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France

Brittany & The Loire Valley: Castles, Chateaux & Celtic Roots

Program No. 24803RJ
Journey back in time through medieval history and explore the relics of French nobility on this learning adventure through the cathedrals and castles of Brittany.
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Small GroupNew
Length
17 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
5,999
Flights start at
1,050

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
17 days
16 nights
What's Included
31 meals ( 15B, 8L, 8D )
7 expert-led lectures
26 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
15 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
IMPORTANT: Due to increased tourism, the French government has introduced stricter quotas to preserve key sites. While we secure group reservations in advance, access may occasionally be limited. In such cases, we will offer alternative enriching experiences. Thank you for your understanding and for supporting the preservation of these remarkable destinations.
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. There are several lengthy motorcoach transfers during this program. Due to ecological regulations in France, new motorcoaches do not have restrooms on board. Older models have restrooms, but they are not available for use. A rest stop will be made along the way for rides over 90 minutes. The Group Leader will announce when rest stops will be made; speak with the Group Leader if additional stops are needed. French restaurants take pride in creating a relaxed atmosphere where patrons expect to take their time, savor every bite, and set the pace of the meal, requesting “l’addition” — the check — only when they are ready. Meals are accompanied by complimentary “pain” (bread) and “eau” or “l’eau” (water), so you need not ask for them. When wine is offered, it is customary to fill your glass only half way so the wine can breathe and to be sure everyone has a share. Servers wait until everyone at the table has finished their dish before clearing and bringing the next course. To indicate that you have finished your meal, place your utensils together on the right hand side of your plate. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day, standing up to 2 hours at a time; cobblestone and paved streets.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel in Paris and transfer via motorcoach to the train station. We will ride France’s high-speed train, the Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV), traveling at an average speed of more than 170 miles per hour to Quimper. We’ll then check in at the hotel.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Next, we will go on foot with our local expert and Group Leader to the Musée Départemental Breton to learn about the cultural traditions of Brittany. The building was once the Palais des Évêques — Palace of Bishops — dating from 1507 with a number of later additions. The museum collections include elements from archaeological discoveries as well as centuries of applied arts and crafts. We will see traditional dresses, handcrafted furniture, and hand-painted faïence ceramics. We’ll then have some independent time to see more of the museum, explore the area, or return to the hotel and relax.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day, standing up to 2 hours at a time; cobblestone and paved streets.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll be joined at the hotel by a local expert will speak to us about Bretagne — Brittany — the most “Atlantic” region of France that has been inhabited by Celts, Britons, and Romans. We’ll then set out with our local expert and Group Leader on a walking field trip in the historic center of Quimper, capital of the ancient county of Cournouaille (Cornwall). The city has long been known for its faïence ceramic pottery. We will stroll over the footbridge to Saint-Corentin Cathedral, with its Gothic-style façade, constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. We will be able to admire the impressive exterior.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We will continue our walking field trip of Quimper.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles throughout the day, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 2 hours at a time; paved and unpaved terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach for a day of field trips, heading first to Pointe du Raz. En route, a local expert will tell us about Brittany’s outstanding natural landscapes. Arriving at Pointe du Raz, we will see the impressive view at the very end of the Cornwall Peninsula, where the coast juts out into the sea. Our expert will speak to us about this iconic peninsula and its importance to les Bretons, the people of Brittany. We will next go to the Baie de Douarnenez, where legend says the beautiful city of Ys was swallowed up by the sea. Expert commentary will be provide on this location and the legend of Ys. En route to Locronan, we’ll hear a lecture about Brittany’s religious heritage and saints. There are more than 300, including Sainte-Anne-d’Auray, the patron saint.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Locronan.
Afternoon:
We will go on an expert-led walking field trip in Locronan, listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France). It was sacred to the Celts and once one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Brittany, as well as a center of cloth production from the 15th to 18th centuries. We’ll also have some time for independent exploration before returning to Quimper.
