Plantagenet France: Intrigue, War, Collapse

Travel from London St Pancras with Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord station where the group assembles. Move by taxi to Paris Montparnasse station from where we travel by train to Tours and our hotel for 5 nights. (D).

Today we travel by coach to Angers, the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty, and home to the fascinating castle with the remains of the Palace of the Counts of Anjou. Here we will view the incredible Apocalypse Tapestry, woven between 1377 and 1382, and a significant artifact from this period. We admire the superb Gothic architecture at the Collegiate Church and Cathedral before returning to Tours. (B, D).

We start the day at the stunning Abbey of Fontevraud, perhaps the highlight of the tour. The site became the favourite residence of Eleanor of Aquitaine (1124-1204), one of the most remarkable women in medieval Europe, whose tomb lies in the nave alongside that of her husband Henry II of England and son Richard I the Lionheart. Our day continues with an exploration of several beautiful sites along the Loire: we admire the enormous castle of Saumur (outside only), bequeathed to the Plantagenets in the eleventh century. We then move on to Montsoreau where we pause to view the outside of the beautiful castle, its precursor taken by Henry II of England in 1152 in a feud with his brother. We continue to the castle of Langeais with its turbulent history of occupation in turn by the Counts of Blois and Anjou before becoming a Plantagenet possession in the twelfth century. Return to Tours. (B, D).

Our day starts at the exquisite medieval town of Chauvigny, one of the best-preserved towns of the era in France. Here we admire the remains of five castles and the Saint Pierre Collegiate Church, an architectural jewel of the Poitou. The rest of the day is spent exploring the beautiful city of Poitiers. At the Grand Palace of the Dukes of Aquitaine we marvel at one of the most spectacular examples of medieval architecture in France closely linked to the story of Eleanor. Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France and England, and mother of two kings, Eleanor clearly left her mark on the city including the Saint-Pierre Cathedral which we visit. We also admire the Baptistery of St John, the oldest existing Christian building in France, with its stunning Romanesque and Gothic wall paintings. (B, D).

We drive to the stunning castle of Chinon, standing sentinel above the river Vienne. A pivotal stronghold in Henry II’s defences it played a key role in his reign and he died here in 1189. We then move to the evocative Royal City of Loches, a complete medieval royal city with a history spanning five centuries and besieged several times in the wars between Plantagenets and Capetians. Customers eat at their own expense this evening. (B).

Today we travel to Le Mans, the Cité Plantagenêt, in whose cathedral in 1128 Geoffrey of Anjou, the founder of the Plantagenet dynasty, married Matilda of England. After visiting the Cathedral we enjoy the collections at the Plantagenêt Museum before moving to the Royal Abbey of Epau, the finest example of Cistercian architecture in France. It was founded by Berengaria of Navarre, Richard the Lionheart’s widow, in 1229. Our journey continues to Rouen and our hotel for two nights. (B, D).

Today we visit the Vexin, long a bitterly disputed area between Capetian and Angevin dynasties. We drive to Gisor where we explore the formidable castle built to protect the Norman possessions of the Plantagenet English king against encroachment by the Capetians. In the afternoon we move to the imposing Château-Gaillard, built by Richard the Lionheart from 1196 above the River Seine, and taken in a lengthy siege by Philip II of France in 1204. Here we admire a castle advanced in its design which uses early principles of concentric fortification and some of the earliest examples in Europe of machicolations. (B, D).

Morning in Rouen where we admire the striking Gothic cathedral, the epitome of the new Gothic style. Travel by fast train to Paris and then to Paris Gare du Nord station where the tour ends (unless you are returning with us to London St Pancras via Eurostar). (B).