Chateaux, Tapestries and Roman Spa
8 days, 7 nights
Point to Point Tour. Starting at the famous Aubusson tapestry museum, visit the Chateaux at Villemonteix, Etangsannes, Ladapeyre and Boussac en route to Evaux les Bains where you can soak those aching muscles at the Roman Spa.
Accommodation - 2 to 4 star hotels
Prices
£899 per person
based on two sharing
Days 1 & 2 Aubusson
Transfer from Airport/Train Station to Aubusson, a beautiful medieval town, lots to visit and see here including the Tapestry Museum, modern tapestry workshops and 16th Century tapestry workers house, this charming town seems to be entirely constructed of granite and includes ancient fountains, gargoyles and towers.
Nights 1 and 2 you stay at the gorgeous Hotel de France in Aubusson, eat at the hotel or choose from one of the many retaurants and Bistros in the town. Breakfasts included
Day 3
Ride from Aubusson to Jarnages, en route we pass the private chateau at Etangsannes where french actress Catherine Deneuve made her home and visit the 15th Century Chateau at Villemonteix.
Hotel tonight is Les Templiers in Jarnages, Breakfast and evening meal included
Day 4
A beautiful ride through gorgeous countryside past a chateau at Ladapeyre and on to the market town of Boussac.
Stay at the Central Hotel in Boussac, Brekfast and evening meal included
Day 5
A visit to the huge chateau fortress at Boussac, where the guided tour tells some more of the history of the tapestries here that were often loaned to French Kings and Queens for their chateaux in Paris, after which the ride takes us via country lanes to the Pierres Jumatres these are truly enormous rock formations on top of the hill left there by volcanic action in the Neolithic age. A short ride from here to Toulx St Croix where there is a look out tower offering stunning and far reaching views across 7 counties, on a clear day you can even see the mountains in the Auvergne. From here the ride is all down hill to the pretty town of Gouzon.
Staying at the Lion d'Or - the food here is quite amazing and is included in the price.
Day 6 and 7
From Gouzon we ride out into the countryside once again, along the way is the Etang de Landes a nature reserve sustaining a large variety of birds and wildlife, there is a dirt track that skirts around the lake and there are magnificent hides built at the lakeside from where you can view the lake and the wildlife. From here you ride down to the river valley at Chambon sur Voueize, which is a great place for lunch and the huge Roman Abbye de Saint Valerie is well worth a visit. A short ride from here is Evaux Les Bains where you stay for the last 2 nights of your holiday at The Grand Hotel and Spa. The retaurant is excellent, enjoy an optional soak in the roman spa, visit the roman church, the ornamental gardens or the Bridge designed by Eiffel. Breakfasts included.
Day 8
After breakfast, transfer back to Airport/Train Station