France
Fest Noz Folk Festival
Fest Noz Folk Festival
Folk Dance, Music, History, Culture, Adventure, and Friendship
When: July 16-29, 2027
Guided by Valeria Presti
Features
★ Brittany, Normandy, Loire Valley, Paris, Rouen, Le Havre, Bayeux,
★ D-day Landing Beaches, Mont St. Michel, St Malo, Quimper,
Carnac, Nantes,
★ Angers, Blois, Chambord, Orleans, Chartres, Palace of Versailles.
★ Cornouailles Fest Noz Folk Festival (near Quimper)!
★ Visit historic cities, capitals, and folkloric villages!
★ Meet Breton, and local folk dancers!
★ Price includes private bus, guide, sightseeing, and two meals daily
Land Price: $5,995
Bring a new traveler and save $500!
(Private tour price: $7995)
To see our 3 choices of payment method, click here.
I can’t wait to go!
Reserve my place with my $200 deposit per person.

Bienvenue en France! Welcome to France!
ITINERARY
Day 1: July 16: Saturday: Departure on airline of you choice
Day 2: July 17: Sunday: Paris
Morning arrival. Make your own way to our hotel. Sightseeing tour of Paris with stop for photos. Eiffel tower, Champs Elysees, Louvre, Opera Garnier, Montmartre. Welcome dinner in hotel and overnight in Paris.

Eiffel Tower
Day 3: July 18: Monday: Paris – Rouen – Etretat – Le Havre
Havre Depart for Normandy. Visit Giverny to see Monet’s house and garden, then drive to ancient city of Rouen, which in Norman times was the home of William the Conqueror before he invaded England. It was in Rouen that Joan of Arc was tried and burned at the stake in 1431. The old town’s narrow streets are lined with picturesque timber-framed houses. Tour with local guide. Free time for lunch Drive to the beautiful resort of Etretat and admire the famous cliffs painted by the impressionists. Folk dancing with Jim. Dinner and overnight in Le Havre or surroundings.
Day 4: July 19. Tuesday: Le Havre – Honfleur – Deauville – Bayeux
In the morning, cross the Seine to Honfleur, panoramic tour with stop for photos. Continue on to the glamorous haven for the rich and famous, the resort of Deauville. Appreciate its famous seafront boardwalk and casino. Free time for lunch in Deauville. Drive to Bayeux to see one of the oldest surviving complete tapestries in the world, the Bayeux Tapestry. This extraordinary masterpiece tells the story of William the Conqueror and his battle with the English King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Folk dancing with Jim. Dinner and overnight in Bayeux or surroundings.
Day 5: July 20, Wednesday: Deauville–Bayeux–D-Day Landing Beaches-Mont St. Michel :
This morning discover the D-Day Landing Beaches with a local guide. Despite Steven Spielberg’s endeavors it’s difficult to picture the dawn scene on D-Day, June 6th 1944, when the Allied troops landed along the coast of Normandy. Now, more than 70 years later, the Normandy coast is peaceful with lovely picturesque beaches and seaside towns with a background of old-fashioned farming landscapes of grazing cattle, hedges and farmhouses. However, memories of D-Day are everywhere. One feels compelled to stop along the way at one of the beautiful cemeteries and reflect on the human cost of war. See the American cemetery, Omaha Beach and the Pointe du Hoc. From here to Mont St. Michel, one of the Wonders of the Western World. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, discover the Mont St Michel with a local guide: A dramatic island off the coast of Normandy linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway, it is an extraordinary site rich in history with one of the most splendid abbeys of France dating back to the 11th century. Folk dancing with Jim. Dinner and overnight in St Malo or surroundings.
Day 6 : July 21, Thursday: Mont St Michel – St Malo – Quimper
On to St. Malo, a unique walled town. Stroll around the quaint narrow streets, walk on the ramparts to breath fresh air of the sea, admire a wonderful panorama and get acquainted with the more famous personalities of St. Malo, such as Jacques Cartier, or the well-known romantic writer Chateaubriand. Tour with local guide. Free time for lunch. Arrive in Quimper in the afternoon. Historical capital of Cornwall, Quimper is generally regarded as the cultural heart of Brittany. The town is real delight to visit, thanks to the quality of its architectural heritage which features the magnificent Saint Corentin’s cathedral, the 16th and 17th century houses, and the quays along the River Odet. Tour with local guide. Dinner and overnight in Quimper or surroundings.
Day 7 : July 22, Friday: Pont Aven, Conarneau, Cornouailles Folk Festival!
