One of the most dreamed of destinations, every corner of the country is filled with cultural, culinary, and every other kind of delight. From the fabled Riviera and colorful Provence to elegant Paris and everything in between, the marvels of France will never cease to amaze.

The French wrote the book on la vie en rose and gave the world champagne and camembert, de Beauvoir and Debussy, the Tour de France and the Tour Eiffel. There’s a term for their seductive lifestyle – Douce France (Sweet France) and you’ll find yourself using it often.

Days 1 & 2: The French Riviera

Enjoy the marvels of the Mediterranean Sea in the capital of the French Riviera, Nice. Complete with pebbly beaches and an average of 300 sunny days a year, Nice has breezy promenades, social squares, and a glamorous attitude befitting a Mediterranean gem.

Continue onto Monaco, capital of the glitsy Monte Carlo and long a symbol of the rich, the famous, and the royal. Travel onto the tranquil Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a favorite holiday spot for European aristocracy.Visit the lavish and opulent Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Days 3 & 4: Provence

Explore the historic Old Town of Arles, noted for its narrow streets and medieval stonework. Winding streets and colorful houses lend Arles its artsy ambience. The olive gardens and vineyard that inspired Van Gogh still cover the limestone hills.

Continue to St. Remy-de-Provence, where Vincent Van Gogh spent one year in an asylum. The surrounding olive groves, fields of lavendar, cypress trees, and colorful flowers served as invaluable inspiration for the 150 paintings he produced during this time, including Starry Night, and Wheat Field with Cypresses and Irises. Tour the hospital where he stayed and the surrounding countryside before heading to Pont du Gard, the tri-level Roman aqueduct.

Day 5: Avignon

Made famous by the popes who reigned here during the 14th century, the walled city of Avignon thrives today as a cultural center. Visit Pont St-Benezet, the medieval bridge that spans the Rhone, and Palais des Papes, the gothic fortress that was the home of seven popes. Exit on a TGV (a French high-speed train) bound for Paris.

Day 6: Paris

Just mentioning Paris is enough to conjure images romantic cafes lining breezy boulevards, and artisan shops filled with the finest cheeses, chocolates, or wines. Tour the city and view its lauded landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysees, and Place du Palais Royal.

Day 7: Musee du Louvre

Originally a fortress and royal residence, the Musee du Louvre houses some of the world’s best-known artworks, such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks, Bosch’s Ship of Fools, Raphael’s Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, and countless others.

Day 8: Journey Home

Enjoy your last warm French pastery before boarding your plane for a safe flight home.

Days 1, 2, & 3: Paris

Just mentioning Paris is enough to conjure images romantic cafes lining breezy boulevards, and artisan shops filled with the finest cheeses, chocolates, or wines. Tour the city and view its lauded landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, the Champs Elysees, and Place du Palais Royal.

Spend a day at the renowned Musee du Louvre. Originally a fortress and royal residence, the Louvre houses some of the world’s best-known artworks, such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks, Bosch’s Ship of Fools, Raphael’s Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, and countless others.

Day 4: Chartres & Versailles

Travel to Chartes and see Cathedrale de Chartes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its soaring architecture and scintillating stained-glass windows, the cathedral is truly a glorious site. Continue to Versailles, Paris’s dazzling neighbor. Visit King Louis XIV’s palace, the opulent residence that continues to hold its air of aristocracy.

Day 5: Loire Valley – Chateau Azay-le-Rideau

Head to the famed Loire Valley. Located along the Loire River and surrounded by vineyards, this beautiful stretch of land is filled with opulent chateaux built by France’s royalty and nobility. Begin at Chateu Azay-le-Rideu, the resplendant castle that rises from the Indre River and whose roof is topped by pointed cones.

Day 6: Loire Valley – Chateaux de Cheverny & de Chenonceau

Contine along the Loire River, passing by Chateux Amboise and Blois, to Chateau de Cheverny. This castle is renowned for its lavish furnishings, tapestries, and objets d’art, including a fireplace decorated by artist Jean Mosnier, tapestries depicting the abduction of Helen of Troy, and a stone stairway of carved fruit and flowers. Visit then the romantic Chateau de Chenonceau, the gorgeous palace built on arched stone vaults that span the entire Cher River.

