In the footsteps of the Plantagenets

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Neil Davis
Platinum Travel Consultant
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In the footsteps of the Plantagenets
Itinerary
Arrive in Paris by rail
Depart London St. Pancras by rail for Le Mans, via Paris. Check into Hotel Concordia, in the centre of Le Mans, for 2 nights. (B)
Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.
Le Mans
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the historic centre of Le Mans. Highlights include the Cité Plantagenêt – the historic heart of the city – as well as the imposing cathedral, burial place of Geoffrey of Anjou. (B)
Tours
Depart Le Mans by rail for Tours and check in at Hôtel L'Univers Tours for 2 nights. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure exploring Tours, capital of the historic County of Touraine. The city centre boasts an impressive gothic cathedral and numerous surviving medieval houses. (B)
Chinon & Fontevraud-l'Abbaye
Enjoy a full-day guided tour of the Plantagenet sites surrounding Tours. Begin at Chinon, one of the favourite castles of Henry II, before proceeding to the Abbey of Fontevraud, where the tombs of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart lie side by side. Conclude with a brief visit to the Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde, which features a rare original fresco depicting a Plantagenet hunting scene. (B)
Poitiers
Enjoy a morning at leisure before departing Tours for Poitiers by rail. Check in at Hotel Mercure Poitiers Centre for 2 nights. (B)
Poitiers
Explore the historic centre of Poitiers at leisure. Recommended visits include the Palace of Poitiers, which features a great hall commissioned by Eleanor of Aquitaine; the Baptistry of St John, said to be the oldest Christian building in France; and the city’s 12th-century cathedral. (B)
Bordeaux
Spend a morning at leisure in Poitiers before departing by rail for Bordeaux. Check in at Hotel De Sèze for 3 nights. (B)
Bordeaux
Spend a day at leisure exploring Bordeaux, the capital of Aquitaine. Suggested visits include the 14th-century Pey-Berland Tower, St. Andre’s Cathedral, and the UNESCO-listed Place de la Bourse. (B)
Castillon-la-Bataille
Travel by private driver to visit one of the renowned vineyards of the Saint-Émilion region. Enjoy a tasting before proceeding to the town of Castillon-la-Bataille, site of the last battle of the Hundred Years’ War that ended Plantagenet rule in Aquitaine. (B)
Depart for London by rail
Depart Bordeaux by rail for London St. Pancras via Paris. (B)
The Cox & Kings signature experiences
- Travel entirely by rail to/from London St. Pancras
- Explore Henry II’s imposing castle at Chinon
- Enjoy wine tasting at a renowned vineyard in St. Emillion
- Admire a rare medieval fresco at the Chapelle Sainte-Radegonde
- Visit the last battlefield of the Hundred Years War at Castillon-la-Bataille
What's included
- Accommodation, itinerary & meal basis as described
- International standard class train tickets to/from London and all domestic rail travel
- Local guides and entrance fees where applicable
Important information
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