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France
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Your Honeymoon in Paris and France. Discover the best of romantic Paris.
A listed masterpiece of the XIXth century, our 4 star Hotel welcomes you to a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of contemporary design and timeless elegance. Right in the heart of the "three" Paris - business, culture and the large stores, - our hotel enjoys a truly privileged position...
First day Private transfer from the airport to your hotel Our driver will wait for you at the airport outside the customs and will then drive you directly to your hotel in a comfortable vehicle with AC. Free afternoon in Paris
Even with their eyes closed, the regulars could find their way to this restaurant with its famous black metal sign. Elegance and discretion have always been the watchwords of the most distinguished of the major brasseries. At the "Boeuf" people meet to take time out to savour a seafood platter amongst friends on the mezzanine. Following many years of coasting on the right bank of the Champs Elysée with its founder, Louis Moysés at the helm, the Bœuf sur le Toit finally weighed anchor at 34 rue du Colisée. In the wake of Cocteau, the entire avant-garde arts scene embraced this art-deco style liner which owes its name to a Brazilian song, "O boi no telhado". It sports oak wood panelling, engraved mirrors, paintings, sculptures, photos, an immense mahogany bar, and the marble-covered entrance houses a vast bank of seafood piled onto crushed ice. For the 2002 season, the "Bœuf" has given itself a new look: new floral decor in stoneware pots, immaculate white tablecloths, Limoges porcelain crockery and silver cutlery. A mere stone's throw from the most beautiful avenue in the world, its five dining rooms are host the top names in the world of finance, the arts, politics, fashion and the media. It is the epitome of the brasserie spirit…. right bank style! Second day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel Private guided tour of Paris You will discover Paris with one of our guides, fluent English speaking and graduated from Le Louvre museum. He/She knows all the history and anecdotes of Paris and how to make the visit very interesting for you 2. Our guide will meet you at your hotel and will then go with you around Paris. A comfortable car with AC will also be available with driver. The tour lasts 3 hours. Orsay Museum
Notre Dame Cathedral Preceded by a Gallo-Roman temple to Jupiter, a Christian basilica, and a Romanesque church, construction of Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII. Pope Alexander III laid the foundation stone. The idea to replace the Romanesque church occupying the site - the Cathedral of St. Etienne (founded by Childebert in 528) - was that of Bishop Maurice de Sully (who died in 1196). (Some accounts claim that there were two churches existing on the site, one to the Virgin Mary, the other to St. Stephen.) Construction was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345.
It was not until the year 1730, when five streets radiated out from this "Etoile de Chaillot". And in 1758, several plans were drawn up, such as a bizarre one in the midst of the square - a gigantic elephant housing ballrooms and a theatre. However, the plans appeared a bit too ambitious. And, Napoleon Bonaparte had other ideas, he built a monument for the glorification of his Grande Armée, a triumphal arch in classical style - the Arc de Triomphe. However, the rest of the "Place de L'Etoile" was not finished until 1854. Haussman, responsible for redesigning Paris (1853-1870), added another seven avenues to the existing five ones. The Arc de Triomphe and its massive piers are decorated with bas reliefs depicting scenes from the revolutionary era (including the First Empire).
From the fortress of Philippe Auguste (1190) to the completion of the "Grand Dessein" (1870), the Louvre palace has extended progressively along the right bank of the Seine. A true barrier separating the northern and southern parts of the city, the building constitutes the point of departure of the great East-West view, which crosses the Arc du Carrousel, the obelisk in the Place de la Concorde, the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysées. The Louvre was not in any way originally intended to become a museum. From the date when, under Louis XIV, most of its occupants left the Louvre, its vocation as a "palace of the arts" appeared a quite natural progression in the eyes of the resident artists and the academies. The idea of a Palace of the Muses or "Museum", where one could view the royal collections, was born in 1747. From 1779, purchases and museographical projects demonstrate the imminence of its realisation.
La Madeleine and La Concorde The Madeleine is an obese Napoleonic structure on the classical temple model which was built for the emperor as yet another monument to the victory of his army. Following many vicissitudes and changes of plan, the present building is now a windowless edifice with a Greek temple facade of Corinthian columns 20 metres high. Work on the church was begun in I764. Unlike the exterior, the interior is lavishly over-decorated. At the east end a series of frescoes celebrates heroes of Christianity in a span which includes, surprisingly, Napoleon. Sculpted by Lemaire, the pediment represents the Last Judgement J.C. baptism by Rude.
