PARIS

F R ANC E

Bayeux

BordeauxSarlat

Tours

Capture the essence of French culture as reflected through their gardens, produce and markets. Travel through Normandy, the Loire Valley & the Dordogne.

Experience the passion of the royal landscapes, artistic gardens & their love of food through kitchen gardens.

TOUR LEADER PETER WHITEHEAD

France is in my blood! Springtime in France is an absolute delight and this tour covers three of the most beautiful regions: Normandy, the Loire and then the Dordogne. You will love them all!

+ Wander through Paris in the springtime

+ Cross Claude Monet’s bridge at Giverny

+ Lunch at Chateau les Milandes overlooking the Dordogne

+ Taste the best French produce at local markets

+ Plenty of time for shopping and exploring

+ The mediaeval town of Sarlat - our base to explore the Dordogne and the Perigord

+ Learn about the D-Day landings along the Normandy Coast

+ Admire the Bayeux Tapestry

+ Marvel at glorious chateau gardens of the Loire

+ Travel in a small group & make new friends

+ Relax – we’ll take care of everything!

For a detailed itinerary, please visit :www.rosstours.com/france

Let us take you to the most beautiful places in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

Join garden lover and Francophile Peter Whitehead as he travels through France showcasing and explaining the history behind some of France’s well known gardens as well as some new and unknown ones. Experience the French love of food and finds out how this has influenced their gardens and see their artistic traditions to see what influence they have had on the country’s gardens.

Graham Ross, founder of Ross Garden Tours

VIVE LA

FRANCE

24 MAY - 10 JUNE 2016

TO BOOK PLEASE CONTACT ROYCE OR ROSLYN

Visit our website www.rosstours.com

travel@rosstours.com1300 233 200

ITINERARY TOUR DETAILS

+ OUR TOUR INCLUDES

° Return Qantas / Emirates economy airfare and taxes Sydney / Paris / Sydney

° Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout tour

° Deluxe accommodation for 15 nights

° Breakfast daily, 5 lunches and 4 dinners

° Guided tours of Paris, Bayeux, Tours, Loches, Sarlat, St Emilion, Bordeaux

° Entrance fees to Jardin Bagatelle in the Bois de Boulogne, Versailles, Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard, Giverny, Bayeux Tapestry Museum, D-Day Museum Arromanches, Chateau de Brecy gardens, Villandry, Prieure de Saint Cosme, Chateau Chenonceau, Limogues porcelain, Chateau Marqueyssac, Eyrignac

° Evening cruise on the River Seine

° Fully escorted by Peter Whitehead

° Gratuities for porters and drivers

+ OUR TOUR COSTS

Twin Share per person , land only $11,795Twin Share per person, including air $13,795 (Valid until 1/11/15)Single Supplement $2.995

+ DISCOUNTS

Early Bird $350 (pay in full before 15 December 2015)Previous Traveller $100Garden Clinic Member $50

DAY 1 TUE 24 MAYHOME - PARISMeet your Ross Tour leader Peter Whitehead and depart to Paris.

DAY 2 WED 25 MAYPARISHead straight to our hotel for the next four nights, the Pont Royal, brilliantly located a block from the Louvre and across the Pont Royal Bridge on the River Seine. Welcome Dinner tonight.

DAY 3 THU 26 MAYPARISCheck out the highlights of Paris this morning. A treat this afternoon at Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard, a potager attached to a 17th century chateau where we can gasp at peonies. Evening River cruise on the Seine.

DAY 4 FRI 27 MAYPARISA day to explore Versailles, the palace of Louis XIV the Sun King, the largest and most affluent palace ever built with a garden to match: Potager, Grand Trianon, intimate gardens and grand parterres designed by Andre Le Notre.

DAY 5 SAT 28 MAYPARIS - GIVERNY - BAYEUXCatch the early morning light on the waterlily pond in Claude Monet’s

famous garden at Giverny. It’s a riot of colour in the Clos Normande with roses and flowers jostling for space. Drive to the mediaeval town of Bayeux and check in to our Novotel Hotel for the next three nights.

DAY 6 SUN 29 MAYBAYEUXFirst stop is the world’s most famous embroidery, the Bayeux Tapestry that tells the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066. A grand garden this afternoon at Chateau de Brecy.

DAY 7 MON 30 MAYBAYEUXBe reminded of the challenge of the D Day landings at the museum at Arromanches that played an important role in the WW2 liberation of Europe. The gentle Normandy landscape belies this tragic history.

DAY 8 TUE 31 MAYBAYEUX - TOURSTravel south into the picturesque Loire Valley where our base for the next 3 nights will be Hotel L’Univers. Take a stroll through the mediaeval Old Town with a coffee in Place Plumereau. Dinner included tonight.

DAY 9 WED 1 JUNTOURSA jewel of the Loire landscape this morning at Villandry with its

All prices in Australian Dollars. All air taxes as at 1st August 2015. Price based on minimum 15 passengers. Departure ex Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane. Price from other Australian ports and New Zealand available on application. Group meals do not include beverages. Please refer to Ross Garden Tours standard terms & conditions. Ask us about other sightseeing and travel arrangements including pre and post tour accommodation, transfers, stopovers and other tours.

monastic and romantic themed potager honouring the spirit of the Renaissance. Pit stop at the best giftshop ever. Roses ramble over the romantic abbey ruin at Prieure de Saint Cosme where poet, Pierre de Ronsard is buried.

DAY 10 THU 2 JUNTOURSUndisputed star of the Loire is Chateau Chenonceau with its galleried bridge spanning the River Cher with twin parterre gardens. Visit the mediaeval city of Loches, one of the best-preserved in France.

DAY 11 FRI 3 JUNTOURS - SARLATInto the valley of the Dordogne today with a lunch stop in Limogues to check out the famous porcelain. Sarlat is our base to explore the treasures of the Perigord. Hotel Renoir is home for the next three nights, located on the edge of the old town.

DAY 12 SAT 4 JUNSARLATThe famous Sarlat market will be in full swing this morning. Lunch today at Chateau les Milandes overlooking the Dordogne with stunning views. Clipped and molded, the garden at Chateau Marqueyssac sits high in its splendid setting overlooking the entire Dordogne Valley.

DAY 13 SUN 5 JUNSARLATDiscover the rich heritage of the Perigord today at Beynac and Salignac, picture-postcard Perigord towns. It’s a masterclass in clipping hedges at Eyrignac. Lunch today in the pretty town of Beynac.

DAY 14 MON 6 JUNSARLAT - BORDEAUXTravel through vineyards and fruit plantations to Bordeaux with lunch included at the famous hill town of Saint Emilion. Check into the Grand Hotel Bordeaux for the last two nights. Bordeaux has undergone a transformation in recent years to rival Paris as a chic, elegant city.

DAY 15 TUE 7 JUNBORDEAUXA gentle walk this morning to see the magnificent 18th century facades along the Bordeaux waterfront that reflect the city’s long history. The afternoon is free for you to explore. Together tonight for a farewell dinner.

DAY 16 WED 8 JUNBORDEAUX - HOMETake the fast TGV train to Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport for your evening flight.

DAY 17 THU 9 JUN INFLIGHT

DAY 18 FRI 10 JUN HOME