MUNICH, FÜSSEN, HEIDELBERG, PARIS, VERSAILLES, LOIRE VALLEY, PARIS

Day-1. MUNICH: Start with a guided city tour of Munich, the Bavarian capital. See/Visit: “Old Peter” Church, Stacchaus, Karlsplatz, Ludwig Strasse, Siegestor-Arch of Victory, Schwabing-the artists and student quarter, Odeons Platz-a complex of buildings, homes of dukes, princes, and kings for over 650 years, Koenigsplatz and Nümphenburg Palace. Later take a walk along Kaufinger Strasse, an excellent place to shop.

Day-2.MUNICH – FÜSSEN – HEIDELBERG: Travel to Füssen and climb to the mystical Neuschwanstein Castle. During a guided tour you will visit the castle where Ludwig II, or Ludwig the Mad as he was called, spent his youth and where he created a monument in stone to his dreams of the noble Middle Ages. Return to the village and after a short break board your bus for a ride to Heidelberg. Upon arrival join your tour director on a walking tour.

Day-3.HEIDELBERG – NIGHT TRAIN – PARIS: Start the day with a guided tour of Heidelberg, the oldest university city in Germany and former residence of the Palatine Counts. Visit the famous Heidelberg Castle commissioned by Count Ruprecht. The ruins of the castle contain masterpieces of Renaissance architecture. See the Ruprechtsbau building, the Glass Hall, Ottheinrichsbau building, and the English Hall. Later visit Holy Ghost Square and join the crowd at the Kornmarkt to listen to the Townhall Glockenspiel (bells) play folk melodies. Board your night train to Paris.

Day-4. PARIS: Start with the guided tour of Paris. See: the Eiffel Tower, Old Opera, Place de la Concorde, Place de la République, Obélisque de Louxor, Notre Dame Cathedral, Champs-Élysées, École Militaire, Tuileries Gardens, and more. Join your tour director on a walking tour to Basilica Sacré Coeur and through the narrow streets of Montmartre, full of young artists, souvenir shops, and Parisian crepe food outlets.

Day-5.VERSAILLES: In the morning take a short ride to Versailles to visit the lavish palace of Louis the XIV, the Sun King. On a guided tour visit the Royal Chambers, Hall of Mirrors, Drawing Rooms, Royal Chapel, and other rooms. After visiting the palace spend some time in the village of Versailles. In the afternoon return to Paris and take the elevator to the highest level of the Eiffel Tower with an unforgettable view over the “City of Lights.” Walk to Pont d’ Alma where you will board the Bateaux Mouches for a cruise along the Seine.

Day-5.PARIS: Walk to Louvre for a guided tour. The professional guide from the museum will show you the most important artifacts and tell you about the history of the museum and the history of art. Explore the beautiful collection of sculptures and paintings including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, Venus de Milo, Nike the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and more.

Day-7. LOIRE VALLEY – BLOIS: Board your bus for the excursion to the Loire Valley known as the Valley of the Castles to reach the beautiful town of Amboise. Visit Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci lived toward the end of his life and painted the famous Mona Lisa. Visit the Amboise Castle where King Frances I lived. He was the one who invited Leonardo to France. Then proceed to the Chenonceau Castle, the most beautiful castle in the valley. Go on to Blois for the overnight

Day-8.LOIRE VALLEY: In the morning go for a guided visit to the Royal Residence in Blois, the home of French kings and queens for more than four centuries. Under Louis XII Blois became a royal town and the capital of the Kingdom. Visit the castle where Catherine de Medici and her son Henri III often resided. Then visit Château de Chambord, the biggest castle in the valley. Late return to Paris.

Day-9.PARIS – DEPARTURE: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

7 nights in centrally-located 4-star hotels
7 European buffet breakfasts
7 dinners (3 courses)

Night train Munich Paris
Bus per program

GUIDED TOURS OF:
Munich, Nümphenburg Palace, Neuschwanstein Castle, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle, Paris, Versailles, Louvre, and Loire Valley

ENTRANCES TO:
Nümphenburg Palace, Neuscwanstein Castle, Heidelberg Castle, Louvre, Versailles, Eiffel Tower (top platform), Blois, Chambord Castle, Amboise Castle, Clos Lucè, Chenonceau Castle

Bateaux Mouches-cruise on the Seine
4 metro tickets

EXCURSION TO: Loire Valley

Expert local guides

E&LGROUP TOURS USA TOUR DIRECTOR 24/7

If you want to stay longer and do your own travel E&L GROUP TOURS USA will help you organize your trip.

THE CASTLES YOU WILL VISIT:

1. NÜMPHENBURG PALACE was built in 1675 in Baroque style by architect Agostino Barelli for Bavarian prince-electoral couple Ferdinand Maria and Adelaide of Savoy.

2. NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE built 1866 in Romanesque Revival style by architect Eduard Riedel for King Ludwig of  Bavaria.

3. HEIDELBERG CASTLE was built in 1294 and rebuilt in 1650 in Gothic and Renaissance style for rulers of Baden-Würtenburg.

4. LOUVRE PALACE was rebuilt in 1546 when it became the residence of French Kings under king Frances I. The Louvre Museum was opened in 1793.

5. VERSAILLES PALACE was enlarged in1715 by King Luis XVI in French Baroque style by architect Louis Le Vau.

6. BLOIS CASTLE built from 1498 to 1638 consists of the Gothic wing, Renaissance wing, and Classical wing. It was home to the counts of Blois and the Kings of France.

7. CHAMBORD CASTLE was built in 1547 in French Reinassance and Classical Reinassance style by architect Domenico da Cortona for King Frances I. The original design was by Leonardo da Vinci and he designed the famous double helix staircase there.

8. AMBOISE CASTLE has a long history, but it was rebuilt in 1492 by architects  Domenico da Cortona and Fra Giocondo in the French Renaissance style for King Charles VIII. Leonardo da Vinci is buried there.

9. CLOS LUCÉ CASTLE built for Hugues d’Amboise in 1471. It is connected to Amboise Castle by an underground passageway. Leonardo da Vinci lived there from 1516 till his death in 1519 as a guest of Frances I.

10. CHENONCEAU CASTLE was built in 1522  for Thomas Bohier the Chamberlain to King Charles VIII in the French Renaissance style and enlarged in 1559 by architects Philibert de L’Orme and Jean Bullant.