Paris Bastille Day & History at Puy-du-Fou!

Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.

Today is the Bastille Day in France!

July 14th is always a great success. In Paris, the traditional military parade, meticulously prepared, has been a tradition since 1880. It takes place on the Champs-Élysées.

Meet your English-speaking guide at the hotel and take the metro to the Champs-Elysées (approx. 10-minute journey), after the security facilities, enter the secure area of the Champs-Elysées to watch the famous military parade (free of charge, no seating reserved).

The military parade is usually starting at 10:00 am. It begins with the Patrouille de France flying over the Arc de Triomphe. The procession, made up of various military units, then proceeds down the famous Parisian Avenue to the Place de la Concorde, where the President of the Republic and a large part of his government are seated.

Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit at the Jacquemart-André Museum, which has the finest private collection of art works in Paris, combined with the atmosphere of a large nineteenth-century residence. The Jacquemart-André Museum contains collections worthy of the greatest museums: works from the Italian Renaissance, works by great Flemish masters, French works from the 18th century.

In the end : Meet your English-speaking guide at the hotel and take the metro to the Champs-de-Mars (Eiffel Tower), where you'll attend Paris's biggest annual party. The Champs-de-Mars is the huge lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower, so arrive early and carefully choose your spot on the grass where you'll set up for the whole evening, to make sure you have a prime spot to watch the big stage and fireworks (everyone sits where they like, it's a very festive atmosphere with friends and family). Picnic on site (provided by the hotel), then attend the Concert de Paris with the Orchestre national de France, the Chœur and the Maîtrise de Radio France (classical music) at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. It starts at around 9 p.m. and is broadcast live on France Inter radio and France 2 TV.

At around 11 p.m., the July 14th fireworks display will take place, lasting around 1/2 hour.

A must-see event at least once in your life!

The rest of the evening is free for partying in various Parisian venues.

Individual return to hotel. Overnight (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel

Departure for an amazing walking tour with your English-speaking guide in the Haut-Marais (Upper-Marais) district, which stretches roughly from Rue de Bretagne to Place de la République, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. It's an extension of the historic Marais district, known for its preserved medieval architecture, trendy boutiques and lively cultural scene. Haut Marais is a small neighborhood just to the north, centered around Rue de Bretagne, a long street with many shops, cafés and boutiques. When the lower part of the Marais became a little too crowded and trendy, the Haut Marais gladly took its place as the more exclusive and chic part of this trendy district. Here you'll find a mix of charming little streets, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and cafés. It's less touristy than the Marais proper.

Drop off at Marché des Enfants Rouges (Red Children’s Market) with your guide. This market is an institution of the Upper-Marais and the oldest covered market in Paris (built in 1615), it is a must for many Parisians today, it's above all for the quality of the produce it offers: for a few Euros, you can be transported to the four corners of France and to Greece, Italy, Lebanon or Morocco! We love to sit at one of its little stalls, discover the many cuisines of the world and stroll among its colorful stands! Bon Appétit! Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, enjoy a visit of Ile-de-la-Cité and Ile-Saint-Louis, … these 2 islands in Paris are special places not to miss. Their quaysides are wonderful places to stroll and discover with surprise and delight the elegance and refinement of “hôtels particuliers” (private mansions) on the adjacent Île Saint-Louis. Linked by a bridge, these two islands on the Seine are inseparable.

Visit of the newly renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral with your guide, on Ile-de-la-Cité (subject to availability)

Dinner at your hotel. Overnight (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel

Departure with your Eng.-speaking guide to the famous Montmartre district. Take the Montmartre funicular up the hill, enjoy a walking guided tour of this emblematic district and have a look on the Montmartre’s vineyards, enjoy a wine tasting! Have lunch at a local restaurant. Rest of the afternoon, time at leisure.

Short walk to the Théâtre des Nouveautés (a 600-seat theater) and enjoy at 8pm the famous 100% English-speaking One-Man Show “How to become a Parisian in one-hour?” with Olivier Giraud. For over 70 minutes, Olivier Giraud teaches his multicultural audience the art of behaving like a true Parisian in 8 lessons. By the end of his entertaining, interactive show, you’ll have no secrets about being a “Parisian” ! The show takes place on stage, but also in the auditorium, with spectators from all over the world – around 30 nationalities at each performance. A motley audience of Parisians, provincials, expatriates and tourists, laughing (together!) at cultural differences (duration 1h15)

After the show, evening at leisure.

Dinner on your own expense. Overnight (B, L)

Breakfast at the hotel

Start your day with a relaxing stroll in the park of the Versailles Palace, discover its paths, the Grand Canal or Little Venice with your guide. Then, enjoy the visit of the Grands Appartements, which was the residence of three kings of France from 1682 to 1789. Discover the majesty of the Palace of Versailles and its most beautiful rooms. A symbol of royal power, admire the decoration, the palace’s Baroque architecture, its works of art, and antique furniture. Admire the grandeur of the Versailles Hall of Mirrors, a unique room and explore the beautiful formals gardens. Lunch at a local restaurant in Versailles.

