France - Palace Of Versailles & Monet's Garden
France
Friday 8th to Monday 11th July
Single £499pp Twin/Double £399pp
DBB
Included Excursions
Monets Garden
Palace of Versailles
Dinner & fountain show at the Palace of Versailles
We are so excited for this one! History and culture in one go. Having whizzed across the channel we’ll start with a stop in Amiens with a chance to explore and enjoy lunch before heading to our base, the 4 star Mercure Paris Velizy. We will visit the amazing Chateau De Versailles where you can explore the history of the palace, its royal inhabitants, amazing architecture, including the Hall of Mirrors and the beautiful grounds it stands in. We head back to Versailles to enjoy a wonderful meal and musical fountain show in the evening. Included in our trip is a visit to the stunning Gardens of Claude Monet.
The Palace of Versailles is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Louis XIII's old hunting pavilion was transformed and extended by his son, Louis XIV, when he installed the Court and government there in 1682. A succession of kings continued to embellish the Palace up until the French Revolution.
In an attempt to gain some brief respite from courtly etiquette, the kings of Versailles built themselves more intimate spaces close to the main palace. Adjoining the Petit Parc, the estate of Trianon is home to the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon palaces, as well as the Queen’s Hamlet and a variety of ornamental gardens.
Visitors looking through the central window in the Hall of mirrors will see the Grande Perspective stretching away towards the horizon from the Water Parterre. This unique east-west perspective originally dates from before the reign of Louis XIV, but it was developed and extended by the gardener Andre Le Notre, who widened the Royal Way and dug the Grand Canal.
There are two parts in Monet's garden: a flower garden called Clos Normand in front of the house and a Japanese inspired water garden on the other side of the road.
The two parts of Monet's garden contrast and complement one another. Claude Monet did not like organized nor constrained gardens. He married flowers according to their colours and left them to grow rather freely.
In the Water Garden you will find the famous Japanese bridge covered with wisterias, other smaller bridges, weeping willows, a bamboo wood and above all the famous nympheas which bloom all summer long. The pond and the surrounding vegetation form an enclosure separated from the surrounding countryside.
Never before had a painter so shaped his subjects in nature before painting them. And so he created his works twice. Monet would find his inspiration in this water garden for more than twenty years. After the Japanese bridge series, he would devote himself to the giant decorations of the Orangerie.
Always looking for mist and transparencies, Monet would dedicate himself less to flowers than to reflections in water, a kind of inverted world transfigured by the liquid element.
ALL members of a party travelling on this trip will require a valid passport. You can check through the link on Useful Links tab.
Day 1
Following our morning pickups, we will make our way to the crossing, stopping for lunch in France before arriving at our hotel.
Day 2
Following an early breakfast we head to the amazing Palace De Versailles, where you will have the whole day to explore the palace and its grounds. From the seat of power to a museum of the history of France, explore the Hall of Mirrors, The Kings State Apartment, The Gallery of Great Battles, The Royal Chapel, The Mistress's Apartments and much much more!
With a brief return to the hotel where we can put on our glad rags, we head back to the Palace for an evening meal in the chateau and the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful musical fountain show.
When night falls, the Gardens are transformed to offer a stunning visual and musical treat as fountains and groves come alive with colourful and dramatic lighting effects. Lighting and stage-effects artists will light up the gardens and display their surprising installations to the strollers: water features in the Mirror Fountain, lasers streaking across the dark in the Colonnade Grove and the fireworks display in front of the Grand Canal by the Groupe F to conclude the evening's entertainment.
Day 3
Following breakfast today, we head to Monet's Garden for a leisurely day of exploring. Claude Monet lived for forty-three years, from 1883 to 1926, in his house in Giverny. With a passion for gardening as well as for colours, he conceived both his flower garden and water garden as true works of art. Walking through his house and gardens, visitors can still feel the atmosphere which reigned at the home of the Master of Impressionism and marvel at the floral compositions and nymphéas, his greatest sources of inspiration.
B, DDay 4
Our final day, following a relaxing breakfast we will depart for home. We will ensure a lunch stop in a quaint French town to allow us to bid farewell to an special place and leaving us with some amazing memories. *Please note our planned excursions dates may vary from the advertised itinerary pending booking arrangements.
BB=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included
Your Hotel
Mercure Paris Velizy - 4 Star
Ideally located near the Velizy 2 shopping centre, just 6 km from the Chateau of Versailles and 15 km from Paris, the 4-star Mercure Paris Velizy offers contemporary, spacious rooms. Want to relax after a day of sightseeing? Visit the bar or take a dip in the indoor heated pool.
ALL members of a party travelling on this trip will require a valid passport. You can check through the link on 'Useful Links' tab.
To Make you aware
Terms & Conditions are available on our website or by request. We do not supply holiday insurance but highly recommend you purchase this for your peace of mind.
·We work closely with the hotels to ensure they are aware of any room requests you have made, on some occasion’s hotels are not able to accommodate all requests, so please do note these are not guaranteed.
· Our planned excursions dates may vary from the advertised itinerary pending booking arrangements.
· Many of our holidays have limited single rooms, these are sold on a first serve first come bases. Any single supplements or sole occupancy charges are set by the hotels.
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JavaScript InformationThe map below can be used to check the price of a home pick-up. The map shows the price bands for each area we service. To check the price from your address either click your street on the map or enter your postcode or city/town and click the 'Check Price' button.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
| Name | Address | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Clinton South | Aston Clinton, London Rd, Bus Stop opp The Bell | |
| Aylesbury | Exchange Street Bus Stop, The White Hart | |
| Bedgrove | Bedgrove, Jansel Square | |
| Berkhamsted, South | Berkhamsted High Street Bus stop near WH Smiths | |
| Cheddington South | Cheddington, The Green, Opp Red post box | |
| HH Bridge Street | Hemel Hempstead, Bridge Street. | |
| HH Park & Ride | Hemel Hempstead Gadebridge Park & Ride | |
| LB Greenfields North | Leighton Buzzard, Greenfields Billington Road Bus Stop (by Warren Close) | |
| LB Morrisons | Leighton Buzzard Morrisons, The Sun Bus Stop | |
| LB Tesco North | Bus stop opposite Tesco (near the Connells building, Lombard house) | |
| LB West Street North | Leighton Buzzard West Street Outside the British Legion | |
| NC Durrants Lane South | Northchurch Durrants Lane Bus stop opp Side to Durrants Lane | |
| NC Old Grey South | Northchurch, Darrs Ln, Bus stop (Old Grey Mare) | |
| Pitstone South | Pitstone Marsworth Rd Bus stop (Near Memorial Hall park) | |
| Tring South | Tring, Brook Street Bus stop Next to Petrol Station | |
| Tring, Newmill South | Tring, Newmill Bus stop Opposite side of Elizabeth Drive |
