du Gard is the tallest surviving ancient Roman aqueduct, 275 meters long and 47 meters high. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Then excursion to Nimes(~ 30 km) with a tour of the ancient Roman Arena for 23,000 spectators, built under Caesar, and the Mason kare temple, erected under Emperor Augustus. We recommend visiting the Arena inside - it is still used for concerts - it has amazing acoustics. Free time. Return to the hotel in Avignon (~ 44 km)

Day 5 Avignon - Orange - Beau de Provence: Excursion trip to Provence. First you will go to the city Orange(~ 30 km). Orange, which was one of the most flourishing centers of Roman Provence under Emperor Augustus, is famous today mainly for Ancient Roman theater, which hosts music festivals during the summer months. This horseshoe-shaped theater has no equal in terms of its state of preservation: the rear wall is more than 100 meters long, in the central niche there is a statue of Emperor Augustus, 3.5 meters high. Next to the theater there is a wonderful museum dedicated to the history of Ancient Rome.

Moving to a picturesque village Beau de Provence , which is included in the Association of "the most beautiful villages in France", leads a serpentine road (~ 60 km). We recommend climbing to the very top of the Beaux-de-Provence, visiting the fortress and looking at the magnificent landscapes of Provence from above. The excursion day will end Wine tasting at Châteauneuf du Pape*. Return to Avignon.

Day 6 Avignon - Gordes - Senanque - Aix-en-Provence: Moving to a medieval village Proud(~ 50 km). Small stop. Medieval buildings dating back to the 12th century have survived here. Gord was remembered by many for the movie "Good Year". A short stop at Senank Abbeys(~ 5 km), located against the background of lavender fields.

Moving to Aix-en-Provence(~ 75 km) - a university city in Provence, where the famous post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne was born. The city is also famous forThe European Academy of Music and many art festivals. Guided tour of Aix-en-Provence. Free time. Accommodation at a hotel in Aix-en-Provence.

Day 7 Aix-en-Provence - Arles - Camargue - Carcassonne: Moving to Arles(~ 80 km). Arles City Walking Tour, one of the historical cities in the south of the country, associated with the history of ancient Rome. Moving to Camargue(~ 12 km) Regional Natural Park of the South of France. Moving to Carcassonne(~ 228 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Carcassonne.

Day 8 Carcassonne - Bordeaux:Walking tour of the walled city of Carcassonne, one of the most beautiful fortified cities of medieval Europe: a double ring of fortress walls, 52 towers with a fortification length of 3 km. It was here that Kevin Costner starred in the movie "Robin Hood", which was set on the walls of this famous fortress. Free time for lunch. Moving from Carcassonne to Bordeaux(~ 340 km). Accommodation at a hotel in Bordeaux.

Day 9 Bordeaux - Cognac - Angoulême: Walking tour of Bordeaux. Drive through the picturesque surroundings of Bordeaux with a visit to the city Cognac(~ 125 km). You will learn all the secrets of the Cognac production technology and will be able to take part in a small tasting. You will learn what "Angel's Share" is. Then the city awaits you Angoulême(~ 47 km) with its famous cathedral. Return to the hotel in the evening eh in Bordeaux.

Day 10 Bordeaux - Saint-Emilion - Rocamadour - Narbonne: Moving to Saint-Emilion (~ 50 km) - a delightful medieval town on a hilltop above a vineyard valley on the right bank of the Dordogne.

Moving to Rocamadour(~ 180 km) - a medieval city on a cliff top towering over the Dordogne Valley, with an amazingly beautiful scattering of medieval houses, churches and terraces, a place of pilgrimage for believers and tourists, one of the three most visited sights of France. Excursion Rocamadour... Free time for lunch. Moving to Narbonne(~ 320 km). Hotel accommodation.

Day 11 Narbonne - Sigean - Nice: Walking tour of Narbonne. Transfer to the safari park Sizhan(~ 22 km). Sigean Safari Park is considered a unique African wildlife reserve in France. Sizhan is interesting because you cannot see the usual open-air cages, in which their inhabitants closely huddle. All collected animals are in conditions close to the usual habitat and freely roam around its territory. Entrance tickets are payable locally 35 euros. Moving to Marseille (~ 280 km). Free time for lunch. Moving to Nice (~ 200 km) - the capital of the French Riviera. Hotel accommodation.