Dinner:
At the hotel
Evening:
At the hotel, we’ll enjoy an exclusive performance of traditional Celtic music and dance just for our Road Scholar group. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 77 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 2 hours at a time; cobblestones and paved streets.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and ride to Pont-Aven. We’ll be joined by a local expert for a lecture on Paul Gauguin and what became known as the École de Pont-Aven (Pont-Aven School). It refers not to an organized institution but to a varied group of painters who were attracted to the setting and lived in local inns, turning Pont-Aven into an artists’ colony. The first group were American students who arrived in 1862 after the opening of a railroad line from Paris to Quimper. The artistic community was already thriving by the time Gauguin first stayed here in 1886. He and painter Émile Bernard were leaders in the Synthesism movement that went beyond Impressionism. Gauguin then became one of the foremost proponents of Symbolism that imbued his paintings not only with a different structural and artistic style but emotional, spiritual, and symbolic elements as well. We will go on a walking field trip with a local expert in Pont-Aven to see sites that inspired the artists. We will also visit the Chapel of Trémalo with its 17th-century carved wooden figure of Jesus on the cross that inspired Gauguin’s “Yellow Christ,” an important painting reflecting the artist’s merging of Synthesism and Symbolism.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Back aboard the motorcoach, we will travel by motorcoach to Carnac, with the greatest concentration of megalithic elements in the world. Predating Stonehenge by about a century, there are more than 3,000 upright stones – most around thigh-high – erected between 5000-3500 BCE by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Participants will walk up to 2.5 miles, including sections with cobblestones, uneven surfaces, and some inclines. Expect to stand for up to 2 hours during the guided tour of Vannes’ old town, exploring historic sites and medieval streets. Later, participants will board a boat for a scenic ride in the Gulf of Morbihan, requiring stepping on and off the vessel securely, with assistance available as needed.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore the old town of Vannes. The area has been inhabited for thousands of years. It was conquered by the Romans in 56 BCE and later experienced an influx of Britons, followed by generations of power struggles. Today, it is characterized by nearly 300 historic monuments, medieval city walls and ramparts, and structures dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. We will see the ramparts, harbor, and half-timbered houses.
Lunch:
At a local Breton restaurant, we will learn the difference between savory buckwheat galettes (main course) and sweet wheat flour crêpes (dessert) as we enjoy a traditional Breton crêpe meal.
Afternoon:
We will then take a short ride to Trinite Sur Mer and have a brief stop there before taking a boat ride in the Gulf of Morbihan.
Dinner:
On your own
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time throughout the day. Walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 1.5 hours at a time; even and uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out and depart by motorcoach to the Château de Josselin, whose origins stretch back to the 11th century. The magnificent Gothic-Breton Renaissance structure we see today was built in the early 16th century. Château Josselin is the ancestral home of the Rohan family, one of the great houses of European nobility and once among the most powerful in France. It is inhabited and maintained by its current residents, the 14th Duke of Rohan and his wife. In a self-directed visit, accompanied by the Group Leader, we will have time to wander through the beautifully designed rose garden and park.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we will ride to Dinan, an ancient riverfront city with its medieval fortifications mostly intact. We’ll set on a walking field trip with a local expert to explore what is officially designated among the Villes et Pays d’Art et d’Histoire (Towns and Lands of Art and History). We’ll learn about the city’s Celtic heritage and its high-tech present, and see some of its medieval timber-framed buildings. Brittany is one of the six official Celtic “nations” of the world. The people known as Gaulois — those who were here when the Romans invaded — were in fact descended from Celts who had arrived and settled long before.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Participants will walk up to 3 miles on cobblestone and paved streets, with about 350 steps to ascend Mont-Saint-Michel and navigate the Abbey. Inside, expect 200 more steps, many steep and without handrails. Dark, narrow passages may require a small flashlight. Good walking shoes are essential. Expect to stand up to 2 hours and walk from the parking lot to a shuttle. A collapsible, rubber-tipped walking stick or cane is recommended.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and ride to Cancale, a typical fishing port. At a marine farm, we’ll view a film in English to learn about oyster farming and regional traditions. We’ll then have a tasting of oysters and fish pâté. Back aboard the motorcoach, we’ll hear tales and legends of Brittany as we continue our journey to Mont-Saint-Michel.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
The locals call this “le Mont.” With its legendary origin — which its founder said was at the request of the Archangel Michael — Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France’s best known and most strikingly beautiful landmarks. It is also a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stand the ‘Wonder of the West,’ a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site.” We'll explore independently with the aid of personal audio devices. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles, standing up to 2 hours at a time; paved and cobblestone streets. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll set out from the hotel for a walking field trip here in Saint-Malo. Though the area was inhabited for much longer, tradition says the town was founded in the 6th century by a Welsh monk named Maclovius. It gained prominence in the 16th century as a center of trade, explorers including Jacques Cartier, and pirates! The medieval old city, nearly demolished during World War II, has been substantially restored. The ancient walls and ramparts were hardly damaged. We’ll meet a local expert who will tell us about the history of the city, past and present. We will also hear tales of the Bretons and their legacy as seafaring people.
