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Chateaux, Gardens & Food of the Loire
with Charlie Nardozzi
September 11-19, 2017
All terms and conditions apply from Goodspeedandbach.com
DEPARTURE USA – Monday, September 11, 2017
Flights to Paris are not included in the tour. Please contact Goodspeed & Bach regarding flight options.
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017
After landing in Paris and clearing customs, we meet our local guide and board the private coach. We’ll travel directly to our first garden visit at Château Valmer. The park and gardens of this Castle unfold into a striking site nestled on the edge of a hillside overlooking the Brenne Valley, a tributary of the Loire River. We’ll have lunch and visit the gardens. Afterward we travel to Amboise and check into our hotel. An evening wine reception to follow.
Meals: Welcome Lunch, Reception at Hotel Le Clos de Amboise.
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017
After breakfast we depart for Château Villandry. This was the last of the great Renaissance chateaux to be built on the banks of the Loire. Its architecture combines with the gardens that are laid out on three levels, its best-known feature, to create a happy marriage of beauty, diversity, and harmony.
Villandry has been in the Carvallo family since 1906. It was Joachim Carvallo, a Spaniard, and his American wife, Ann Coleman,who created the gardens around 1910. Villandry is famous for its edible landscaping using vegetables, herbs and fruits for their beauty as well as their taste. We will meet the head gardener, Laurent Portuguez.
A lunch stop is planned (paid individually) in the beautiful town of Montrichard. After lunch we’ll visit an underground lime stone quarry that has been transformed into a mushroom farm. We’ll learn how a family of quarrymen reinvented themselves as mushroom farmers and how they keep the operation going while almost all the other mushroom growers in the area have disappeared. The caves have the perfect atmosphere for mushrooms and the technique for growing the mushrooms is fascinating. We will also visit a 16,000 square foot underground village, carved out of the rock by the family stone masons and sculptors, and learn the history of this fascinating creation.
Our next stop is a highly regarded goat cheese producer to see his fromagerie. The Loire Valley is famous in France for its goat cheese. The day’s cheese will be draining in moulds and we’ll learn how it has reached that stage. We’ll enjoy a tasting session afterward.
Return to Amboise for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
This morning we’ll travel to Jardin du Plessis Sasniere. This garden was the creation of a very knowledgeable and passionate gardener, Rosamée Henrion. She inherited it in 1960 and used a number of English gardens as her inspiration. Rosamée is still gardening today and will guide us through her garden. Afterward we’ll enjoy lunch together in the garden cafe.
This afternoon we’ll visit the International Garden Festival at Château Chaumont. For more than 25 years, Château Chaumont has hosted this garden festival which features up to 30 unique, themed gardens created among the permanent landscape at the château. We’ll meet a guide to take us through the Flower Show gardens with time to see the chateau grounds afterward.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Friday, Sept. 15, 2017
This morning we’ll depart for Château Bourdaisiere. The cheerfully designed garden rooms make this former medieval castle, La Bourdaisière, unique. Its claim to fame is the Tomato Conservatory which houses over 600 heirloom varieties. The 135 acre park planted with trees also has an extensive dahliagarden, an ancient orchard and a beautiful collection of medicinal plants. We’ll follow our garden visit with a tomato tasting and lunch.
Afterward we depart for a wine tasting at Chateau Gaudrelle. Founded in 1931 by the grandfather of Alexandre Monmousseau, the winery is well-known for the richness of the region’s soil and the detailed attention they give to the making Vouvray wines: dry, semi-dry, sweet and sparkling.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Wine tasting
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017
After breakfast we’ll depart for Château Chenonceau that was once a royal residence and property of the crown. It is a truly exceptional site, both for the original idea of building it on the Cher River, and for its history. It has been loved, managed, and protected by women such as Diane de Poitiers and
Catherine de Medici.
We’ll enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant in the garden village of Chedigny.
Afterward we’ll return to Amboise for the remainder of the day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017
Today we’ll walk through market in Amboise with our chef, learning about the local foods and purchasing some for our cooking class. We’ll enjoy the
cooking class and lunch together at our hotel.
In the afternoon we’ll tour a few of the private gardens in the area. We’ll be able to see local gardens and talk to the gardeners themselves to learn about the the joys and challenges of gardening in France.
Meals: Breakfast, Cooking class with lunch
Monday, September 18, 2017
This morning we che
ck out and travel to Giverny for a private tour of the two Monet gardens: a flower garden called Clos Normand in front of
ck out and travel to Giverny for a private tour of the two Monet gardens: a flower garden called Clos Normand in front ofthe house and a Japanese inspired water garden on the other side of the road. Time for lunch is planned in the village (paid individually).
Afterward we’ll continue to Paris and check into our hotel. A farewell dinner is planned at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 – Departure Day or Paris City Day
Travelers Transfer to the Paris Airport for a return flight to the USA.
Optional: Or enjoy an extended 2-night stay with Charlie in Paris. Check out and depart for the Paris Airport
Please note: Goodspeed & Bach, Inc. reserves the right to alter the order of events or to make changes in the itinerary deemed necessary for the comfort, convenience and safety of the participants. Every effort will be made to adhere to the printed itinerary, but weather conditions and transportation
difficulties may arise beyond the control of Goodspeed & Bach, Inc. and local suppliers could force the cancellation or substitution of events or specific services.