Day 12 Nice:

"DOPPACK NICE"

Day 12 Nice: Free time in the morning. After noonSightseeing tour in Monaco On the way, stop at a medieval the village of Eze, towering at an altitude of 427 meters above the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, offering beautiful views of the Cote d'Azur, with a visit Perfume Factory and Perfume Museum... In your free time in Monaco, we recommend visiting the magnificent aquariums at the Oceanographic Museum and the Garden of Exotic Plants. Fans of vintage cars will be interested in the Prince of Monaco Automobile Museum. Return to Nice.

Day 13 Nice: Sightseeing trip Cannes - Grasse with a visit to the perfumery museum. Cannes- the venue of the famous Cannes Film Festival and the city Grasse- the capital of French perfumery, located 20 km from the seashore, has retained its provincial charm. You will see the picturesque Old Town, on the streets of which old perfume shops still work.

Day 14 Nice: Free time. Transfer to Nice airport.

"Southern Provinces" is a fascinating and unusual excursion route that will acquaint you with the southern part of the country. The cities in the south of France, with their unique charm and ancient flavor, are not alike, and each opens up some new facet on the way to knowing this amazing country.

Tours in the Southern Provinces of France

Tour date in 2020: on request

Paris, even being one of the most romantic cities in the world, is just a fraction of what you must see in France with your own eyes.

« Tours in the provinces of France"Is a fascinating and unusual excursion route that will acquaint you with the southern part of the country. The cities in the south of France, with their unique charm and ancient flavor, are not alike, and each opens up some new facet on the way to knowing this amazing country.

The tour includes not only a rich cultural program, but also a tasting of famous varieties of French wines.

Tour itinerary: Marseille - Toulouse - Montpellier - Nimes - Avignon - Marseille.

Tour duration: 8 days / 7 nights.

Direct flight on a regular flight a / k "AirFrance" AF4317 / AF4316, "Moscow - Marseille - Moscow".

Departures: Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday.

Tours in the Southern Provinces of France - Marseille.

Tour program:

1st day

Arrival at the airport of Marseille. Transfer to your hotel in Marseille. Late check-in at the hotel.

2nd day

Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby. Transfer to the train station. Transfer to Toulouse, 4 hours. Transfer to the hotel.

Afternoon: sightseeing tour of Toulouse, 2 hours.

3rd day

Breakfast in the hotel. Free time. Afternoon: transfer to the train station. Relocation
in Montpellier, 2 hours. Transfer to the hotel.

4th day

Sightseeing tour of the central part of Montpellier, duration of the excursion -
2 hours. Transfer to the train station. Moving to Nîmes, 30 min. Afternoon: sightseeing tour of the historic center of Nimes, duration of the tour - 2 hours.

Tours in the provinces of France - Nimes.

5th day

Breakfast in the hotel.

Free time or an additional excursion to the ancient Roman Garsky bridge, the duration of the excursion is 4 hours (for an additional fee). Transfer to the train station. Transfer to Avignon, 30 min. Afternoon: sightseeing tour of the historic center of Avignon, duration of the tour - 2 hours.

6th day

Breakfast in the hotel.

Visit to the Provencal market, the duration of the excursion is 2 hours. If you wish, you can continue the excursion with a wine tasting in the tasting center of the Papal Palace, surcharge for a guide and tasting - 40 euros + 6.50 euros / person. Afternoon: free time.

7th day

Breakfast in the hotel. Moving to Marseille, 40 min. Transfer to the hotel. Sightseeing tour of the old part of the city, the duration of the tour is 2 hours. Afternoon: free time, individual program.

8th day

Breakfast in the hotel. Free time, preparing for departure, checking out of rooms, checking out from the hotel. Late transfer to the airport at 12:00. Departure.

Tours to the provinces of France - Marseille.

Tour cost per person in EUR:

The tour price includes:

• accommodation in a hotel of the selected category;
• meals - breakfasts;
• excursions according to the program;
• transfers "hotel - station - hotel" in Marseille, Montpellier, Nimes, Avignon, Toulouse;
• railway tickets along the entire route;
• transfers "Marseille airport - hotel - Marseille airport".