Rendez-vous en France 2017 #salonrdvf

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1 Rendez-vous en France 2017 #salonrdvf Normandy Fam trip Thursday 23rd Monday 27th March 2017 Welcome on board! The finest of a cruise along the Seine Valley from Giverny to Rouen* *The programme is subject to change WELCOME TO NORMANDY Being so easily accessible from Paris and with such a wealth of places to visit from medieval times through the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural heritage sites, Normandy is an obvious destination for your groups. For your groups to soak up the local (impressionist) atmosphere while chilling out, nothing better than a cruise on the Seine river to take in the scenery where many impressionist painters set up their easels in Giverny, Vernon, Les Andelys, Rouen, Watch the Normandy video here! You will be joining a group of 40 people and will be accompanied by a professional team. We will be traveling in a fully equipped coach and will be accommodating on the boat Seine Princess from the CroisiEurope Company, the leading European river tour operator.

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3 DAY 1 - Thursday 23 rd March PARIS / NORMANDY-VERNON Midday Afternoon Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport before 2:00 PM. A representative from Normandy will meet you and then you ll go off by bus for a first day in Normandy to explore! Boarding in Vernon from 5pm Welcome evening and crew presentation Dinner and Overnight On board in Vernon The town of Vernon, very close to Giverny, was founded in the 10th century by Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy. The town centre has kept some half-timbered houses, a 15th century building with corbels and the AG Poulain Museum, situated in an elegant 18th century townhouse. The Tour des Archives (Archives Tower) is one of the last remnants of a former castle and contrasts with the modern architecture of the cultural centre Philippe Auguste. A stone's throw away from the town centre, the Allée des Capucins lined with lime trees pruned to form curtains of foliage leads up to the Château de Bizy. DAY 2 - Friday 24 th March VERNON - GIVERNY - LES ANDELYS Morning You will leave the boat by coach for a guided visit of the Château de Bizy Visiting the château de Bizy and its gardens is an opportunity to admire in detail the magnificent ensemble of 18th century sculptures. The promenade de Vénus is an old garden in the French style. You can have a lovely walk round the vegetable garden and English style park on a guided visit. Come and enjoy this oasis of greenery at the entrance to the town of Vernon, and take a stroll in a spectacular setting! Then we will have a guided visit of the old town of Vernon including the AG Poulain Museum Focusing on fine arts, local history and archaeology, this museums holds nice surprises. Unique in Normandy, the collection dedicated to animals is a true bestiary (with some 400 works of art representing wild animals. And in the section dedicated to Giverny artists (famous village located close by), you will be able to admire original canvases painted by Monet: a circular Water Lily and The Cliffs of Pourville at Sunset. Lunch In Giverny

4 Giverny is a delightful, typical Norman Seine-side village. It lies on the right, or north, bank of Normandy s mightiest river, close to the town of Vernon. Were it not for the arrival of Impressionist master Claude Monet in 1883, the village might have remained a quiet provincial backwater. The long years Monet spent here would turn it into a place of artistic pilgrimage. The dreamy water-lily ponds created by the supreme Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, gave him his greatest artistic inspiration and have made this village celebrated across the world. Visit Monet s other gardens, and his house, with many Japanese prints. In addition, the Giverny Musée des Impressionnismes spreads the artistic net wider. 2:30 PM Guided visit of Claude Monet s House and Gardens 4:00 PM Guided visit of the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny 5:30 PM Afternoon treat in a cider works The abundance of apples which flavour both savoury and sweet dishes also means that Normandy boasts a wide range of other apple biproducts, most notably cider, but also poiré or Pear liquor, pommeau and calvados. 6:30 PM Back transfer to the boat in Vernon Evening Overnight Dinner on board Spent cruising to Les Andelys DAY 3 - Saturday 25 th March LES ANDELYS LYONS-LA-FORET - VASCOEUIL Morning Guided visit of the Château Gaillard in Les Andelys Located between Paris and Rouen, and between the river Seine and the ruins of Château-Gaillard, the town of Les Andelys consists of the Young Andelys and the Old Andelys. Follow the beautiful banks of the river Seine and enjoy a panoramic view from the legendary castle Château Gaillard. Château Gaillard overlooks one of the most beautiful meanders of the river Seine. Built by Richard the Lionheart in 1198, it barred the river Seine before Rouen to protect the Duchy of Normandy. Nowadays, the site provides a stunning view over the splendid Seine valley. Built in only one year and so proud of

