Welcome to the ‘The Châteaux, Gardens & Art of Normandy’ tour. You can view full details of this tour, share this tour with others, pay your final balance before departure and, once you have departed on your holiday, share your group photos and write reviews.
Itinerary
Day 1
We depart from our designated pick up points in our private executive coach and travel to Folkestone with our tour manager, for our Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. We continue to the 4* Mercure Centre Cathedrale Hotel in Rouen for a four night stay. Dinner is included at a carefully selected restaurant close to our hotel every evening.
Day 2
This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Rouen, where we see the picturesque half timbered houses and architectural treasures such as St Ouen Abbey. During our guided tour we visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, a Gothic masterpiece that is dominated by the famous west façade. In the 1890s Claude Monet made almost 30 paintings of the Cathedral, several of which are now in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. This afternoon we have a guided tour of Château de Miromesnil, the birthplace of the French writer Guy de Maupassant. Four centuries of harmonious architectural styles are present in the château whilst the magnificent gardens are dominated by a cedar of Lebanon tree that is several centuries old.
Day 3
We visit Monet’s Gardens at Giverny this morning where the artist painted his Waterlillies series. The Water Garden is asymmetrical with an exotic Japanese feel to it and Monet came here repeatedly through his life, letting his imagination rove amid the complex interplay of water and light. We then visit the nearby Musée des Impressionnismes, dedicated to the history of Impressionism and its aftermath. The rest of the day is at leisure in Rouen.
Day 4
On arrival in Honfleur this morning we visit Musée Eugène Boudin, located in a 19th century chapel and named after the town’s most famous painter. The museum is home to a fine collection of impressionist works by artists such as Boudin, Dubourg, Monet and Jongkind. We then spend some time at leisure in Honfleur to explore the town that numerous French artists drew inspiration from. Later this afternoon we enjoy an included 90 minute boat trip along the beautiful Seine Estuary, passing under the Pont de Normandie.
Day 5
After checking out of our hotel, we enjoy a guided tour at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen, home to an outstanding collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures by renowned artists such as Caravaggio, Monet and Sisley. We then return to Calais for our return Eurotunnel crossing to Folkestone, and onwards coach travel back to our original pick up points.
NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Price based on twin share. Minimum numbers required. Normal booking conditions apply.
Featuring
4* central Rouen hotel
Four dinners included
All excursions, entrance fees & guided tours included
Boat excursion on Day 4 included
Professional tour manager throughout
Return Eurotunnel crossings
Executive coach throughout
Local accommodation tax included
Audio headsets included on Days 2 to 4
Porterage included
Rouen – guided walking tour
Cathédrale Notre-Dame
Château de Miromesnil – guided tour
Monet’s Garden
Musée des Impressionnismes
Musée Eugène Boudin
Honfleur
Seine Estuary Cruise
Musée des Beaux-Arts – guided tour
Hotel
We stay four nights at the centrally located 4* Mercure Centre Cathedrale (www.all.accor.com) in Rouen. Located adjacent to the cathedral, facilities at the hotel include a bar. All of our allocated Classic Rooms are en-suite and feature a television, hairdryer, a minibar, and tea & coffee making facilities. A welcome set 3 course dinner without drinks is included at a carefully selected restaurant near our hotel every evening.
NB: The walking distance between the coach drop off point and the hotel is approximately 5 minutes. Porterage on the first and last days between the coach drop off point and the hotel lobby is included in the cost of the tour.
Extras
Insurance (including Covid cover) £92
Single room supplement £199
Gratuities
Lunches
Donation at Rouen Cathedral
Optional Excursions
All excursions, entrance fees & guided tours included