Day 7: Burgundy – Chablis & Noyers

Enter Burgundy, whose landscape is marked by castles, vineyards, and medieval churches. Once an autonomous province, Burgundy has great wine and cuisine. Have lunch in the quaint red-roofed village of Chablis, famous for its light dry white whines. Continue onto the medieval village that time forgot, Noyers-sur-Serein.

Day 8: Burgundy – Dijon & Beaune

Perhaps most well-known for its mustard, Dijon was the ancient capital of Burgundy. Explore Dijon’s old town and sample its exquisite cuisine. Travel down Route des Grands Crus (Wine Road) to Beaune, a wonderfully well-preserved medieval city that is capital of the Burgundy wine country. Here you can go on a delicious wine tasting tour.

Day 9: Burgundy – Vezelay & Basilique Ste-Madeleine

Journey up the sacred hill of medieval Vezelay and enter Basilique Ste-Medeleine, the Romanesque church that holds relics of St. Mary Magdalene. The narthex of this venerated church beautifully depicts biblical scenes, such as Christ giving the apostles the Holy Spirit, and the preaching of the Good News at Pentecost.

Day 10: Paris

Return to Paris and tour Musee d’Orsay, the magnificent museum renowned for its collection of Impressionist paintings. Here you can see works such as Monet’s La Gare St-Lazare, Van Gogh’s Church at Auvers-sur-Oise, and Renoir’s Bal au Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre.

Day 11: Journey Home

Board your plane for a safe flight home.

Just mentioning Paris is enough to conjure up images of romantic cafes lining breezy boulevards, and artisan shops filled with the finest cheeses, chocolates, and wines, and some of the world’s most lauded landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, and many other magnificent monuments.

Provence is well known for its flourishing fields of lavender and its soothing aromas. Sites include St. Remy de Provence, a former retreat for Vincent Van Gogh, and the Cathedrale Notre-Dame des Doms in Avignon; the Chateau d’If, the island that Alexandre Dumas used as a setting for his novel, The Count of Monte Cristo; and Marseilles, a medieval village with a 2,600-year-old port and wonderful seafood.

Deauville, Normandy is a thriving vacation spot known for luxury hotels, casinos, race tracks, golf courses polo grounds, wide sandy beaches, and the Deauville Festival of American Film. A few miles north of Deauville is the picturesque city of Honfleur, which has been painted by numerous impressionists.

The historic D-Day grounds feature open-air museums, memorial tributes, and eight routes that bring the events of World War II leading to the June 6, 1944 liberation of northwest Europe back to life.

Throughout the Loire Valley is where you’ll discover lush, rolling countryside that enchanted kings and nobles for centuries. In this realm of romance and mystery are many cathedrals, museums and magnificent royal chateaux.

Provence is well known for its flourishing fields of lavender and its soothing aromas. Sites include St. Remy de Provence, a former retreat for Vincent Van Gogh, and the Cathedrale Notre-Dame des Doms in Avignon; the Chateau d’If, the island that Alexandre Dumas used as a setting for his novel, The Count of Monte Cristo; and Marseilles, a medieval village with a 2,600-year-old port and wonderful seafood.

The French Riviera, located along the southern coast of France, is one of the most glamorous locations in the world. Nice is popular destination for couples, honeymooners, and sun-worshipers; and has rich shopping, splendid dining, and art-deco façades. Cannes, famous for the Cannes International Film Festival (Le Festival de Cannes), is a haven to those seeking fun in the sun on the French Riviera and a lively nightlife.

Embark on a gastronomic adventure to top-quality wineries, the very finest wine estates, and gourmet restaurants. Enjoy the fruits of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Taste the wines of Cotes du Rhone, Alsace and Champagne vineyards. Indulge in the edible treasures along Route des Grands Crus. Whether your interests lie in wine, gastronomy, history, art, architecture, cooking, or playing golf, this trip will exceed all your expectations.