LOIRE VALLEY TOUR INCLUSIONS:
6 nights in Amboise at Hotel Le Clos de Amboise
1 night in Paris at Hotel Regina with porterage service
● Breakfast daily (7)
● Wine reception with Hors d’oeuvres
●Lunches (4) at local restaurants and gardens
●Cooking class with lunch including a chef’s walk through the market in Amboise
●Dinners (1) at Paris restaurant
●Garden expert Charlie Nardozzi will accompany the group and give lectures throughout the tour
●Executive coach services for the 8 day tour program
●Goodspeed Trip director and services of a Loire Valley bi-lingual local guide throughout the tour
●Entrance fees / admissions / visits: Château Valmer, Château Villandry, Mushroom Caves, Goat Cheese Production, Jardin de Plassis, Château de Chaumont, Château Bourdaisiere, Château Chenonceau
●Private Wine tasting at Château Gaudrelle
●Private Garden visits
●Guided tour of Monet Gardens in Giverny
TOUR COST per person in double room share: $3,759 USD per person
Single room supplement fee: $549 USD per person
NOT INCLUDED:
Gratuities for local guide and bus driver
Drinks such as wine and beer with planned lunches & dinner unless noted
Passport services
Flights round trip to Paris estimated cost per person:
Montreal departures: approximately $585 USD plus any applicable service fees
Boston or New York: approximately $670 USD plus any applicable service fees
Travel coverage is highly recommended and available from Goodspeed & Bach.
Any other items not mentioned above
Reservation Procedure
To register for the tour, please fill out and return the enclosed registration form along with a per-person deposit of $1000. Registrations will be accepted in the order in which they are received.
SPACE IS LIMITED TO 18 TRAVELERS
Tour Payment Policy & Schedule
Tour payments may be made by check, payable to Goodspeed & Bach, Inc. After your initial deposit of $1000, the balance payment is due by July 7, 2017.
If written notice of cancellation is received after your initial deposit – you will receive a refund less a $100 per person administration fee. Less than 90 days prior to departure, $1000 penalty applies. We regret that refunds cannot be made for cancellations less than 65 days prior to the departure date.
Travel insurance is highly recommended and can be purchased at an additional charge through Goodspeed & Bach, Inc. Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodations reserved prior to and after the tour. Goodspeed & Bach, Inc. cannot assume responsibility for any fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets.
Full terms and conditions are also available at www.goodspeedandbach.com.
REGISTRATION FORM LOIRE VALLEY TOUR
with Charlie Nardozzi
September 11 – 19, 2017
Please reserve_________________place(s) for the following.
A tour deposit of $1000 deposit payable to Goodspeed & Bach is enclosed—balance due on July 7, 2017.
NAME as it appears on valid passport:
______________________________________________________________________________
Your passport number: __________________________________________________________
Passport expiration date: _______________________________________________________
Date of Birth:___________________________________________________________________
Address, City, ST, Zip____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Phone(cell or home phone)___________________________Email_______________________
Travel companion name as it appears on valid passport:
______________________________________________________________________________
Your passport number: __________________________________________________________
Passport expiration date: _______________________________________________________
Date of Birth:___________________________________________________________________
Travel preferences (please check all that apply)
____Double room share ($3,759 USD per person)
____I would like a single room ($549 additional cost per person) space is limited
____I would like Goodspeed & Bach to make my flight arrangements: booking fees apply.
____I prefer to make my own flight arrangements
____I am interested in the 2-night optional tour in Paris (see price on page 6)
____I would like travel coverage, please send me information
_______________________________________Dietary requests, gluten free, vegetarian, etc.
I (we) have read the itinerary and terms and conditions as found below and also available on www.goodspeedandbach.com and agree to abide by all the
stipulations contained therein.
SIGNED__________________________________________DATE____________
Please make tour checks payable to Goodspeed & Bach, Inc. and mail registration to:
34 Church Street # 5, Burlington, VT 05401
Call 1-802-652-0245 or email travel@goodspeedandbach.com
PARIS TOUR EXTENSION
Tuesday, September 19, 2917: Paris Gardens
Today we’ll meet our local guide who will take us to visit Jardin des Plantes Botanical Garden founded in 1626 as a medicinal herb garden for Louis XIII. The 60 acre botanic gardens is visually defined by the double allee of plane trees that run the length of the park. There is a rose garden, perennial gardens, alpine garden, ecological garden, greenhouses and a Natural History Museum on the grounds. Transportation will be metro.
Afterward we’ll take a walk on the Promenade Plantée; starting near the Bastille, this raised walkway, flanked by greenery, was built in the 1990s on old elevated train tracks that hadn’t been used in many decades; part of an old train system for commuters into Paris from the suburbs. It was the inspiration for New York City’s High Line Gardens.
There will also be an optional walk to an extensive vertical garden and some small, hidden gardens tucked away in the city.
Meals: Breakfast
Wednesday, September 20: Free day in Paris or Versailles Tour Option
Enjoy the day exploring the city or
Optional excursion: For those interested join Charlie and our local guide on a half day tour of Versailles by coach. Upon arrival we’ll visit the residence built for the Louis XIV (the Sun King) and see the magnificent State Apartments of the King, the Hall of Mirrors, and see some of the formal gardens and more rustic and intimate gardens of Marie Antoinette.
Meals: Breakfast
Thursday, September 21: Departure Day
Check out and depart for the Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
TOUR COST INCLUSIONS
2 night stay in first class Hotel Regina
2 breakfasts at the hotel
Tour of Paris with local guide & Charlie Nardozzi with garden visits including Metro ticket
Transfer to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport
TOUR COST in a double room based on a minimum of 15 travelers :
$759 USD per person
Single room supplement fee: $259USD per person
NOT INCLUDED:
Guided Tour of Versailles with private coach service includes the palace, gardens and Queens Hamlet entrance fees: $165 per person based on a minimum 10 travelers
Tips to guide and bus driver
Lunches, Dinners
