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 charming town of Tours, with a lovely medieval center located right next to our hotel. Enjoy a walking tour and dinner on your own with many excellent dining options.
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On Saturday, our coach brings us first to to Loches, a well-preserved town whose narrow streets, imposing castle and royal residence make it one of France's noteworthy towns. We then 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. Saturday evening is on your own, continuing to enjoy all that Tours has to offer.
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On Sunday, we check out of our hotel and go to Amboise, once the home of the French royal court and where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final days. Buy delicious souvenirs at the Sunday market and then enjoy a leisurely coach ride back to Paris.
The Loire Valley
Day Trip 1
Auvers-sur-Oise
Famed artist Vincent Van Gogh put this idyllic village on the map by spending his last days here. From its golden fields filled with flowers, to its striking small church, you'll see the beauty that inspired some of Van Gogh's most famous canvases. ​
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​Kornfeld in Auvers CC 4.0 Achim Ebenau
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Day Trip 2: Vaux le Vicomte
An evening visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte, the castle that inspired Louis XIV to create Versailles. Enjoy a tour through the castle and exit into the stunning gardens illuminated with hundreds of candles. Stroll through André le Nôtre's surprising gardens and end your night with a spectacular fireworks show. Not to be missed.
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