Explore 17th-century Tuileries Gardens in Paris with a local guide and visit medieval Carcassonne during a two-night stay
A Cultural Perspective on Daily Life From Barcelona to Paris
Food, art and wine take center stage on our
newest journey from Barcelona to Paris. Pairing culinary adventures and wine tasting tours with art history and architectural splendors, this is a true celebration of the art of living in some of the most culturally rich destinations in Spain and France.
1. Arrive Barcelona
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, El Palace Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport to the elegant El Palace Barcelona. Your cultural feast begins this afternoon with a casual double-decker bus tour that showcases a taste of life in this Catalonian city, taking you up to Olympic-sized Montjuic Hill and down to beautiful Barcelona Harbor, where a tapas dinner awaits. Meals D
2. Gothic Quarter / Parc Güell
Boasting a colorful 2,000 year history, Barcelona balances the medieval with the modern in a whimsical parade of fascinating sights. A guided sightseeing tour this morning takes you back in time to the reign of Augustus in 27 BC – AD 14, chronicled throughout the narrow lanes of Barri Gòtic; visit its cloistered cathedral seeing its 15th-century choir stalls and medieval Catalan paintings. Barcelona sizzled with Modernisme
artistic creativity around the 1900s, most notably in the Gaudi-inspired, unconventional architecture of Parc Güell and at the fantastical Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familía, still under construction today after more than 125 years. Your tour ends today at Placa Catalunya at the beginning of the pedestrian promenade at las Ramblas, bustling with lively vignettes – and mime artists. Meals B
Tauck Value Includes:
Indulge your whimsical side at Parc Güell in Barcelona
3. Artists in Costa Brava / Carcassonne
It wasn’t just the Moors who were lured to the south of Spain, where they built their greatest monuments. Artists found their inspiration here too. Figueres is all about Dali; visit the museum dedicated to his work. Drive along the Costa Brava to Collioure, the “City of Painters,” following in the footsteps of Picasso, Matisse, Chagall and others who immortalized the small Catalan harbor you’ll see here. Continue to the walled citadel of Carcassone, awash in knightly lore, for a two-night stay.
4. Ramparts / Canal Cruise / Vineyard
Medieval fortifications and fairy-tale turrets, dating to the 5th century, provide a storied setting for a guided tour this morning; hear stories about the crusaders and conquerors who occupied Carcassonne, then explore the ramparts on your own. Romance is on the menu this evening, first aboard a flat-bottom Gabare along the Canal du Midi, culminating in a Degustation dinner with wine and music at a private Languedoc vineyard. Meals BD
5. Basilica in Toulouse / Beach in Biarritz
Toulouse became a center for Romanesque art in large part for its proximity to one of southwestern France’s major pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Visit the 11th-century Basilique de St-Sernin, the largest Romanesque basilica in Europe, and enjoy time to wander through history. Your journey along the snow-capped Pyrenees continues to the Atlantic coast, where beaches line the shores, surfing is a way of life and your oceanfront hotel is a treasured landmark. Meals BD
6. Life in French Basque Country
Discover a taste of daily life in French Basque country in Arnaga, home to the Edmond Rostand House and Museum, poet and author of Cyrano de Bergerac, and the village of Ainhoa. Sample a hearty lunch of local fare, see a demonstration of the pelota, billed as the fastest ball game on Earth, and take a guided
- TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS! A drive along the Costa Brava to the village of Collioure, known as the “City of Painters”
- A “Degustation dinner” at a family-run vineyard in the Languedoc region of southern France, where wine is expertly paired with culinary specialties and music
- A cruise along the romantic Canal du Midi aboard a traditional Gabare flat-bottom boat
- A hearty lunch tasting in a typical Basque village
- A private boat cruise on the river Garonne to Bordeaux
- Visit and tasting at a local winery in the St. Emilion region
- Visit to the Grotte Lascaux II, a replica of the most famous Paleolithic sanctuaries in the world
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
- 24 meals (12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners); service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
walking tour. Nearby, the fishing village of St-Jean-de-Luz reveals the natural beauty – and the church where Louis XIV married the Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain in 1660 – that make it a popular summer resort. The rest of the day is free. Meals BL
7. Bountiful Bordeaux
Bordeaux, a major trading port since pre-Roman times, welcomes with a graceful waterfront of Classical façades – and great wine. Cruise into the city by private boat while enjoying a picnic lunch on the Garonne. A guided tour ends at your grand hotel. Meals BL
Travel to la Roque Gageac for a cruise on the Dordogne River and sample culinary specialties throughout your journey
Two nights at the Hotel du Palais Biarritz and the wines of St. Emilion showcase the art ofliving in France
8. The Wines of St. Emilion
Among the over 44 million cases of fine wine produced in the Bordeaux region every year, St. Emilion and Pomerol are two of its finest vintages. Head into the vine-covered hills today to discover the bounty of the land. Explore the Romanesque architecture of the town of St. Emilion, including its megalithic church, and satisfy your palate with lunch at a Pomerol winery. Search out more culinary treats on your own tonight in the city of Bordeaux, truly reminiscent of a small Paris, with statues, fountains and cafés. Meals BL
9. The Dordogne and Perigord
Travel to la Roque Gageac in the heart of the Dordogne and Perigord Noir for a cruise along the Dordogne River. This afternoon, visit Grotte Lascaux II, a replica of the Lascaux cave, one of the most famous Paleolithic sanctuaries in the world; high antlered elk, bison and horses roam in herds here on painted walls. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the 18th-century Domaine de
Castel Novel, owned and operated by the same family for generations and nestled in a park-like estate and arboretum of some 25 acres. Head into the small village of Varetz for a fun-filled folkloric dinner showcasing local traditions in this region of France. Meals BD
10. Rocamadour / Collonges la Rouge
Sightseeing today explores the picturesque villages of southwest France, including Rocamadour – renowned for its exquisite natural setting and cheesemaking – and Collonges la Rouge, captivating with red sandstone architecture. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the beauty of your castle hotel. Meals BLD
11. TGV to Paris
Depart for Angouleme today where you will board the TGV train bound for Paris. A brief sightseeing tour en route to your landmark hotel introduces a parade of famous city sights. Meals BL
12. Musée de L’Orangerie / Seine Cruise
Your local guide leads you on a tour through 17th-century Tuileries Gardens to the Musée de L’Orangerie, displaying an extensive collection of Impressionist paintings by Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, and Claude Monet – including his water lily series – among others. Celebrate your journey with a River Seine cruise and toast the art of French living at our farewell dinner. Meals BD
13. Journey Home
Tour ends: Paris. Fly home any time. A transfer from the Hotel Regina, Paris to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
13 Days plus airfare
(12 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 7 Dinners)