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"La Pièce de Résistance"
Paris - Normandy - The Loire Valley
Saturday, June 15 - Thursday, June 27, 2002

France is a country of great passions and pleasures. And there is no finer pursuit imaginable than indulging in its rich history, its glamorous sense of style, and the incomparable “joie de vivre” of “la civilisation française.”
    Come with us on a thrilling journey through Paris, Normandy and the Loire Valley, with fabulous accommodations at Hotel Meurice in Paris, Hotel Royal in Deauville, and Chateau d’Artigny in the Loire Valley. Take an orchestra seat for the opera at the magnificent Palais Garnier; explore in-depth the unforgettable D-Day events; bring pleasures to your palate that only France can offer; and enjoy private entrees, incredible castles, over-the-top experiences, and extraordinary events that only Diversions can deliver.
    It doesn’t get any better than this. Quite simply, this foray through France is
the ultimate ... the last word ... “La Pièce de Résistance!”

Paris - June 16-18

Welcome to Paris, the City of Light, the queen of the continent, with more museums, better hotels, finer and more varied shops, and the most talented stable of chefs in the world. Chic, cosmopolitan, lively and proud, Paris wears its premium blend of ancient and modern culture and its intoxicating aura of romance with complete confidence.

 Hotel Meurice: One of the finest hotels in the world is now even finer. The fabled restaurant and the elaborately gilded salons have been entirely restored, and the rooms are now more soigné than ever, if it’s possible. An exceptional address (on rue de Rivoli),  prestigious ambience, and  impeccable service ... the sun, the moon and the stars for three nights!

 * Begin with a Panoramic City Highlights riding tour, including Luxembourg Gardens, Place des Vosges, and the Left Bank

*View the treasures of two passionate private collectors on display in their 19th-century palace, the Musée Jacquemart-André. 

* Dine at La Grande Cascade. The architecture, decor, and wine list are all exceptional at this perfectly beautiful setting in a Napoleon III pavilion in the Bois de Boulogne.

* Marvel at the sumptuously furnished Chateau de Fontainebleau, a crown jewel of the French Empire, and hear a story that reads like a fascinating fairy tale.

 * Be captivated by Barbizon, a beguiling village on the edge of Fountainebleau Forest that was home to the 19th-century school of landscape painters, including Rousseau and Millet.

* See the great works of Impressionism in their stunning home, the Musée d’Orsay. .      

* Delight in an outstanding performance of The Magic Flute performed by the world-class Paris Opera Company amid the grandeur of the Opéra Garnier.

* Save time for shopping ... in Paris, it’s paradise!  The elegant shops of rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré and avenue Montaigne; the trendy fashion and decorating boutiques of St-Germain-des-Près; the jewelry, crystal and porcelain of rue Royale and place Vendôme ... these should get you started!

  * Enjoy an enchanting evening with a gourmet dinner cruise on the Bateau Mouche, sailing down the Seine savoring the sights and sounds of Paris by moonlight.

*      Tour  Giverny, immortalized by the paintings of Claude Monet. This is the site of his charming house and magnificent gardens, where the great artist painted his renowned waterlillies.

Normandy: June 19-23

            A part of France, but a place like no other, Normandy will enchant and fascinate you. Long the stage for epic battles and history-changing political intrigue, Normandy is known even more for the grace and magnificence of its architecture, the rugged and graceful beauty of its coastline, its lush meadows, its apple orchards and its half-timbered houses.

 Hotel Royal, Deauville: The majestic Hotel Royal, situated in Deauville, the international seaside resort and playground of the rich and famous, is a genuine palace à la française. Each year, horseracing’s Grand Prix aficcionados and American Film Festival stars such as Lauren Bacall, Robert de Niro, and Antonio Banderas pass through its doors. Your room affords views of the surrounding countryside as well as the sea. Your location affords easy-access to strolling along the planches (Deauville’s famed boardwalk), gaming at the grand Casino de Deauville, horseback riding on the beach, playing a round of golf, going to the races, and shopping the chic designer boutiques.

* Relive great moments in history in Rouen, the medieval town known as the City of a Hundred Spires, where Joan of Arc met her sad demise.

* Walk in the footsteps of Allied heroes of D-Day’s “Operation Overlord” on an emotional and captivating journey to the sites that were so pivotal to the ultimate success of the Allied effort. Begin at the outstanding Caen Memorial Musem for a stunning visual presentation which gives an impressive overview from both the Allied and the Axis perspectives. Stand on the dramatic beaches, theatre of the most extraordinary landing operation ever undertaken: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, the steep cliffs at Hoc Point, before the famous bell tower of the church in Ste Mère-Eglise (The Longest Day), at the man-made harbor at Arromanche. Conclude the experience with a moving tribute at the American Cemetery and Memorial - the awe-inspiring hilltop homage to our fallen heroes as seen in Saving Private Ryan.

* Dine at Le Ciro’s, the bastion of the very rich on Deauville’s celebrated boardwalk, the Promenade des Planches. This is an exquisite setting for the classical seafood that is the specialty.

