| Carcassonne- Walled City "La Cite" |
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| Old Port Marseille DAY 1- Arrival day in the legendary city of Marseille. After a visit to the famous "Old Port" and a view of the Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde which overlooks the city, we head to our home for the next two days, the superb Hostellerie Berard in the magnificent medieval hilltop village of La Cadiere d’Azur. Part of the hotel is a restored 11th century Nunnery. We’ll take a short orientation ride of about 8 miles and get ready for a superb dinner in the hotel restaurant, which features panoramic views of the provencal countryside. Meals are a specialty here, and chef Berard will prepare an unforgettable feast. DAY 2- After a hearty breakfast we’ll head off toward Digne-Les-Bains to get our first view of the Tour. This is stage 12 and is the last stage in the Alps. We’ll start riding back toward the tour, and you can ride up the Col de l’Orme and/or the Col du Corobin before finding a spot to see the riders take on these last two climbs in the Alps. We’ll shuttle back to our hotel, and there will be time for a quick dip in the pool prior to another unforgettable dinner prepared by chef Berard and his staff. A stroll through the village before turning in will cap off a great day, although you’ll be sad to leave this magnificent spot tomorrow. |
| JULY 13-19 2005 1-877-362-0045 Tour Sold Out INCLUDES: 7 Days, 6 Nights, 5 Dinners, 6 Breakfasts PRICES: $2,950 per person Double Occupancy (Single Supplement- $500) DIFFICULTY- Intermediate To Difficult (But Choice is Yours) MEET/DEPART- Marseille/Carcassonne NUMBER OF VIEWING DAYS, TOUR de FRANCE: 4 NUMBER OF CYCLING DAYS: Up to 7 HIGHLIGHTS: -High-End Hotel In Medieval Hilltop Village - Superb Dining -Visit Famous "Old Port" of Marseille -Comfortable Hotel In Medieval Walled Cite Of Carcassonne (Both Hotels Are Air-Conditioned) -4 Tour de France Viewing Days -Savor Provence and also the French Pyrenees Regions -Free bike rental |
DAY 4- Off to the mountains again, this time it’s the Pyrenees. We’ll ride among the finishing cols (col is French for mountain pass) such as the Port de Pailheres and the finish at Ax 3 Domaines. Before the riders arrive for the finish of stage 14 we’ll find a good spot to watch the decisive ending of this first Pyrenees stage. Back to our home in the walled Cite of Carcassonne for another superb group dinner. The famous French country dish called cassoulet originated in this area, and that might be a way to satisfy an appetite built up from all today’s activities. DAY 5- Today’s stage 15 is the most grueling of this year’s Tour, and it goes over 6 mountain passes. We’ll have a shuttle of 2 to 2½ hours to reach the first couple of these, the Col du Portet d’ Aspet and the Col de Mente. We’ll again watch the riders go by, then try the hills ourselves before finding a café to watch the exciting uphill finish at Pla-d’Adet on TV. Back to our home in Carcassonne where you are on your own for dinner. You can wander through the walled Cite and discovery a cozy little restaurant among the many to choose from. Don’t forget to savor some local wine from the many vineyards that surround the city. DAY 6- The Tour riders have a rest day today, so we’ll return to the scene of stage 14 to tackle more of that stage’s route. Today is rather leisurely, since we’re not chasing the Tour, so relax at a café and enjoy the pleasures of the Pyrenees mountainsides. Or perhaps a picnic along the route might be your fare. We’re back to Carcassonne for our last night and a fare-well dinner. The repast will be festive, but you’ll be sad to leave this stunning medieval walled Cite tomorrow. Your extraordinary stay in Carcassonne will live on in your memories for many, many years. DAY 7- After breakfast and perhaps a short ride around a local loop, we’ll drop everyone off at the local train station for departure. |
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| DAY 3- Today we’ll transfer to our new home in perhaps the most famous medieval walled city of Europe, Carcassonne. But first we’ll catch the departure of stage 13 of the Tour in Miramas. We’ll see all the pageantry of the stage start, and perhaps we can get lucky and obtain a few autographs of the riders prior to today’s flat stage to Montpellier. After that we’ll shuttle to Carcassonne, where our hotel, within the medieval Cite walls, awaits. A short local loop ride before our group dinner is possible. |
BEAUX VOYAGES
2005 TOUR DE FRANCE BIKE TOUR 1, JULY 13-19