This morning, follow the painter paths in the southern Finistère: world famous Pont Aven, nestled in a rocky valley. Head on to Concarneau, a lovely fortified “ville close” nestled in a charming bay. Tour with local guide. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon drive back to Quimper. Time at leisure to discover the CORNWALL FESTIVAL, with its traditional
music, dances, and costumes. One of the most important traditional festival in Brittany. Dinner and overnight in Quimper or surroundings
Day 8 : July 23, Saturday: Quimper
The Cornouailles Festival continues: Join the dances, admire traditional clothes, listen to local music. The festival ends with a grand parade! End of the day at leisure in Quimper to take part to the festival. Free time for lunch. Dinner and overnight in Quimper or surroundings.
Day 9 : July 24, Sunday: Quimper – Carnac – Morbihan Gulf – Nantes
In the morning, you will admire the traditional clothes & dances and listen to the local music during the Parade. This is the most important day of the Festival. 3000 dancers and musicians. Drive to Nantes. Panoramic tour if time permits. You will want to stay at the festival! Dinner and overnight in Nantes – or surroundings.
Day 10: July 25, Monday: Loire Valley: Nantes–Angers–Azay-le-Rideau–Villandry–Tours
Drive through the Loire Valley known for its wines and chateaux, to the beautiful chateau of Azay Le Rideau. Built in the early 1500s and one of the earliest Renaissance chateaux it is surrounded by imposing landscaped gardens and was purchased by the French government and restored; its interior completely refurbished with Renaissance pieces and is now open to public visits. Guided Visit. Drive to the Chateau of Villandry, the last of the great Loire valley castles built in the Renaissance, owes its fame not only to its Spanish-inspired interiors but to the magnificence of its gardens. Set in 17 acres are its beautiful ornamental gardens, water gardens, herb and kitchen gardens. By the end of the day, join the city of Tours. Folk dancing with Jim. Dinner, and overnight in Tours hotel.
Day 11: July 26, Tuesday: visit Loire Chateaux: Chenonceau, Amboise and wine :
In the morning, visit the jewel of Renaissance architecture, the Chateau de Chenonceau.
Set in the perfect setting of river, forests and gardens in the Loire Valley, the beautiful castle in its present form was built in 1513, though its history dates back to 11th century. It has a large collection of Renaissance furniture and art masterpieces, such as Rubens and Le Tintoret. Head on to Amboise. Free time for lunch. Then we proceed to Amboise for a visit of its castle. Free time to visit Clos Luce on your own or just enjoy a coffee in this charming city. Folk dancing with Jim. Dinner, and overnight in Tours
Day 12 : July 27, Wednesday: Blois, Chambord, Orleans
Drive on to the Royal Castle of Blois which dominates the Loire River and is one of the most prestigious monuments in France. Free time for lunch. Then travel to Chambord. Built on the order of Francis I from 1519, the castle is without doubt the largest and most impressive Loire chateau, with its towering facade and its rich and the vast interior. Guided tour. Drive between the rich cornfields of the Beauce to the north and the heaths and forests of the Sologne to the south, and arrive at Orleans, the capital of the Loire Valley. Dinner, and overnight in Orleans – or surroundings
Day 13: July 28: Thursday: Chartres–Versailles-Paris
From here drive to Versailles, created at the time of the French monarchy’s greatest splendor. When Louis XIV moved there from Paris in 1682 it became the center of political power until the Royal Family was forced to return to Paris in 1789 during the French Revolution. With its ornately decorated rooms, chandeliers, marble, bronze and large paintings, Versailles remains the finest jewel of the French Crown. The gardens, created for perfection in their symmetry and harmony, were designed for walking, while the flower beds designed to highlight the castle, with many statues and fountains decorating its paths. Transfer to your hotel in Paris. Free time to get ready for a farewell romantic boat cruise on the River Seine. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Paris
Day 14: July 29, Friday: Paris. After breakfast, depart for airport for return flight home.
REGISTRATION FORM: I can’t wait to go! Enclosed is my registration deposit of $200 per person. Single supplement: $1295. Additional charges: Service charges: $185. Gratuities and drinks during meals not included. Program subject to change without notice. Program subject to change without notice. All tours have a professional guide. If fewer than 10 travelers participate, a fee of $750 will be added. Cancellations 90 days prior to departure: Total refund. Less than 90 days: No refund. Travel insurance recommended. Total balance due April 25. 2027
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Make checks payable to: Jim Gold International, 497 Cumberland Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666 U.S.A Phone (201) 836-0362. Web site: www.jimgold.com E-mail: jimgold@jimgold.com