5 his work, Richard the Lionheart exclaimed "How beautiful she is my one-year-old daughter! What a gaillard castle". ("gaillard" here means well-fortified). Lunch Afternoon At La Chaîne d Or restaurant in Les Andelys, a former toll house beside the Seine Transfer to Lyons-la-Forêt for a guided visit of the village Here, you re transported into a near-fairy tale village, set in the heart of one of Europe s most beautiful beech forests, 40km east of the Norman capital of Rouen. 5:30 PM Back transfer to the boat in Les Andelys 6:00 PM Depart from Les Andelys on board Transfer to Vascoeuil and enjoy a guided visit of the Château de Vascoeuil 25 minutes away from Rouen, in the le Vexin Normand region, visit a 15th century country house now converted into an art and history centre that holds three major temporary exhibitions between mid-march and mid-november with renowned contemporary artists and has a packed programme of events. Explore the park and French-formal garden that looks like an open air art gallery displaying sculptures made by major 20th century artists (Dalí, Braque, Cocteau, etc.). You can also visit the Michelet Museum and the exceptional 17th century dovecote. Dinner Night Spent cruising In Elbeuf when docked DAY 4 - Sunday 26 th March LE NEUBOURG - ROUEN Morning Disembark around 8:30 AM from Elbeuf Transfer to Le Neubourg for a guided visit of the Château du Champ de Bataille and its gardens The Château du Champ de Bataille is a symbol of the excellence of French know-how. The chateau and the gardens have been beautifully restored by the famous interior designer Jacques Garcia. Inside, it is richly decorated and furnished and it will give you a precise idea of the 18th century way of life. You will be blow-away by the beautiful French formal garden, a tremendous recreation dedicated to

6 human philosophy through the seven levels of creation. Lunch Afternoon At the Café Garcia into the Château du Champ de Bataille Transfer to Rouen 3:00 PM Guided visit of the historic city center of Rouen, including the visit of the Joan of Arc History Museum (Historial Jeanne d Arc) Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy, world famous for its medieval architecture. Its Cathedral has been immortalised by the Impressionist artist Claude Monet who painted its façade nearly 30 times. The Fine Art Museum of Rouen is one among the more important museums in France in terms of Impressionist work. Rouen is also known for its connection with Joan of Arc who was condemned to death and burnt at the stake on the Old Market Square in The Joan of Arc History Centre will be housed in the magnificent 15th century Archbishop s Palace, adjacent to the cathedral, where both of Joan s trials took place :30 PM Guided visit of the Panorama XXL The Panorama XXL, first and only in France, is a giant 31-metre high rotunda (equivalent to a 12-storey building) which offers spectacular 360 panoramic views of circular paintings by the German artist, Yadegar Asisi. Currently on display: Gothic Rouen in the Middle Ages with Joan of Arc as the central theme. Evening Dinner and Night Back transfer to the boat On board in Rouen right in front of the Panorama XXL

7 DAY 5 - Monday 27 th March DIEPPE - ROUEN 8:30 AM Disembark and transfer to the city of Dieppe 10:00 AM Guided visit of the must-sees in Dieppe Tasting of local products during a sea-trip With its deep harbour protected by white cliffs, Dieppe has long been a favourite for cross-channel visitors. As to daring Dieppe sailors, they explored the globe. Learn about the town s maritime connections up at the cliff-top castle, and in a former theatre dedicated to the tragic Allied Dieppe Raid of For sheer pleasure, head for the beach, quays and restaurants. Dieppe has a long and fascinating history of seafaring, known to go back to the Vikings. The port s name reflects the fact that it offers deep waters. Fishing was always a vital trade here, and from the 15th century, this included long-distance cod-fishing off Newfoundland links between Dieppe and Canada down the centuries have been particularly strong. Lunch Afternoon in Dieppe along the port at the restaurant Le Tout va bien Transfer to the Château de Miromesnil for a guided visit of the castle and its gardens A splendid 25 acre beech grove shelters the 17th century castle and a chapel with lovely 18th century décoration. The rooms of the castle contain memories of the Miromesnil family and of the writer Guy de Maupassant, who was born there on August 5th A 250 year old cedar tree dominates the park and the famous traditional kitchen garden, that still provides the family all year long with fresh vegetables and ticwers. The strict order of the rows of vegetables contrasts with the profusion of the flowered borders. Back transfer to Rouen 4:00 PM End in Rouen of your Normandy fam trip You will be all dispatched in your hotel in Rouen in order to attend the Rendez-vous en France workshop

8 The entirety of the trip (meals, accommodation and entry to the sites) is funded by the Tourist Boards and its partners (Tourist Offices, hotels, restaurants and sites) and you are not required to make any reservations apart from your travel arrangements. Any further expenditure will be at your own cost (personal purchases, mini-bar etc.). Please also note that the Normandy Tourist Board cannot be held responsible for any accidents you may have whilst on the trip and we encourage you to ensure that you are covered by the appropriate travel insurance for the duration of your stay in France. On a practical level, please do remember to bring all the necessary travel documents with you and please note that you must have your own up-to-date personal travel insurance. The Tourist Boards cannot be held liable for any accidents that may occur during the trip. Make sure that you bring appropriate clothing and footwear for walking around historical sites and spending brief spells outdoors. Bon voyage! Enjoy your stay in Normandy!

9 Contacts Normandy Tourism Board Edouard VALERE Manche Tourist Board - Angéla FLAMBARD - angela.flambard@manche.fr Calvados Tourist Board - Régine TURGIS- Regine.TURGIS@calvados.fr Eure Tourist Board - Christophe MICHAUD - christophe.michaud@eure-tourisme.fr Seine Maritime Tourist Board - Estelle CLABAUX - estelle.clabaux@cdt76.fr Ivan SALIBA - Ivan.Saliba@cdt76.fr Orne Tourist Board - Elysée RANGEE - RANGEE.Elysee@ORNE.fr