European Studies Association
Weekend
Trip
This year's 3-day, 2 night weekend trip will be to the Loire Valley.
On Friday, we'll travel by private coach to the the Chateau de Chaumont to explore. Then we go to the charming town of Tours, with a lovely medieval center. Enjoy a walking tour and dinner on your own with many excellent dining options.
On Saturday, our coach brings us to Loches, a well-preserved town whose narrow streets, imposing castle and royal residence make it one of France's noteworthy towns. We'll get a guided walk to learn about its history, then spend time exploring their lovely Saturday market. We return to Tours for a free evening to enjoy all it has to offer.
On Sunday, we head to Chenonceau, a spectacular castle which is perhaps the most beautiful chateau in the Loire Valley. Enjoy a gourmet lunch with ESA in their elegant Orangerie Restaurant and spend your afternoon enjoying the grounds and perhaps even taking a boat ride under the castle arches. Our afternoon finishes with a coach ride back to Paris.
The Loire Valley
Day Trip 1
Giverny & the Marmottan
Giverny, where Monet spent decades living and painting his famed gardens is a short bus ride from Paris. We'll tour his house and spectacular estate with its famous lilies and Japanese bridge.
On our return to Paris, we'll stop at the Marmottan Museum which houses many Monet masterpieces, most notably lmpression, Sunrise, the painting that gave the Impressionist art movement its name.
Day Trip 2: Reims
Reims is the champagne capital of France, also known for their exceptional Gothic cathedral which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We'll explore this site and the charming town nearby.
And no visit to Reims is complete without learning about how France's famous champagne is made, and tasting this iconic sparkling wine.
Image: Champagne Vineyards by Rob & Lisa Meehan CC by 2.0