In the center of the plaza is the Obelisk of Luxor, a pink granite monolith 23 m (73 tt) high and weighing 220 tons. It is 3,300 years old and decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the reign of the pharaon Ramses II. The obelisk was presented as a gift to Charles X by the Egyptian viceroy Méhémet Ali in 1829. The monument was installed here under Louis Philippe who, bearing in mind the death and destruction witnessed by Place de la Concorde, was pleased to have found a non-political monument to replace the unpopular Bourbon Louis the XVth statue. After three years of travelling from the Nile riverbanks one anecdote reminds the suspense of this enterprise of erection before a crowd of 200,000 people. The Opera House
It is of interest to note that the massive opera house was constructed above a subterranean river that still teeds an underground artificial lake to this day. The Phantom of the Opera, created by Gaston Leroux, is said to continue his sinister doings down below.
Saint Germain des Prés Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, with such popular places like the Deux Magot café and Café Flore and Brasserie Lipp not far. Each one has its own reputation and style. And not to forget the Church of Saint Germain des Prés, built back in the 6th century, was an enormous Benedictine monastery. The interior with its Romanesque lines is still clear under the deforming paint of nineteenth-century frescoes. In the corner of the churchyard by the rue Bonaparte, a little Picasso head of a woman is dedicated to the memory of the poet Apollinaire. Saint-Michel The Place St-Michel has always been the principle meeting point for the students of Paris. This vast esplanade, perfectly located at the crossroads of the most important streets of the 5th arrondissement, is also the gateway to the Latin Quarter, serving Paris' most famous university, the Sorbonne. The youth of Paris have throughout the centuries chosen to gather here, and in the neighbouring small, ancient streets. The first insurrections of the Paris Commune took place in this spot, as did the initial protests during the student uprising of May, '68. The place's superb fountain, adorned with statues of lions and located against the buildings of Boulevard St-Michel, was constructed in 1860. It stands along with a monumental statue of the archangel Saint-Michel bringing down a dragon.
In 1670, founded a hospital for his invalid soldiers, the King Louis XIV adopted plans by Liberal Bruant and the work started in 1671 and was finished in 1676. This hospital could house up to 4000 patients. The principal facade, which stretches on both sides of the immense semicircular-arched doorway, whose pilasters lie on statues of Mars and Minerva, Warring Valour and Armed Wisdom, by Guillaume Coustou. On the pediment there is a statue of Louis XIV on horseback; by the same Coustou a story with three large bay windows surmounts the main entrance. All of these openings are in the form of semicircular arches. Beneath the dome lie two churches: One for the soldiers, and the other intended as a mausoleum for the king but now containing the mortal remains of Napoleon. Free lunch and afternoon in Paris Wine Tasting (late afternoon) "Self evidence can be clearly explained and the words to say it are easy to find". This old theory is true indeed… except for wine! In fact, even if we have good knowledge of wines, it is hard to describe them. You will see that it is finally easy to recognize aromas and to find the appropriate words to describe them. Because it is also a significant part of the art of tasting process, you will discover right means (adapted glasses, retro-olfaction) to maximize your sensations. Finally, the sommelier will advise you on wine selection and provide you with recommendations.