In the afternoon, experience the amazing visit at Claude Monet’s House & Gardens in Giverny. A must-see to not miss, Monet's gardens at Giverny illustrate the Impressionist soul. Passionate about colors, paintings and flowers, this unique site is the gateway to the gardens of Normandy. Famous for its water garden, pond, water lilies and famous Japanese bridge, Claude Monet’s Garden reveals all its secrets. The garden is open all year round ... It's a permanent explosion of color. Round off your visit to the garden with a tour of the colorful house... Impressive! 

Dinner at your hotel. Overnight (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel

Day at leisure

In the evening, take the TGV train (High-Speed Train) from Paris to Nantes.  

Check-in & dinner at hotel in Nantes. Overnight (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel

Departure by coach to the Puy du Fou Park

Escape to the heart of the legendary Puy du Fou Forest and spend an unforgettable holiday with family and friends. Twice voted “World's Best Amusement Park”, Le Puy du Fou welcomes more than 2 million visitors a year for thrills and spectacular shows.

Through grandiose, award-winning shows, take a unique journey back in time, from the Roman Empire to the beginnings of cinema, with theatrical reconstructions of different eras in history that will remain engraved in your memory forever!

Chariot races, cloak-and-dagger duels, aerial ballet by 300 birds of prey... In a deluge of stunts and special effects, get ready for an overwhelming experience, day or night, as you watch 20 breathtaking shows designed like blockbuster movies. Each scene is staged in such a way as to leave the audience breathless, with special effects mingling with the performance of the actors and numerous extras. Between two adventures, take time to stroll through the narrow streets of authentic period villages.

Dinner at the restaurant “l’Ecuyer Tranchant”: In the kitchens of the hotel "La Citadelle", enjoy a generous buffet and taste the roasted meats of the Écuyer-Tranchant! Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an authentic medieval castle, located in the heart of the Cité Nocturne, and enjoy dishes inspired by the tables of the Middle Ages. Thanks to the all-you-can-eat buffet formula, you can create your own menu according to your desires and appetites.

Come and discover the Puy du Fou Cinescénie,  the biggest night-time show in the world! When night falls, discover the great Puy du Fou night show. In the magical setting of the Château du Puy du Fou, the 2,550 actors bring French history to life during a 1h30 show on a 23-hectare stage! Take a seat in the Cinescénie grandstands and travel through the ages with the Maupilier family's story: from the Middle Ages to the Second World War, via the Renaissance and the Vendée War, relive the history of the Vendée. Over 13 million viewers already!

Overnight at La Citadelle Hotel 3* in Puy-du-Fou Park. (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel

Day at leisure in the Puy du Fou Park, enjoy your day with all the shows

Dinner with entertainment at “Café de la Madelon”: Imagine that in 1914, you are invited to “La Madelon”’s wedding meal. Everything is ready for the wedding, but nothing will go as planned! Close to the “Bourg Berard”, venture into the warm atmosphere of this lively restaurant, and watch a show while you dine, full of twists and surprises! Along with the families of the “Madelon” and “Braco”, their cousins and friends, you’ll be sitting down to a meal, especially made to celebrate their wedding. You’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time to a typical French café from the beginning of the 20th century, with architecture inspired by the “Belle Époque”, the perfectly timed choreographies, and our team of dancing waiters!

In the evening, at dusk, gentle melodies echo across the lake, gradually awakening memories of the most romantic weddings. The “Les Noces de Feu” show perfectly combines water and fire, the intimate and the grandiose, the aquatic and the aerial, the delicacy of electroluminescent costumes and the gigantism of sets rising from the depths of the lake. This nocturnal phantasmagoria, set to music, offers a poetic journey to the heart of the 19th century, the Romantic era par excellence. After meeting in the show “Les Orgues de Feu”, the violinist Muse and the virtuoso pianist reunite to celebrate their eternal love in a fairy tale of water and fire. Join them for this fantastic wedding, where huge underwater sets and 30 underwater actors/stuntmen in electroluminescent costumes emerge from the depths of the lake like mirages, and come to life to offer the newlyweds the dream of an unforgettable celebration on a stage of over 7,000 m². Each performance, lasting an average of 30 minutes, will take place in front of an audience of 7,000.

Overnight at La Citadelle Hotel (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel, check-out

Day at leisure in the Puy du Fou Park, enjoy your day with all the shows

In the afternoon, take the TGV train (High-Speed Train) back to Paris.

Check-in at M SOCIAL PARIS 4* in Paris.

Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Overnight (B, D).

Breakfast at the hotel, check-out

Free morning or cooking class at the hotel!

Lunch at the hotel

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