Full Breakfast is included each day. Otherwise meals are indicated by B, Breakfast – L, Lunch – D, Dinner
DAY 1: September 3: DEPART HOME FOR PARIS CDG AIRPORT
Today your French journey begins as you depart your home airport for Paris’ Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. Enjoy your overnight flight and in the morning you will be in FRANCE!!
DAY 2:: September 4:PARIS
Upon arrival at the Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport you will clear customs and transfer on your own to our city center 4 star apartment/hotel where you may check in and relax for the afternoon. If you prefer, you have the remainder of the day to explore this area (the Latin Quarter) or Paris on your own. Our hotel is conveniently located on the Seine River, between the Louvre and Notre Dame. A bonus here is that you will have a kitchenette in your room. Feel free to purchase local wines, breads, cheeses or ??? to enjoy as you wish. We will enjoy a local Parisian welcome dinner together at one of Paris’ oldest establishments. Please plan your arrival in Paris on September 4 by 4:00 PM. D
DAY 3:: SEPTEMBER 5: PARIS
After breakfast we will travel by deluxe coach to enjoy two of the area’s most treasured museums that specialize in textiles. We will be visiting the area where ‘Toile de Jouy” originated and learn why this is the only area that this name for these monochromatic prints is accurate. This will be a full day so we will be making a stop for you to enjoy lunch on your own between the museum visits. B
DAY 4:: SEPTEMBER 6: PARIS
Following a traditional breakfast we will enjoy a wonderful day in Paris for any fabric lover. Today, we will visit the fabric shopping district of Montmartre where you will find a plethora of fabric shopping opportunities. The most famous of the shops are the multi floor Marche Saint Pierre and Tissues Reine, but you will find fabric among many nooks and crannies in this area. This is a truly international fabric stop as you will find fabrics from Africa, Asia, India and more. At the top of the hill here is the Sacre Coeur, (the Basicilla of the sacred Heart) you will not want to miss a chance to see this beautiful Parisian landmark. With so much to see, we are in this area for the day, however you are free to explore more of Paris on your own. B
DAY 5:: SEPTEMBER 7: PARIS
Today is a free day for you to enjoy Paris on your own. Our guide will be available to you to assist with arranging sightseeing activities and make touristic activity suggestions. B
DAY 6:: SEPTEMBER 8: PARIS to AVIGNON/PROVENCE
This morning after breakfast we will transfer to the Gare de Lyon to take the fast speed TGV to Avignon. Our TGV train will take us past some of France’s most beautiful countryside’s. Once we arrive in Avignon, we will transfer by deluxe coach to our hotel where we will spend the next 5 nights. Our historic 4 star hotel was a monastery that has been restored and reimagined into a luxury hotel. Once we have checked into the hotel the remainder of the day is yours to explore the area. We are right in the town center, the historic Pope’s Palace and many cafes are a short walk away. While you are in Avignon, you will also want to enjoy the rue des Teinturiers (Street of the Dyers). Dedicated to the dyers whose ateliers lined the Sorgue River here to dye their beautiful fabrics, this is one of the prettiest, most historic spots in the walled city of Avignon. B
DAY 7:: SEPTEMBER 9: AVIGNON/PROVENCE
A busy day is in store today as we journey throughout the Provincial and Languedoc regions. We will enjoy museum visits dedicated to the fabric history in the South, and an amazing quilt museum where the collection of French quilted pieces is second to none.
DAY 8:: SEPTEMBER 10: AVIGNON/PROVENCE
After breakfast, we will set out in the morning for one of my favorite days in Provence.
It’s market day! Provence is well known for the rich array of open-air markets which are held in every town and just about every village. The market is the link between two of the France’s identifying traits – the glory of the countryside and the importance of food. They embody the deep-rooted French belief that the best food goes from field to plate in the shortest amount of time. The markets of Provence are an explosion of colors, scents and sounds and are one of our all time favorite France experiences.
We will enjoy a full day at the market in the beautiful village of L’isle sur la Sorgue. As one of Provence’s favorite markets, it is not only France’s largest antique and collectable markets, it is an incredible market with amazing fresh food and produce stalls.
This is a full day and I suggest lunch just before noon at one of the riverside cafes, it will be fabulous! We will return to Avignon in the afternoon where the remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy the city. B
AY 9:: SEPTEMBER 11: PROVENCE
Following our visit here we will stop by the beautiful hilltop village of Les Beaux de Provence. Les Beaux is a picturesque Medieval village at a fortified rocky site between Arles and St Remy-de-Provence. It is fascinating for the ancient village, the extensive fortified-chateau area, the magnificent setting and views, and the museums. Here you will have time to explore and enjoy lunch before we return to Avignon. B
Today is a free day for you to enjoy Avignon or make arrangements to see other areas of Provence you do not want to miss. Our guide is there to help you with these details. B
DAY 11:: SEPTEMBER 13: AVIGNON to ALSACE (RIQUEWHIR)
This morning after breakfast we will depart on the TGV for the Alsace region and home to the European Patchwork Meeting. We will disembark our train in Mulhouse, home of the Museum of Printed Textiles where we will have a guided tour of their facility. Mulhouse is one areas where printed textiles were first manufactured in Europe. The museum here was previously the library for the textile manufacturers in the area to house and safe their printed fabric designs. After our visit here we will take a deluxe coach to Riquewhir, our home for the next 3 nights.
Day 12 and 13::SEPTEMBER 14 and 15: RIQUEWHIR and the EUROPEAN PATCHWORK MEETING
Following breakfast at our hotel we will take the coach to the European Patchwork meeting nearby in St. Marie aux Mines. We will have 2 day all show passes which will afford us the opportunity to see some of the best quilts in the world, enjoy amazing vendors, spectacular food and the company of quilters from across the globe. We have made arrangements for our coach to return to Riquewhir in the early afternoon and also in the late afternoon, allowing those who wish to return early to do so. On your return to Riquewhir each day, you are free to explore, shop in the picturesque village or do as you wish. B
On the evening of September 15, we will enjoy a farewell dinner together in Riquewhir.
DAY 14: SEPTEMBER 16: RIQUEWHIR to PARIS
Today we will depart the Alsace region for Paris where we will have hotel rooms at the CDG airport to allow an easier schedule for your departure tomorrow. B
DAY 15:: SEPTEMBER 17:
Today we say good-bye to France, taking home many memories and hopefully a few treasures of our time here together. Our hotel is an easy walk or shuttle to the airport. As everyone will have a different flight schedule, departures will be on your own per your flight itinerary. B