Lunch:
On your own to have what you like in Saint-Malo. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity to see and do what interests you most in Saint-Malo, the most visited city in Bretagne.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 120 miles, under 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, standing up to 1 hour at a time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and ride to Angers. In the late morning, we will enjoy a walking field trip of the Old Angers with a local expert. The capital of the Anjou region, Angers has many artistic and historic treasures and has become famous as much for its rich heritage as for its modernity and excellent quality of life.
Lunch:
Picnic lunch in Angers
Afternoon:
We will set off on foot to explore the Chateau of Angers. Former home of the House of Plantagenet and a thriving Renaissance city, Angers also contains the famous medieval fortress of King René, with its enormous walls, where the world renowned Apocalypse tapestry hangs. We will also see the city of Canons, with remnants of Roman and Plantagenet Gothic style art before arriving in la Doutre, a village in the very heart of Angers. Next we will go and see the Jean Lurçat Museum, where a local expert will lead us around the marvelous tapestries.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 20 miles, under 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day, standing approximately 2 hours at a time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Via motorcoach, we will depart for Fontevraud where we will visit the Fontevraud Abbey, led by a local expert. Situated where the three regions of Poitou, Anjou, and Touraine meet, this is one of the largest surviving monastic cities from the Middle Ages. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was founded in 1101 by iconoclastic preacher and visionary, Robert d’Arbrissel. This was a different order from other monasteries of the time because it welcomed people from all social backgrounds. The order of Fontevraud rapidly spread over a vast area, reaching as far as England and Spain.
Lunch:
On your own in Saumur.
Afternoon:
On foot with the Group Leader, we will walk to the fortified town of Saumur, and see its castle from the outside. We will return to the hotel after our field trip concludes.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 68 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, standing up to 1 hour at a time; cobblestone and paved streets.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out and head off by motorcoach for the castle at Azay-le-Rideau. Built on an island in the middle of the Indre, what we see today was created by a wealthy financier of Francis I, Gilles de Berthelot, who wanted to reconcile innovative ideas from Italy with the French style of construction. Listed as a historic monument by UNESCO, the castle at Azay-le-Rideau has preserved – with the passing years – all the refinement, elegance, and grace of an exceptional Renaissance chateau.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will enjoy a stroll with the Group Leader through the famous gardens of the Château de Villandry. Unusual for the Loire Valley, this chateau and its gardens were the home and pet project of a commoner — albeit one who was powerful and influential — Jean le Breton, the finance minister of King Francois I. The chateau le Breton had built replaced a medieval fortress. Its gardens became famous for their complex symmetrical beauty and have been restored to their original 15th century appearance.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 16 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 3 miles over the course of the day on even and uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart via motorcoach to Clos Lucé, a small château in Amboise. This château was home to Leonardo da Vinci for the last years of his life following an invitation from King Francis I in 1516, who offered it to him as a place to live and work. Restored inside and out to its appearance during Renaissance times, it serves as a museum displaying 40 machines of da Vinci’s design, the chapel, and the gardens as they were in the 16th century.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
We will continue our Loire Valley exploration at the Château de Chenonceau. Built on the foundation of an old mill in the early 16th century, this château is one of the most well-known in the Loire Valley. It has a long and complicated history with many owners, most famously Catherine de’ Medici, who made it her favorite residence and added rooms and gardens. Due to its unique structure, the Château managed to escape destruction during the French Revolution by being the only bridge across the river for several miles.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, paved and unpaved ground. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Via motorcoach, we will go visit the Château of Chambord. We will explore the outside of this huge castle, and see the exterior that offers great insight into royal architecture in the Loire.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy a French style picnic lunch in Chambord.
Afternoon:
Free time in Tours.
Dinner:
On your own. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 192 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time with several stops. Walking up to 2 miles; standing for up to 1 hour; even surfaces, gravel paths. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and depart by motorcoach for Chartres to visit its cathedral and learn from a local expert about the famous stained-glass windows.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Chartres. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell lunch.
Afternoon:
After our farewell lunch, we will ride to our airport hotel, check in, and adjourn for the remainder of the day.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel, depending on flight times. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 28, 2025
May 04, 2025 - May 20, 2025
May 18, 2025 - Jun 03, 2025
Jun 01, 2025 - Jun 17, 2025
Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 16, 2025
Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 30, 2025
Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 14, 2025
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 28, 2025
Apr 12, 2026 - Apr 28, 2026
May 03, 2026 - May 19, 2026
May 17, 2026 - Jun 02, 2026
May 31, 2026 - Jun 16, 2026
Jun 14, 2026 - Jun 30, 2026
Aug 30, 2026 - Sep 15, 2026
Sep 13, 2026 - Sep 29, 2026
Sep 27, 2026 - Oct 13, 2026
Oct 11, 2026 - Oct 27, 2026





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