2-day M.St-Michel, D-Day, 3 Loire Castles Small-group from Paris

Itinerary

Day 1: Paris — Chambord Castle — Amboise Castle — Chenonceau Castle

Pass By: Paris, Paris, Ile-de-France
07:30 Hotel Pick up and departure destination Loire Valley. There are 180 km to drive on the highway by our comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes minivan to reach the first Castle Chambord. It takes about 2,5 hours with one stop made at the rest area. The Guide will give You general Information about the French history connected to the Castles of the Loire Valley.

Stop At: Chateau de Chambord, le Chateau, 41250, Chambord France
10:00 - 11:45 Chateau de Chambord visit. The Guide will tell You the history of the Castle and its construction. The Château de Chambord is one of the most popular castles because of its French Renaissance architecture. The building was constructed from 1519 to 1547 by Francis I (Francois 1-er) and is nowadays the biggest castle with its 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases. The castle is also known because of its open double-spiral staircase. The two spirals ascend the three floors without ever meeting. Leonardo da Vinci may have designed the staircase.
11:45 Departure to Amboise City. There is 1 hour drive (60 km) on the national roads along the Loire river crossing the countryside, several villages and towns.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Amboise, Amboise, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
12:45 - 13:45 Lunch break in Amboise city where You'll find many restaurants located close to the Amboise Castle. We can as well recommend You or make a table reservation at a good restaurant.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Chateau Royal d'Amboise, Montee de l'Emir Abd El Kader Montée de l'Emir Abd-el-Kader, 37400, Amboise France
13:45 - 15:00 Skip-the-line access with Guide to Chateau Royal d’Amboise with Histopad explaining to You the history of this Castle. You will get as well a so called Histopad a kind of iPad telling You interactive the Castle's story.
Amboise Royal Castle is the Grand 15th-century residence of King Charles VIII and an example of the transition from Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Learn the history of the castle Amboise which is known as the birthplace of princes, the reign of Kings, and the death of the greatest Renaissance master, Leonardo Da Vinci! You can see his grave in the chapel.
15:00 Departure to the Chenonceau castle which is located just 20 minutes drive.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Chateau de Chenonceau, 37150 Chenonceaux France
15:30 - 17:00 Skip-the-line access to the Chateau de Chenonceau and its Gardens. The Guide will tell You the history of the Castle and its construction. You will get as well the brochure with explanations of each room. Chenonceau nicknamed the "ladies’ castle" is remarkable for its feminine history of famous women of France such as Catherine de Medici as well as for its stunning architecture as well as unique aches over the River Cher. The Renaissance-style gardens Gardens of Chenonceau with their more than 130,000 flowerings plants will impress You as well. Attn. In low season we depart at 5:10 pm and in high season at 5:30 due to the opening hours of the Castle.
17:00 Departure from the Chenonceau castle destination Mont Saint-Michel. It takes about 3,5 hours (300 km).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Pass By: Mont-Saint-Michel, Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, Basse-Normandie, Normandy
20:30 Arrival in Normandy close to Mont Saint-Michel. Hotel accommodations at 3*+/4* hotel.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 20:30 Arrival and Accommodation at 3*+/4* Hotel in Normandyl.

Day 2: Mont-Saint-Michel Island and Abbey — Omaha Beach — American Cemetery — Overlord Museum

Stop At: Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel, Bp 22 Au sommet du village, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel France
08:30 - 12:00 Mont Saint-Michel.
08:30 Hotel check out. Departure to Mont Saint-Michel. It takes 20 to 30 minutes.
09:00 - 12:00 Visit of the UNESCO World Heritage Mont Saint-Michel and its Benedictine Abbey. Your guide will bring you up the narrow streets of the medieval village toward the top of the Island. You can admire panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and bay and enter the Benedictine Abbey. Entrance tickets into the Abbey include audio guides in many languages. The whole island with the Bay is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. It remained practically the same since the Middle Ages as it was the goal of pilgrims from all over the world. Mont Saint Michel remains the most visited site in France.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Mont-Saint-Michel, Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, Basse-Normandie, Normandy
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch in Mont Saint-Michel. We can make you a restaurant reservation or you can choose a restaurant on your own.
13:00 Departure from Mont Saint-Michel to Omaha Beaches. It will take about 1,5 hours (147 km) to reach the Omaha Beach Signal Monument.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Omaha Beach, Avenue de la Liberation, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer France
14:45 - 15:15 Omaha Beach Signal Monument. Learn about the huge sacrifice made by the 34,000 men who landed here on D-Day. Omaha Beach is the most popular traveler destination of the D-Day Beaches.
15:15 Departure to Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. It takes just 5 minutes.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Cimetiere Americain de Colleville-sur-Mer, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer France
15:30 - 16:45 Normandy American Cemetery & Visitor Center visit in Colleville-sur-Mer. Overlooking Omaha Beach the Cemetery contains 9,387 U.S. soldiers, most of whom were killed during the Normandy Landings and the Wall of the Missing with the names of 1,557 soldiers missing in action. The cliffs leading down to the beaches contain the remnants of the German defenses, including concrete casemates with memorials to the soldiers. At Normandy American Cemetery you’ll see the semicircular memorial colonnade with the sculpture “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves” large maps of military operations; and the most beautiful, idyllic spot on Planet Earth. Free time to walk around the gardens.
16:45 Departure to the close located Overlord Museum.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach, Rond-Point d'acces du Cimetiere Americain Lotissement Omaha Center, 14710 Colleville-sur-Mer France
16:45 - 17:30 Overlord Museum visit. Located just few hundred meters away from the Normandy American Cemetery this museum contains many WW2 artefacts and installations like tanks, weapons, guns, many military vehicles, V-1 missile, personal belongings and more. It gives You a personal feeling about D-Day.
17:30 Departure to Paris. It takes 3,5 hours (290 km). One stop will be made at the rest area.
Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: Paris, Paris, Ile-de-France
21:00 Coming back to Paris. Drop Off at Your hotel.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.