In 1864, l'Alsace set up its first beer pump in Paris. Frédéric Bofinger established a small restaurant at 5 rue de la Bastille, which rapidly gained a reputation for the quality of its sauerkraut. And he served beer on tap - unheard of in Paris. The glass dome ceiling was illuminating the main dining room, a masterpiece by Néret and Royer. It was installed by Albert Bruneau, Bofinger's son in law who succeeded him in 1906, in association with Louis Barraud. The revolving door, the bar, the vast winding staircase, the padded black leather bench seats, the bronze wall lights, the copper, the ceramics, the mirrors, everything dates from this period and epitomises the style of an Alsatian brasserie. In the 1930s, it became the meeting place of the political world, and more than one government fell to the power of its sauerkraut. Forsaken for some time, the Bastille quarter has now become fashionable again and the rush to dine under Bofinger's domed ceiling continues. Night in your 4 star hotel Third day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel Guided tour of Versailles
You will discover Versailles' Palace, the symbol of France's grandeur during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Accompanied by one of our guides, fluent English speaking and graduated from Le Louvre museum, you will appreciate the magnificent park and the Trianons. A guided visit of the State Apartments (Hall of Mirrors, Queen's apartment) is included. In May 6, 1682, Versailles became the official residence of the Court of France, supplanting the palaces at the Louvre and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
The Hall of Mirrors (La Galerie des Glaces), erected to the glory of Louis XIV and now the chief masterpiece of Versailles, was begun in 1678 when the chateau became the official residence, disrupting the order of the salons known as the Apartment of the Planets. On the signing of the Treaty of Nijmegen, which represented the highpoint of his reign, Louis XIV ordered Le Brun to depict his government's accomplishments on the ceiling of the hall. Le Brun designed thirty compositions, framed by stucco-work, showing the monarch in various guises: Roman emperor, great administrator of the kingdom, and victor over foreign powers. The King's Bedchamber Free lunch and afternoon Romantic dinner cruise on the Seine River Les Bateaux Parisiens have created the Service Premier for more comfort and intimacy. A hostess greets you and offers you priority boarding access. A table close to the windows is reserved for you. Your choice of aperitif accompanied by cheese puffs will be served to you followed by a selection of Chablis and Château du Gazin Canor Fronsac wines and your choice of after-dinner drink accompanied by macaroons will provide a pleasant conclusion to your meal. Night in your 4 star hotel First Option Fourth day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel Departure for your tour of the Loire Valley Castles Our driver will wait for you outside your hotel and will take site in his comfortable car with AC. He will drive you up to the Loire Valley Castles and then from one a castle to another one.
Chambord was not the only castle built for François I. Blois castle also has a wing named François I. It was built ca. 1515. The Italian architecture style influence over this era is noticeable. The roofs are covered with slates, the chimneys made of bricks are sumptuously decorated, a lengthy gallery along with several loggie can be admired. No doubt that they were more suitable to the 16th-century mild Italian climate than to the severe French climate.
Louis XII was born in Blois. He decided to live here with his court in 1498. Blois became then the capital of the Kingdom for a few years. Free lunch in Blois Guided visit of the Chenonceau Castle After your lunch in Blois, your driver will lead you to Chenonceau where you will visit the castle with a guide. Built on the river Cher, where the unique beauty of its architecture reflects in the water, the Château de Chenonceau is the Val de Loire's finial.
The lovely surroundings, the formal garden and the park surrounding it add to the impression of delicate grace emanating from the castle. Chenonceau is not only remarkable for its architecture and history but also for the fine quality of its collections as can be seen from the inside visit: Renaissance furniture, a vast ensemble of XVIth and XVIIth centuries tapestries and a great number of masterpieces. Le Primatice, Rubens, Le Tintoret, Rigaud, Nattier, Van Loo are among the most famous names that can be found there. Dinner and night at a typically French castle
Relax by the large open-air heated swimming-pool, enjoy a game of tennis or simply enjoy the pleasure of staying at this most remarkable French castle in the heart of the Loire Valley. You will have a special dinner prepared for you by your hostess. Then, you will discover you room, which will enable you to travel through centuries. Fifth day Breakfast in a typically French castle You will have your breakfast in a typically French castle, as François 1st Guided visit of Chambord Castle Your driver will drive you up to Chambord where you will have a guided visit.
Building of the château was begun by Francis I in 1519, and was completed in 1547. Florentine artist Leonardo da Vinci paid a short visit to the building during its construction and added a few embellishments to it. The structure, containing 440 rooms, 365 fireplace, 13 great staircases, and stables to accommodate 1200 horses, stands in a park surrounded by a wall of 22 miles in circumference. 1800 men worked on the chateau.
