Taste of France

What’s that huge white arch at the end of the Champs-Élysées? It’s the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 after his victory at Austerlitz. Your licensed local guide will elaborate on this and other Parisian landmarks. See some of the city’s most famous sites, including the ornate 19th-century Opera, the presidential residence, and the Place de la Concorde—where, at the center, you’ll find the Obelisk of Luxor, a gift from Egypt in 1836. Spot chic locals (and plenty of tourists) strolling the Champs-Élysées. Look up at the iron girders of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Visit Les Invalides (a refuge for war-wounded soldiers) and the École Militaire (Napoleon’s alma mater).

Get a taste of Parisian gastronomie. Join a local guide for a tour of a neighborhood chocolate or cheese shop, where sampling is a must!

See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. Spot the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.

After an early breakfast, explore Rungis, the world’s largest wholesale market and the source of Paris’s finest ingredients. Tour vast halls filled with fresh produce, cheese, fish, and flowers. Please note: this activity takes place very early in the morning around 5:00 a.m. at the time when the market is open and bustling!

Explore Paris’s oldest covered market, where global street food and local delicacies come alive in a bustling atmosphere. Discover the rich history behind its name, drawn from 17th-century orphans once clothed in red.

Immigration from North Africa (particularly from Tunisia and Morocco), has given the French capital a colorful mix of cuisines. Couscous is one of the most popular dishes today in Paris. Join the locals at a traditional North African restaurant and enjoy an authentic couscous: semolina traditionally served with a fragrant meat and vegetable stew.

In the Loire Valley, medieval fortresses evolved into Renaissance showpieces along the riverbanks. Visit Azay-le-Rideau, a fairy-tale castle whose limestone turrets and slate spires rise from an island in the Indre River. Continue to Château de Chenonceau, gracefully spanning the Cher with arches and gardens. Designed and expanded under Catherine de Medici, its stone gallery reflects the elegance of the French court.

Carved out by hand starting in the 12th century to extract tuffeau stone for building, the Cave aux Moines later found new life in the early 20th century as a mushroom farm. The cave’s entrance and first galleries once served as homes in a unique form of underground living known as “troglodyte” life, where people and animals shared space in a close-knit community.

Explore the lavish rooms of Château de Chenonceau, a 16th-century castle once home to Catherine de’ Medici. Stretching across the River Cher, its grounds feature a maze and stunning gardens with beautiful views.

The Loire Valley is known for crisp white wines made from Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Tour a local vineyard to learn how wine is made and sample regional reds, rosés, and sparkling varieties. Adults can enjoy a tasting. À votre santé! Cheers!

Embark on a culinary adventure in the heart of the Loire Valley. Begin by learning about French produce and agricultural traditions, then put your knowledge to work in a hands-on workshop and cooking class. Enjoy the three-course meal you prepare, guided by professional chefs.

Visit Isigny Sainte-Mère, a renowned Normandy dairy farm known for its cheeses and innovations. Learn how high-quality milk is transformed into Camembert, Brie, and more. A local guide leads the tour, ending with a tasting of fresh cheeses.

Ingenious engineering allowed the Allies to land at Arromanches on D-Day, when 600,000 tons of concrete were sunk to form an artificial harbor. Barges, jetties, and 10 miles of floating roadways brought troops ashore. At the Arromanches Museum, dioramas, models, and interactive displays bring this remarkable feat to life.

See the D-Day beaches where on June 6, 1944, thousands of Allied troops landed in an effort to recapture the coast from Germany. All along the beaches, deserted German bunkers have been turned into memorials and the stark white crosses and stars that mark the cemeteries are grim reminders of the war.

Step into the shoes of U.S. servicemen landing in Normandy on D-Day. Learn about their lives and experiences to gain both personal and historical perspective.

Embark on a flavorful journey through France’s cheesemaking heritage with a 90-minute guided tour of The Cheese Museum in Paris. Enjoy expert storytelling, live demonstrations, and a curated tasting of iconic French cheeses.

Follow your Tour Director through the artsy hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre towards Basilica Sacré-Cœur. Watch local street artists work their magic in the central square of Place du Tertre before seeking out the iconic red windmill on the roof of Moulin Rouge, birthplace of the French cancan dance.