FRANCE AND BRUSSELS
Day 1: Flight to France
Departure on a transatlantic flight to Paris. Dinner and entertainment on board.
Day 2 – Paris
Upon your arrival in Paris, you will be met by our tour escort and transferred by private motor coach to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to freshen-up. Dinner and overnight. (D)
Day 3 – Paris
Today enjoy a full day guided visit of Paris. Our tour will include a visit to the most famous French Museum: the Louvre. A unique chance to admire the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo amongst the many thousands of exhibits in this former Royal Palace. The collections are divided into 7 departments: Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antriquities, Paintings, Sculptures, Art, Objects and Graphic Arts, from the Middle Ages to 1850. Continue to Notre Dame Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece, designed by Maurice de Sully, erected between 1163 and 1345, and restored by Viollet-Le-Duc. All road distances in France are calculated from the “zero Kilometres” point located on the square in front of Notre-Dame. We will end our tour with a view of Paris from its highest point: La Tour Eiffel! Dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Day 4 – Paris/Brussels
Depart for Brussels. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Day 5 – Brussels
After breakfast, begin your city guided tour with a short walk to the famous Grand Place, world famous market square and the heart ofMedieval Brussels. The square is dominated by the magnificent 15th century City Hall, with its hundreds of little statues. The most beautiful part of it, the elegant tower, has recently undergone a much needed renovation. The magnificent 17th century buildings, with their golden mosaics, neighboring the square, will certainly fascinate you. Here, you will hear about the history of the remarkable City Hall and quaint Guild Houses. Continue the tour visiting the beautiful St. Michael's Cathedral, the Congress Column and the Heyseldistrict with the world-famous Atomium. Finish the tour passing the stately Royal Square, the Royal Palace and the Houses of Parliament arrive in the Cinquantenaire district, the Triumphal Arch, exceptional museums and splendid Art Nouveau houses are the highlights of this part of Brussels. Here, you will also be at the very heart of the European Union: drive in front of the imposing EU buildings housing the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Day 6 – Brussels/Gent/Brugge/Brussels
After breakfast depart for Gent. Gent is a lively city, proud of its rich past. It is not, however, a museum town, rather a successful mixture of impressive medieval buildings, fashionable shopping streets with magnificent city palaces, early 20th century working class quarters, now mostly inhabited by students and so much more. You will find lively squares where you can enjoy the lovely local foods and drinks at a pleasant terrace, all day and half the night. Gent offers the perfect mix for a short break, but if you really want to get to know this magnificent city, where Edward III was once proclaimed king of France, you will need at least two or three days, probably more. Continue to Brugge. Upon arrival enjoy a walking tour to see the major highlightsof thisbeautiful city.Discover Our LadyChurchwith the Statue by Michaelangelo; the Market Squarewith the Belfry andthe Town Hall Square (Burg) with the Chapel of the Holy Blood. Walk by the Lakeof Love (Minnewater) and the peaceful Beguinage cloister. Late return to Brussels. DInner and overnight. (B, D)
Day 7 – Brussels/USA
Following breakfast, we will transfer to the Brussels airport for our return flight to the United States. (B)
THIS PROGRAM MAY BE ALTERED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF YOUR GROUP.
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