Depart Bristol at 7.30am for the drive via London to Dover and the lunchtime ferry to Calais. Afternoon drive via Abbeville to the country outskirts of Rouen where we overnight at the 3*** Hôtel La Bertelière, a charming and elegant hotel in a secluded setting.
We leave after breakfast for the scenic drive through Normandy, via Avranches to Fougères for lunch at leisure followed by a visit to this enchanting medieval castle town which fascinated both Victor Hugo and Balzac. After this we travel down to the Golfe du Morbihan and our 3*** hotel, the Mercure Vannes Aquarium which is our base for most of our holiday.
A leisurely start to the day with a guided mini-train tour of the picturesque old city area of Vannes. Rest of the morning free to explore the town which will appeal to all interests. Here one can admire the majestic ramparts of the old city, wander around the elegant shops which have been established in old half-timbered town houses and enjoy the traditional French cuisine. Early afternoon we return near our hotel to take a boat trip around the Gulf of Morbihan. This trip truly is a highlight of the tour. The azure blue sea is dotted with verdant islands all of which have their own character. We shall visit Ile aux Moines which is one of the most picturesque. Memories of this trip will linger with you.
This is a day off for driver and coach. We take advantage of this to give free time to explore Vannes at leisure. Will you choose a pleasant walk along the delightful Promenade de la Rabine into Vannes to sample the wares of the morning market, or would you prefer to visit the Aquarium and the Butterfly Garden located near the hotel.
Today we visit Rennes, the regional capital of Brittany, where we have a guided tour of the fascinating old town area with its maze of 15 and 16C houses. The overhanging storeys and elegant mansions with sculpted facades in the cathedral district never fail to impress. The rest of the day is free to explore the museums and the lovely Jardin de Thabor.
No visit to the Morbihan area would be complete without an exploration of its prehistory. Today we visit Carnac to see some of the amazing megalithic monuments erected by early man. We shall visit the alignments of menhirs (large stones) and will have time to visit the fascinating Museum of Prehistory. In the afternoon we move to Locmariaquer to see the broken Grand Menhir, the dolmen and burial mound which were erected between 4,500 and 3,700 BC. The whole of this day is spent in memorable scenery with beautiful sea views. To savour this we ensure that there is a chance to relax for refreshment in the port area.
This morning we travel to the Forest of Paimpont - the ancient 'Brocéliande' where Arthurian legends say the sorcerer Merlin lived with the fairy Viviane. We stop at the little market town of Paimpont with its 13C abbey church and idyllic surroundings before a scenic drive through the woodland and lake areas. We then travel to Josselin for lunch at leisure before our guided visit to the Chateau of Josselin with its magnificent flamboyant gothic façade in sculptured granite and its beautifully restored interior.
We bid farewell to Vannes today for our drive to Vitré which is one of the best-preserved 'old world' towns of Brittany with its castle and streets unchanged for several centuries. Our guided tour will capture its ambiance. After lunch at leisure we travel through central Normandy before returning to the Hôtel La Bertelière near Rouen.
Morning drive to Calais and the lunchtime ferry to Dover. Return via London to Bristol, arriving there early evening.