* Soak up the scenery in the picturesque port of Honfleur, where generations of Impressionists set up their easels.

*Gaze at the most famous piece of embroidery in the world, the magnificent Bayeux Tapestry, in the town that witnessed both the D-day invasion of 1944 and the invasion of England by the Normans in 1066.

* Savor a delicious lunch of exceptional Normandy cuisine at Lion d’Or, one of the finest restaurants of the region.

*Be enthralled by the famous cliffs of Etretat, a scene startlingly familiar to lovers of Monet’s work.

* Eat, drink and enjoy a fabulous cabaret show during a glamorous evening of gourmet dining and top-notch entertainment in a theater replica of the “Petit Trianon Palace” in Versailles at Deauville’s world renowned Casino. Then, if you’re feeling lucky, the tables at the Casino are open ‘til dawn!

* Watch as, like a mirage, the Mont Saint-Michel rises from the water! Visit the Abbey church, the cloisters and “la merveille” of this amazing architectural achievement, called one of the wonders of the western world.

*Lunch at acclaimed La Mère Poulard restaurant, famous for introducing  its huge, fluffy omelettes to the world.

The Loire Valley: June 24 -27

            Nowhere are France’s royal roots more firmly embedded than in the lush, luxurious valley overflowing with an extraordinary collection of castles built by legendary kings and princes, nobles and statesmen. And, ever since the Middle Ages, aristocrats, with a love of rural living but no taste for roughing it, have made the Loire Valley into the ultimate exurb. The concentration of grand chateaux simply staggers belief.

Chateau d’Artigny, Montbazon: During our sojourn in the Loire Valley, you’ll be ensconced in the beautiful Chateau d’Artigny, a house with a glamorous past rebuilt in 18th-century style by Coty, the perfume creator. Its elegance is echoed in the vast entrance hall, the artfully painted cupola, and its stylish guestrooms. There’s a pool, sauna, tennis, fishing in the Indre, a 60-acre park to roam around in, and superb cuisine. The vast cellar includes memorable vintages from the nearby Vouvray and Montlouis vineyards.

 Oh, the Chateaux!

   *Classic Cheverny, a lordly mansion

   *Storybook Chambord, the largest of them all

   *Imposing Chenonceaux, “floating on water and air,” perhaps the most photographed
           in all the region
 
     *Exquisite Azay-le-Rideau

 *Sit overlooking the beauty of the “Jardin Vert” gardens in the park of the Chateau, while lunching by the terrace at L’Orangerie de Chenonceaux.

*Explore the quaint village of Amboise, once the capital of the Loire, now best-known for the place where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his final days.

*Get a glimpse of genius at Le Chateau du Clos-Lucé, the last home of Leonardo Da Vinci, which houses a remarkable collection of models of some of his great inventions.

*Behold the spectacular formal gardens at Villandry and understand why this wonderful region of the Loire Valley is called the “Garden of France” and the essence of French culture.

“La Pièce de Resistance!”

             An unquenchable desire to live like royalty will be the certain outcome of our days spent admiring the awesome grandeur of the chateaux in the Loire Valley. The experience in store for us on our final night in France brings us as close to realizing this dream as you can possibly get. Louis-Jean and Barbara Nicolay, the gracious owners of the famous Chateau du Lude, have invited us to spend an evening at their palatial family estate. The Count and Countess will entertain us in their private salons and dining rooms, host our scrumptious candlelight dinner, and share with us some of the secrets in their family’s rich history. For one evening in time, we will truly feel like kings!

C’est une voyage fantastique ...
Une excursion extraordinaire ...
La Pièce de Résistance ...
Join us!

Cost (Land Portion Only):  $6795.00 per person, based on double occupancy
                                                  Single supplement is $1700.00.

PLEASE NOTE: The Air Portion is currently being negotiated. Contact the Diversions office, 410-486-3604, for details.

            $1500.00 per person deposit is required.
            As space is limited, if you wish to be included in “La Pièce de Résistance,” your deposit is
             required now.

 Inclusions:

    * Deluxe roundtrip motorcoach transportation to Dulles Airport
   * All  ground transportation as specified in the itinerary
    * Three nights at the Hotel Meurice in Paris; Five nights at the Hotel Royal in Deauville;
       Three nights at the Chateau d’Artigny in the Loire Valley
     * Full Buffet Breakfast daily in hotels; Eight lunches; Eight dinner
     * Orchestra ticket to a performance by the Paris Opera of Mozart’s The Magic Flute
         at Palais Garnier
      * All guided visits, sightseeing and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
      * All hotel transfers, baggage handling, taxes and gratuities through out the trip
      * We are particularly fortunate to have as our guide throughout this entire trip an individual who holds the rare distinction of having mastered every guides’ proficiency examination, so that she is one of the few licensed tour professionals able to lecture anywhere in France. She speaks four languages, and has an intimate and in-depth knowledge of the Normandy region with special emphasis on the history of World War II. Her father escaped from a concentration camp and fought in the French Resistance.