France

Oct 1 Thu Arrival in Paris
• Airport arrival, check-in, orientation session.
• Evening: Welcome dinner & overview lecture: “The Christian Roots of France” made by the Group Leader. Meeting room for 1 hour.
• Overnight in Paris.

Oct 2 Fri Paris: Foundations of Christian France
After breakfast a guided tour:
• The Pantheon – panoramic view of Paris; frescoes of: Clovis (1st Christian king of the Franks), Charlemagne (Holy Roman Emperor), Joan of Arc (Christian martyr and saint)
• Latin Quarter Walking Tour – explore Gallo-Roman sites
• Archaeological Crypt of Notre Dame – Roman ruins and early Christian Paris.
• Overnight in Paris.

Oct 3 Sat Paris: Sacred Symbols & Medieval Heritage
After breakfast a guided tour:
• Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only post-fire, Crown of Thorns display if available)
• Sainte-Chapelle – stained-glass tour focusing on Revelation Window
• Early Christian/Medieval highlights of the Louvre – curated thematic tour
• Evening: Seine River Cruise – viewing Paris’ Christian architectural gems.
• Overnight in Paris.

Oct 4 Sun Chartres
• Travel by bus (up to 1 ½ hrs) to Chartres.
• Chartres Cathedral Guided Tour – walk the labyrinth, view stained glass and sculptures.
• Overnight in Normandie (Fougères or similar)

Oct 5 Mon Mont Saint-Michel
• Departure via bus (up to 1 hour).
• Afternoon: Guided tour of Mont Saint-Michel Abbey – a marvel of Christian monasticism
• Drive (up to 4 hours) to Tours for overnight.

Oct 6 Tue Travel to Lyon
• Transfer (up to 6 hrs) by bus to Lyon.
• Overview walk with the guide: Roman forum, early Christian martyr sites.
• Overnight in Lyon.

Oct 7 Wed Lyon
After breakfast guided tour:
• Lyon’s Roman Amphitheatre – site of Christian martyrdom (e.g., St. Blandina).
• Hourvière Hill – Basilica & view over Lyon.
• Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilization.
• Primatiale Saint-Jean Cathedral – Romanesque-Gothic blend.
• Overnight in Lyon.

Oct 8 Thur Lyon => Vienne (up to 1 hour) => Orange (up to 2½ hours)
• Transfer by bus to Vienne.
• Guided visit – temple of Augustus & early Christian mosaics.
• Afternoon, continue to Orange.
• Guided visit – Roman theatre & triumphal arch.
• Drive (40 min) to Avignon.
• Overnight in Avignon.

Oct 9 Fri Avignon
After breakfast guided tour:
• Palace of the Popes
• Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct)
• Avignon’s medieval quarter.
• Overnight in Avignon

Oct 10 Sat Avignon => Carcassonne (up to 3 hours)
• Travel to Carcassonne
• Guided Tour the Cité de Carcassonne – double-walled fortress city
• Visit the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus
• Drive to Nîmes (up to 3 hours) for overnight.

Oct 11 Sun Nîmes & Arles
Morning Guided tour:
• Nîmes Amphitheatre, Maison Carrée – well-preserved Roman temple
• Early Christian relics, if accessible.
• Afternoon drive to Arles (up to 1 hour).
• Guided tour:
• Amphitheatre and Roman Forum
• Church of St.Trophime – famed Romanesque portal
• Tour locations tied to early Christian burial practices.
• Travel (up to 1 hour) to Camargue region.
• Overnight in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

Oct 12 Mon Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer & St. Maximinla-Sainte-Baume
• Morning Guided visit: Church of the Saintes-Maries; Explore unique Mediterranean Christian traditions.
• Afternoon: Drive (up to 2½ hours) to St. Maximin-la-Sainte- Baume
• Guided Visit: Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene – relics of Mary Magdalene.
• Drive (up to 1½ hour) to Marseille for overnight.

Oct 13 Tue Marseille
• Morning Guided Visit: Marseille Cathedral – relics of St. Lazarus, Church of St. Laurent – simplicity of medieval worship, Abbaye of St. Victor – monastic life from the 5th century onward.
• Lunch break near Vieux Port.
• Afternoon Guided visit:
• Marseille History Museum
• Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilization
• Walk through Le Panier – Marseille’s oldest district with historic Christian sites.
• Overnight in Marseille.

Oct 14 Wed Departure
• Transfer to Nice airport for departure.

• One group transfer from airport to hotel and one group departure transfer- all other transfer are extra cost.
• 13 nights on BB basis in 3* or 4* hotels
• 3 nights in Paris
• 1 night in Normandie (Fougères, Mont Saint Michel or similar)
• 1 night in Tours
• 2 nights in Lyon
• 2 nights in Avignon
• 1 night in Nı̂mes
• 1 night in Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer
• 2 nights in Marseille
• Daily Breakfast
• City taxes
• Meeting room for 1 hour on day of arrival in Paris and for 1 hour in Marseille or Avignon
• 1 welcome dinner in Paris and 1 farewell dinner in Marseille
• Private deluxe coach for transfers between cities.
• Minivans in Paris for one-way transfers according to the program.
• Licensed guide for min 1.5 hour – max 4 hours per day according to the program.
• Whispers for 12 days
• Full assistance by Tour manager for 14 days.
• Entrances and reservations to:

• PARIS:
• Panthéon
• Archaeological Crypt of Notre Dame
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Sainte Chapelle
• Louvre
• Boat cruise on the Seine river 

• CHARTRES:
• Chartres Cathedral 

• MONT SAINT MICHEL:
• Mont Saint-Michel Abbey 

• LYON:
• Lyon’s Roman Amphitheatre
• Fouvière Cathedral
• Saint Jean Baptiste Cathedral

• RANGE:
• Roman theatre 

• AVIGNON:
• Palace of the Popes 

• CARCASSONNE:
• Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus

• NÎMES:
• Arènes de Nı̂mes
• Maison Carré
• Tour Magne

• ARLES:
• Amphithéâtre
• Forum Romain
• Church of St Trophime

• LES SAINTES-MARIES-DE-LA-MER:
• Church of the Saintes-Maries

• ST. MAXIMIN-LA-SAINTE-BAUME:
• Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene

• MARSEILLE:
• Cathédrale la Major de Marseille
• Church Saint Laurent
• Abbaye St Victor
• Marseille History Museum
• Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilization

• All International airfare arriving Paris Oct 1 and Departing Nice Oct 14.
• Lunches
• Some dinners not listed in the included section
• Drinks at dinners, except ½ L water
• Tips to guides, drivers, waiters
• Medical or travel insurances
• Any item not specified under “Included items”, or extra of any personal nature