Saumur                                                                  

Suggested itinerary for a 5 night stay in Saumur, France.

Day 1 - Arrival : Morning : Depart your home town for one of the Channel ports. Embarkation and Channel crossing. Disembarkation in France. Transfer by coach to Saumur. Room allocation at your residential centre. Full board accommodation.

Day 2 - Saumur and Brézé : Morning : Depart by coach to the centre of Saumur for a guided tour of the old town and the castle. Afternoon : Discover the mysteries of the underworld in the Château de Brézé. Guided tour of the deepest moat in Europe, and the underground passages, ending with the spectacular “Cathedrals of Pictures” videorama on the 11 metre high castle walls. Then on to Doué La Fontaine to visit the Musée des Commerces Anciens. Return to the residential centre at the end of the afternoon.

Day 3 - Futuroscope : Morning :Depart Saumur by coach for Poitiers to visit one of France's best known theme parks, the Futuroscope. Float in the air on the Tapis Magique, and experience live action in any of the "Cinémas Dynamiques". Or just admire the futuristic architecture as you wander round the park to visit as many of its attractions as you can fit into your day. Don’t miss the new attraction for 2001 ‘Le Défi d’Atlantis’ Picnic lunch during the day. Evening return by coach to Saumur.

Day 4 - Amboise and Le Clos Lucé : Morning : Depart by coach for the small town of Amboise for a visit of the castle and the town itself. Afternoon : Depart for Le Clos-Lucé to visit  the house that François I let to Leonardo Da Vinci between 1516 and 1519, and which is now a museum to the memory of the great Italian inventor. Depart by coach for Tours to visit L’Historial de Tours, a journey through 15 centuries of history set in the magnificent royal châteaux of the area. Return to your residential centre at the end of the afternoon.

Day 5 - Le Cadre Noir and the Ackermann Cellars : Morning : Visit Le Cadre Noir, the most famous equestrian school for the French military : the paddock, the stables, see how the saddles are made and learn how the horsemen are trained. Afternoon : Visit the Ackermann Cellars, one of the best known producers of the local wine, then on to a traditional working mushroom farm in a troglodyte village. End the afternoon with shopping in a local supermarket, and return to the residential centre for dinner.

Day 6 - Departure :  Morning : Depart Saumur for the French port. Channel crossing and disembarkation in England. Transfer by coach to your home town.