Côte d’Azur & a taste of Spain

Discover paradis sur terre on this feel-good journey through the heart of France to Spain’s Basque country, encountering elegant riverside cities, famous wine-making regions, sun-soaked blue bays, ancient capitals, trout-filled mountain streams, and glittering seaside resorts on the Côte d’Azur.

Itinerary

Day 1 Selected early morning coach pick-ups and P&O crossings to Calais, continuing through the Champagne region, famous for the world’s lightest and most subtly flavoured wines, such as Bollinger, Veuve Clicquot, Krug and Moët et Chandon’s celebrated Dom Pérignon, named after the monk who was an important early influence in the development of champagne. We then arrive in Beaune, the historic wine capital of Burgundy, for an overnight stay with included dinner.

Perhaps stroll around Beaune’s impressive ramparts and picturesque streets, which hold many treasures including the church of Notre Dame, and the Hospice de Beaune, made up of the Hospice de Charite and Hotel-Dieu with its priceless art collection.

Day 2 Travel through Burgundy’s rolling vineyards, continuing south to Lyon, the great crossroads of Europe and gateway to the Rhône Valley. On to the famous autoroute du Soleil (or sunshine motorway) for your hotel in the sun-drenched Côte d’Azur resort of St-Raphaël for three nights, with breakfast.

Days 3-4 Free to explore stunning St-Raphaël, forever associated with luminaries like Napoleon Bonaparte, writers including Alexandre Dumas and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and musicians such as Hector Berlioz and Charles Gounod, who composed the opera Romeo et Juliet here in 1866.

With beaches stretching for over 36km, broad promenades, casino, weekly markets and a fascinating old city and port, St-Raphaël is charm personified. To some, the French Riviera invites total relaxation, and in others a desire to see as much of it as possible. If you’re one of the latter, you’ll enjoy the close proximity of the port of Santa Lucia, home to Côte d’Azur’s third-largest marina.

Take a stroll along the marina down to the main promenade for stunning views over the bay of St-Raphaël and its two offshore volcanic rock formations, the sea and Earth Lions. You can also explore St-Raphaël’s old port, Le Marina, where you’ll find traditional fishing boats, ancient San Raféu Church, dedicated to Archangel Saint Raphaël, and market squares Place de la République and Place Victor Hugo, its daily food markets watched over by the soaring Notre Dame de la Victoire de Lepante cathedral.

Alternatively, spend a day in glamorous Cannes or half a day in St. Tropez with our optional excursions; explore the old city of St Tropez, with its quaint, narrow streets between the main quay of the old port, the shady square of the Place des Lices and the remains of the 16th century citadel.

Day 5 Sit back and admire the enchanting Provençal landscape on the way to Nîmes. There’s time to explore this town, famous for intimate squares, Roman temples and triumphal arches. Continue to the Languedoc region and Carcassone, the greatest fortress city in Europe, for one night. Floodlit by evening, the old medieval citadel is a fairy tale sight with soaring turrets and spectacular ramparts.

Day 6 East to Toulouse towards the snow-capped Pyrenees, making a short stop in Bayonne, capital of French Basque country, famed for its beautiful old quarter around Ste Marie Cathedral. The pedestrianised streets around the Cathedral offer great shopping opportunities, especially on the arcaded rue du Pont Neuf, which serves the Bayonne speciality, hot chocolate. Continue to Bilbao on the Bay of Biscay for two nights with breakfast.

Day 7 Explore this vibrant port city for yourself; perhaps visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, a masterpiece of 20th century architecture and now one of the most famous museums in the world.

Its collection focuses primarily on 20th century American and European art, featuring styles such as Pop Art, Minimalism, Arte Povera, Conceptual Art and Abstract Expressionism. Basque and Spanish contemporary art is also represented by a selection of works by the best artists in the field, as well as specially created pieces by contemporary American and European artists.

Alternatively, you might like to join an optional excursion to aristocratic San Sebastian.

Day 8 Today we include a short tour of Bilbao, including the intriguing old quarter, a national landmark and home to some very interesting pubs and restaurants.

The most important church is the Iglesia de San Nicolás. Behind the church, there’s an elevator that will carry you to the upper town, or you can climb the 64 steps, which will lead you to the Basílica de Begoña, built in the early 1500s. Inside the dimly lit church is a brightly illuminated depiction of the Virgin Begoña, the patroness of the province.

Later on, join the ferry for the overnight sailing to Portsmouth.

Day 9 On arrival, you’ll be returned to your original departure point.

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Côte d’Azur & a taste of Spain

Tour Code TOS