FRANCE'S FINE WINES & CUISINE

Depart for a visit of Fontfroide Abbey. Founded in 1093 on a land given to some Benedictine monks by the Vicomte de Narbonne, it is one of the most lavished and best-preserved Cistercian abbeys in France. The site includes a magnificent 3000- foot Rose Garden and a succession of Italian style terraced gardens. Continue to Minerve, a fortified medieval village with many of its fortifications still in place, perched on a naturally defended rocky peninsula high above a canyon in the barren Languedoc landscape. Return to Carcassonne after a visit of a local vineyard and a wine tasting experience. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Travel to Cahors, where you will see the famous Pont Valentré, a fortified work of art with three towers. Enjoy lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit Cahors’ vineyards and enjoy a wine tasting at Chateau Lagrazette. Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour. Set in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne, this holy city clings to the steep rocky cliffs at a dizzying height, displaying layer upon layer of houses and chapels. Transfer to Sarlat and settle into your hotel. Savor dinner at a traditional restaurant (B,D)

After breakfast, enjoy your morning tour of Sarlat, an exceptionally well-preserved medieval town with renowned historical monuments. Later, visit the National Prehistoric Museum which houses France’s most important Paleolithic collections including the first global set of Paleolithic art on engraved or carved blocks. See the oldest traces of life left by mankind and understand the evolution of societies over the last 400 millennia. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Head out to Saint Émilion today. Here, you will visit the Château Ferrand, Grand Cru Classé of Saint Émilion, and the lovely medieval town of SaintÉmilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a center of Bordeaux wine-making. Visit of the Fermigier shop and learn about the secret recipe of brightly colored macarons, and enjoy a macaron tasting session. In the afternoon, visit Chateau Coutet for wine tasting. Arrive in Bordeaux and settle in at your hotel. Dinner is at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day at leisure. Time to relax or to take an optional cooking class at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Saint- James under the expert guidance of Head Chef Nicolas Magie and his team, or a cruise on the River Garonne. (B)

Depart for Bassion D’Arcachon, a vast bay on the Atlantic Coast about 45 min from Bordeaux. Embark on a traditional boat for a cruise around the bay, learn about the iconic “cabane tchanquee” stilt houses and enjoy the spectacular views of the Ile aux Oiseaux and the Dune du Pilat – the highest dune in Europe. Savor local oysters for lunch, and spend an afternoon exploring the town of Arcachon on your own. (B)

Travel through the celebrated ‘Route des Vins’ in the Medoc region, area of the most famous Bordeaux vineyards. From Pauillac to Margaux, you will discover some of the most prestigious names in the Grand Crus and Crus Bourgeois class wines. Experience three exquisite wine tastings as part of your exciting travel program before returning to Bordeaux. Tonight, enjoy a gourmet dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Morning transfer to airport for your return flight home. (B)