Te staircase is related to a project by Leonardo which consisted of four distinct superimposed flights of stairs, in order words, just as many stairs as quarters and arms of the cross of the castle. It is therefore likely that Leonardo da Vinci staircase, which may have been conceived for Chambord, was then simplified when it was built by the master masons of the building yard. The archives offer us no information as the name of the architect but there is influence of Leonardo de Vinci and close tie to some of the projects by Domenico da Cartona, and Italian architect. The spiral staircase derives from a medieval concept. It goes far beyond it in its unique division into two separate flights with numerous openings on the arms of the corridors. A tribute to the former medieval French tradition is to be found in the presence of powerful cylindrical towers at the corners of the keep. The top of the stairs leads to the large terraces of the castle. After Francis I death in 1574 the castle was practically unused for about fifty years. After having passed through other hands, the chateau risked being demolished after the Revolution and in 1793 the furnishings were dispersed. Your driver will wait for you at the end of the visit and will drive you back to Paris Free lunch and afternoon in Paris
Among these cabarets, some have become famous: the Chat Noir with its rich settings created by Caran d'Ache, the Mirliton, the Folies-Bergères, the Moulin Rouge... Here, the public came to listen to the anti-conformist songs of Aristide Briand, the champion of eccentrics, prostitutes, unemployed, …, that artists had long despised. Here again, painters found their inspiration, such as Toulouse-Lautrec, a regular customer in the quarter, who came to immortalise the strange colourful scenes that are midway between frenetic entertainment and the tragic life of the lower-classes, in famous paintings such as Le Chat Noir and La Goulue. On the 6th October, at the foot of Butte Montmartre, the atmosphere was pretty festive: a new music-hall was opening in the Jardin de Paris, the Moulin Rouge. The public came in mass to Place Blanche, to discover this extravagant place with its huge dance floor, mirrors everywhere, and galleries that were the last word in elegance, to mix with the riffraff and girls of easy virtue, in a garden decorated with a big elephant with rides on donkeys for the ladies' pleasure. There was such a wild atmosphere that the show was not only on the stage but all around: aristocrats and louts in caps had fun side by side, in an atmosphere of total euphoria. 'Féerie', the Moulin Rouge's new show
Night in your 4 star hotel You will have one more night in the 4 star hotel you staid in at the beginning of your stay. Sixth day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel Before leaving Paris, you will have your latest breakfast in your 4 star hotel. Transfer from your hotel to the airport Our driver will wait for you at the airport outside the customs and will then drive you directly to your hotel in a comfortable vehicle with AC. End of our services Second Option Fourth day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel Departure for your tour of the Loire Valley Castles As you reach the Loire valley you start your "Renaissance" day with the visit of the Royal Chateau de Blois, well known for its 4 different styles of architecture. Then you visit the Chateau de Cheverny, a private property, which has kept its 17th century furniture. After lunch (included), you are off to Chambord to discover this magnificent castle the impressive undertaking of François 1st, with its famous double revolution staircase. Blois
Blois History is rather bloody. Henri III murdered here the Duke Henri de Guise on 23rd December 1588. Catherine de Medici died in the castle a few days later. However, Blois was not only the scene of bloody France History. The famous poet Pierre de Ronsard met first Cassandre when attending a ball in the castle. Louis XII was born in Blois. He decided to live here with his court in 1498. Blois became then the capital of the Kingdom for a few years. Chambord castle
Building of the château was begun by Francis I in 1519, and was completed in 1547. Florentine artist Leonardo da Vinci paid a short visit to the building during its construction and added a few embellishments to it. The structure, containing 440 rooms, 365 fireplace, 13 great staircases, and stables to accommodate 1200 horses, stands in a park surrounded by a wall of 22 miles in circumference. 1800 men worked on the chateau. Dinner in Julien Brasserie
They still adorn the hat stand. Ravishing beauties adorn the walls and the waiters, in their black and white apparel, dodge between the tables. Legend has it that the floral glass roof in the back dining room at Julien was the work of the father of Bernard Buffet. Nonsense! Georges Viaud, the Flo Group's heritage manager is categorical: it is the work of the Guenne Establishment (Paris) and was created between 1925 and 1930. Night in your 4 star hotel Fifth day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel You will have your breakfast in the Chateau de la Bourdaisière, as François 1st Guided visit of Chambord Castle Your driver will drive you up to Chambord where you will have a guided visit. Your driver will wait for you at the end of the visit and will drive you back to Paris Free lunch and afternoon in Paris
Among these cabarets, some have become famous: the Chat Noir with its rich settings created by Caran d'Ache, the Mirliton, the Folies-Bergères, the Moulin Rouge... Here, the public came to listen to the anti-conformist songs of Aristide Briand, the champion of eccentrics, prostitutes, unemployed, …, that artists had long despised. Here again, painters found their inspiration, such as Toulouse-Lautrec, a regular customer in the quarter, who came to immortalise the strange colourful scenes that are midway between frenetic entertainment and the tragic life of the lower-classes, in famous paintings such as Le Chat Noir and La Goulue. On the 6th October, at the foot of Butte Montmartre, the atmosphere was pretty festive: a new music-hall was opening in the Jardin de Paris, the Moulin Rouge. The public came in mass to Place Blanche, to discover this extravagant place with its huge dance floor, mirrors everywhere, and galleries that were the last word in elegance, to mix with the riffraff and girls of easy virtue, in a garden decorated with a big elephant with rides on donkeys for the ladies' pleasure. There was such a wild atmosphere that the show was not only on the stage but all around: aristocrats and louts in caps had fun side by side, in an atmosphere of total euphoria. 'Féerie', the Moulin Rouge's new show
Night in your 4 star hotel You will have one more night in the 4 star hotel you staid in at the beginning of your stay. Sixth day Breakfast in your 4 star hotel Before leaving Paris, you will have your latest breakfast in your 4 star hotel. Transfer from your hotel to the airport Our driver will wait for you outside the hotel and will then drive you directly to the airport in a comfortable vehicle with AC. End of our services
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Your
4 star hotel
The hotel was built in the end of the XIXth century.
