Discover French Treasures
Study Trip (June 17-July 1, 2007)
Join the CSUSB French Program on a trip through Normandy, the Loire Valley and Paris. Along the way, you will discover many historical treasures while savoring France’s cultural and culinary legacy.
[ Download .pdf version of Trip Information here. ]
Bon Voyage
Discover
the beauty and magical history of France as we take a trip through time
from the Bayeux Tapestry (recounting the Norman Conquest of England in
1066) to the Gothic Abbey of Mont St. Michel to the splendid Renaissance
Chateaux of the Loire Valley. After visiting the Cathedral of Chartres
with its extraordinary stained glass windows and unrivaled sculpture,
we will spend an afternoon exploring the apartments and gardens of Louis
XIV’s Versailles before culminating our trip with five days
in Paris, where modern architecture abuts medieval buildings.
Our trip will balance the structure of an organized program in Bayeux, the
D-Day Beaches and Mont St. Michel with plenty of free time in Tours and
Paris. Faculty accompanying the group will help you find activities
to suit your traveling style-- whether it’s a bike tour to the
fairy tale Chateau in Azay-le-Rideau or a wine-tasting tour of the Loire
vineyards. In Paris, we’ll take walking tours based on your
interests. With your museum pass (included), you can visit as many
museums as you want-- with priority entrance!
Academic Credit
Academic credit will be available for students by registering in a French 470D
course in Spring 2007 (4 units). You must have completed French
200 or above to be eligible for the course. This class will meet one
hour per week during Spring quarter to learn more about the places
we will be visiting and to develop useful vocabulary for the trip. A
number of activities and individual projects will be completed while
in France, as well as a final report due after our return.
Itinerary
Monday,
June 18
- Departure
from LAX. Overnight flight to France.
Tuesday,
June 19
- Bayeux’s
Gothic Cathedral. Bayeux Tapestry (231 feet) recounts the
1066 Norman Conquest of England.
Wednesday,
June 20
- D-Day
sites in Normandy including the American Military Cemetery.
- 13th Century Abbey of Mont St. Michel and surrounding village.
Chateau de Fougères.
Friday, June 22- Monday, June 25
- Tours: Individually-planned
activities using the Tourist Office to visit the city’s interesting
museums and the surrounding area’s fabulous Chateaux. Walking
tours, bus and bike tours, Wine-Tasting, Son-et-Lumière
Spectacles are all available.
- Chartres
Cathedral with extraordinary stained glass, Sumptous Versailles Palace
and Gardens
Wednesday,
June 27-Saturday, June 30
- Explore
Paris. Daily walking tours. Paris Museum Pass (included)
gives priority entrance to over 70 museums and monuments including
the Louvre, Notre Dame, Musée National Picasso, and the
Arc de Triomphe.
Sunday,
July 1
- Au
revoir, la France! Return to LA.
|
Price
per person: $3200*
*Subject
to exchange rate & final number of participants
Our final
costs may change slightly (and may even decrease!) depending
upon the exchange rate and the number of participants at the
time of final payment. The current price is based upon
20 participants and an exchange rate of $1.29/euro.
Everyone
is required to provide proof of a valid passport and health insurance
by May 15, 2007. Casterbridge Tours (our tour organizer)
offers a full Health, Cancellation and Property insurance (contact
Dr. Nelson for more details). Field trip forms for the university
are also required.
In order
to keep the price affordable, we did not include excursions in
Tours. However, the Tours Tourist Office (http://www.ligeris.com)
offers numerous inexpensive walking tours and excursions which
can be pre-booked or booked on-site. Or, for the ultimate
freedom, you might wish to rent a car.
If you wish
to stay on in France, alternate return dates can be requested at
the time of initial deposit for an additional fee of $75 plus any
supplement imposed by the airline.
Single rooms
are available for a supplement (approximately $35/night).
What’s included?
- Round-trip airfare with a major carrier on scheduled flights and guaranteed dates
- All airport taxes (currently $225)
- Services of a meet-and-greet guide upon arrival
- Double/Twin accommodation in 3-Star and Superior 2-Star Tourist Class Hotels with private baths guaranteed. There may be an occasional triple.
- Continental breakfast every day
- 5-Day Paris Museum Pass
- 5-Day Paris Métro pass
- Admission fees:
- Bayeux Cathedral & Musée de la Tapisserie
- D-Day sites: Mulberry Harbor, German Battery, Pointe du Hoc, American Military Cemetery
- Mont St. Michel Abbey (La Merveille)
- Fougères Chateau
- Chartres Cathedral
- Versailles State Apartments and Gardens
- Transportation by private coach for transfers and touring (except in Tours); Métro pass for Paris transportation provided
- All taxes
What’s not included?
- Lunches and dinners
- Services of a Casterbridge full-time tour manager/guide (CSUSB Faculty will be present throughout the trip)
- Private transportation or excursions during the stay in Tours
- Visas (if required)
- Tips and gratuities for the driver (suggested 2 €/day)
- Travel insurance (required)
Payment dates
- Nonrefundable deposit of $500 due by October 13, 2006 made payable to Casterbridge Tours
- Final payment due by February 28, 2007
Visit the links on the left to learn more about French Studies at CSUSB.
