South West France: Languedoc-Roussillon

August 15 – 29, 2007

Wed. 8/15       Fly Newark to Paris on Continental 54, leaving Newark 10:00 PM

Thur. 8/16       Arrive Paris (CDG) 11:25 AM

                        Fly Paris (CDG) to Toulouse on Air France 7794

                        Leave Paris 12:55 PM.  Arrive Toulouse 2:15 PM

                        Leave Toulouse Airport and head for Carcassonne along the A61.

                        Stay 3 nights at Notre-Dame De L’Abbaye

                        103, rue Trivalle

                        11000 Carcassonne

                        Phone 33 4 68 25 16 65      Fax     33 4 68 11 47 01

Fri. 8/17          Explore Carcassonne

Sat. 8/18          Drive through the Corbieres Hills, visiting Abbaye St-Hilaire

                        and Chateau de Termes.  Spend the night at Carcassonne.

Sun. 8/19         Leave Carcassonne

                        Drive east along A61.

                        Visit the medieval Cistercian Abbaye Fontfroide.

                        Drive south along A9.  Visit Fort de Salses. 

                        Drive west along D117, then north through the Grau de Maury.

                        Arrive Cucugnan

                        Stay 3 nights at La Table du Cure

                        1, chemin de Padern. 11350 Cucugnan

                        Phone 33 4 68 45 01 46     Fax     33 4 68 45 04 69

Mon. 8/20       Morning – Chateau de Peyrepertuse

                        Afternoon – Château de Queribus

Tues. 8/21       Morning -  Chateau de Aguilar

                        Afternoon - drive east to Perpignan and visit the Palais des Rois

                        de Majorque.   Head south to Collioure.

                        On the way back to Cucugnan, we attempted but were not able

                        to make it through the Gorges de Galamus.

Wed. 8/22       Leave Cucugnan, stopping at one last Cather castle, Puilauren

                        Drive west along the D 117 to Vernet-le-Bains

                        Stay 2 nights at Hotel le Mas Fleuri

                        25 Bld Clemenceau.  66 820 Vernet les Bains

                        Phone 04 68 05 51 94       Fax 04 68 05 50 77

Thurs. 8/23     Morning - visit the medieval town of Villefranche-de-Conflent and its fort

                        (17 century Vauban)

Afternoon - visit the medieval monasteries Abbaye Saint-Michel de Cuixa and Prieure de Serrabone

Fri. 8/24          Leave Vernet-le-Bains, stopping at one last medieval monastery

                         – St Martin de Canigou

                        Drive west on the D117 to Fort Mont-Louis (visit) and then head north

                        for Toulouse

                        Stay 2 nights at the Holiday Inn, Toulouse

Sat. 8/25          Explore the city of Toulouse, particularly the Basilique St. Sernin

                        and Couvent des Jacobins.

Sun. 8/26         Fly Toulouse to Paris on Air France 6117

                        Leave Toulouse 10:45 A.M.  Arrive Paris (Orly) 12:05 P.M.

                        Stay 3 nights at Citadines Apartment Hotel St. Germain des Pres

                        53 Quai Des Grandes Augustins, Paris         

                        Phone 011 33 1 4407 7000

                        Revisit (third time) the Military Museum at Invalides

                        Dinner at Le Montebello on the Seine across from Notre Dame

                         (my favorite)

Mon. 8/27       Visit the Louvre and other Paris sites

Tues. 8/28       Versailles                   

Wed. 9/29       Fly Paris to Newark on Continental 55.

                        Depart Paris (CDG) at 1:40 P.M.  Arrive Newark at 4:25 P.M.