The Western Loire: Heart of the Plantagenet Empire Huon Mallalieu, our very own Huguenot, will escort you on this tour of the Western Loire. He writes: ‘We shall be based in Angers, capital of Anjou and Henry II’S Angevin Empire, which stretched from the
9th to 16th July 2018
Full itinerary and terms and conditions at: www.theoldie.co.uk/tours
Monday 9th July – 15.00: depart Easyjet EZY8963 from Gatwick to Nantes; arrive Nantes 17.35. Transfer to Hotel du Mail in Angers. Talk by Huon Mallalieu. Tuesday 10th July – Angers (and Cointreau)
– Tour of the old town, including the Cathedral of St Maurice; lunch and postprandial visit to the Carré Cointreau, followed by a visit to the château and its Tapestry of the Apocalypse. Wednesday 11th July – Tours on market day
– Morning visit to the Cathedral of St Gatien and the Château de Tours. Lunch and afternoon to explore the half-timbered Place Plumereau and the Basilica of St Martin. Thursday 12th July – Saumur and Montsoreau
– Morning tour of beautiful Saumur and its château. Guided tour of the Cadre Noir, France’s equivalent of Vienna’s Spanish Riding School. Lunch followed by a visit to the beautiful chateau of Montsoreau. Friday 13th July – Chinon and Fontevrault – Morning tour of Château de Chinon where Joan of Arc first met Charles VII; lunch followed by a tour of Fontevrault Abbey. Saturday 14th July – Nantes, home to many
French kings – Morning tour of the old town, including the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. After lunch at La Cigale, we will visit the Château des Ducs de Bretagne and its History Museum. Sunday 15th July – Château Serrant and
Sunday lunch – Built by the architects of Fontainebleau and the chapel of Versailles, Château Serrant is up there with Azay-le-rideau in terms of its setting. Lunch at Le Relais d’anjou nearby.
Monday 16th July – return home – Leave after breakfast for Nantes Airport. 1335: depart Easyjet EZY8962 from Nantes; arrive 1350 at Gatwick.