Paris,
the city of invention, travel and luxury was celebrating the Great Exhibitions and was entering the new century proud of its new constructions: the Grand Boulevards of Baron Haussmann, the Opéra Garnier, the Petit and Grand Palais, the Orsay and Saint-Lazare districts...
In 1889, to accommodate the rich visitors flocking into Paris for the Great Exhibition, the Hotel, known then as the Grand Hotel Terminus, first saw the light of day.
Dinner at Le Boeuf sur le Toit
Built in the year 1900 by Victor Laloux, this train station was meant to service the Orleans line. Unfortunately, the line ceased because the platforms were not long enough. After being used for a variety of purposes, the whole building was entirely refitted inside and transformed into an art museum covering the period from 1850 to 1914, with an area of 50 000 m2.
The Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees
The Louvre museum
The construction of the place de la Concorde, designed by Gabriel, begun in 1748 and was completed in 1763. It was first called Place Louis XV, and planned as a worthy setting for the royal statue. 
Built in 1860 by the young architect Charles Garnier with his vision of a new opera, he designed the "Opera Garnier" in the style of the Second Empire. It was completed in 1875 in the early days of the Third Republic. It is the largest opera theatre in the world staging enough for 450 players.
The Invalides and the Napoléon thumb
Dinner at Bofinger
Our guide and driver will wait for you outside the hotel.
Louis XIV's bedchamber occupied the exact centre of the chateau from 1701 onward. It was a key setting for events in the Sun King's day and was arranged to reflect this ceremonial function. A gilded wood baluster separated public space from private space; the alcove, where the bed is set, was a place reserved for the monarch alone. The decoration is particularly rich, comprised not only of gilded woodwork and heavy brocade embroidered in gold (restored in 1980), but also paintings by the finest artists. These paintings by Le Valentin, Van Dyck, Domenichino, and Lanfranco were chosen by the king himself and set into the wood panelling, indicating how the most valued pieces in the royal collection were integrated into the decor.
Guided visit of Blois
Blois History is rather bloody. Henri III murdered here the Duke Henri de Guise on 23rd December 1588. Catherine de Medici died in the castle a few days later. However, Blois was not only the scene of bloody France History. The famous poet Pierre de Ronsard met first Cassandre when attending a ball in the castle.
Château des Dames as recorded in the French history books, Chenonceau owes a large part of its charm to women: it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin.
Located at the heart of the Loire Valley, this 15th century château has been the home of some of history's most famous women, from François is mistress to Gabrielle d'Estrées, Henri IV's favourite. Bedrooms are decorated in the style of these women. Tennis courts and an outdoor heated pool complete the luxurious picture. Magnificent park, and a vegetable garden include a collection of 500 types of tomatoes. The castle is set in a 140-acre park. 
The Chateau of Chambord in one of the loveliest Renaissance buildings in the Valley of the Loire. It was a retreat for French kings, especially Louis XIV. It was under his auspices that French dramatist Molière's Monsieur de Pourceaugnac and Le bourgeois Gentilhomme were first produced there. 
The archives offers us no information as to the name of the architect but an analysis of the structure reveals a profound influence of Leonardo's thought and a extremely close tie to some of the projects by Domenico da Cortona, and Italian architect. 
The Chateau of Chambord in one of the loveliest Renaissance buildings in the Valley of the Loire. It was a retreat for French kings, especially Louis XIV. It was under his auspices that French dramatist Molière's Monsieur de Pourceaugnac and Le bourgeois Gentilhomme were first produced there. 
When you step through the threshold of Julien, you enter another world, a bygone age, when women wore hats with veils and men folding top hats.
