Brittany

Upon arrival in Paris, transfer to the train station at Charles de Gaulle airport and board the TGV for Nantes. Gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Nantes including the medieval Bouffay neighborhood and the Feydeau district, home to lavish 18th-century maritime mansions. Stroll the Passage Pommeraye and Île de Nantes, situated on the Loire in the center of Nantes. After lunch, cruise along the Loire, taking in the works of the Estuary Trail, a permanent collection of contemporary art installations immersed in the pastoral landscape. Arrive in Saint-Nazaire and transfer to Domaine de la Bretesche, a 15th-century Relais & Château property located in the heart of a large nature reserve and wetland area.

In the morning, embark a traditional barge in Brière Regional Nature Park along the canals overlooking the flooded plains of this 20,000-hectare marsh. Keep an eye out for herons, western marsh harriers, common teal, and spoonbills among the water lilies and irises. After lunch in the park, drive to Guérande with its famous salt marshes that date back to Roman times, and the beautiful port town of Le Croisic.

Today we visit Carnac and Locmariaquer, two of the most important megalithic sites in Europe. Walk among the massive menhirs, the standing stones from the European middle Bronze Age, and the various megalithic tombs, or dolmens. After lunch, visit the Lorient Submarine Base, a pivotal military fortress that was built by the Germans during World War II and later used by the French Navy until 1997. Continue to Kervignac and check in to our hotel, a converted estate consisting of an elegant 19th-century château, an 18th-century Breton-style manor house, and the Club, which once housed the stables.

After breakfast, drive to Quiberon to catch the ferry to Belle-Île-en-Mer. See the jagged rocks of Aiguilles de Port Coton, a wild landscape immortalized by Claude Monet. In the afternoon, visit Pointe des Poulains, the fort that Sarah Bernhardt made her residence in 1894 and which has been reconstructed in its original design. Spend time in the charming port of Sauzon before returning to the mainland. Stop at the Musée de la Chouannerie, dedicated to the great massacre of the Royalists during the Revolution, before returning to the hotel.

Depart for Quimper, stopping en route at Pont-Aven, where Gauguin founded the School of Pont-Aven. Stroll through the town with its numerous footbridges and take in the landscapes that inspired the painter. After a visit to the museum there, continue to the walled city of Concarneau, situated in one of the most beautiful bays in Brittany.

Begin our exploration of Quimper today with a visit to the School of Embroidery Art, where designer and stylist Pascal Jaouen has created a modern take on traditional embroidery for haute couture. Next, delve into the region’s ceramic arts with a tour of the famous Henriot earthenware factory. Following lunch and a traditional Breton dance performance, the rest of the day is free for independent exploration.

This morning, visit the 14th-century town of Locronan, walking along its cobblestoned streets and enjoying a Breton lunch. From there, drive to the Crozon Peninsula to take in its natural promontories, jagged headlands, and turquoise waters. Return to Quimper for an evening at leisure.

Depart for Chateau de Josselin on the Nantes-Brest canal, home of the Rohan family for more than ten centuries. Explore the medieval fortress with its nine towers and Renaissance ducal residence. Then take a walk through the enchanted Brocéliande Forest. Its woods, moors, hedgerows, ponds, and peat bogs are home to numerous legends. Continue our drive to Saint-Malo and check in to our hotel.

Spend the morning in Saint-Malo, checking out the exquisite Malouinières, residences of shipowners, sailors, and artisans from the 17th century. For lunch today, we take part in a crêpes workshop, learning to prepare this typical dish like a real Breton. Afterward, take a walking tour of Dinan, a scenic town with medieval ramparts, cobblestone streets, and half-timbered houses. Enjoy dinner at leisure.

We spend today exploring one of the world’s most iconic monuments, Mont Saint-Michel. Tour the village and its ramparts, which gave Mont Saint-Michel its reputation as an impregnable fortress, as well as the abbey, a masterpiece of architecture. Gather this evening to toast our journey at a farewell dinner.

Check out of the hotel and make our way to Rennes to catch flights home. En route, visit the medieval Château de Combourg, the birthplace of François-René de Chateaubriand, the most famous of all French Romantic authors.