YOUR TRIP INCLUDES: Round-trip air from New York to France (special Add-on Airfares from all US gateways) Airline FUEL SURCHARGES INCLUDED (up to $280) 7 nights at centrally located three and four-star hotels follows: (or similar)
3 nights: Hotel Moderne or Gallia Londres, in Lourdes
1 night: Hotel De Diane or Nevers Sanctuarie, Nevers
1 night: Grand Hotel de Esperance, Lisieux
2 nights: Novotel Tour Eiffel or Hotel Le Marquis or Sofitel la Defense, Paris Breakfast and Dinner Daily Wine, mineral water, coffee, and tea with dinners Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s) Transfers as per itinerary Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction Mass daily & Spiritual activities Luggage handling (1 piece per person) Flight bag & portfolio of all travel document
Not Included: Airport taxes (approx. $120-$180, subject to change), Lunches. Travel Insurance optional at $99-$229 (www.206tours.com/insurance), Cancel for Any Reason Protection @ $199 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver (€ 7-9 per day). Items of a personal nature.
Visit Lourdes, the birthplace of St Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle. While in Lourdes drink from the spring that the Virgin directed Bernadette to locate at the base of the grotto, which has flowed uninterrupted since 1858. Wash yourself in the baths where miraculous cures have taken place. Contemplate Christ's Passion as you pray the unique three-dimensional Stations of the Cross. Attend the blessing of the sick, and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady.
Visit town of Lisieux, the home of St Therese whom Pope Pius X called "the greatest saint of modern times" Visit Paris and all its wonderful sights like Notre Dame Cathedral and Sacre Coeur, see the sights as the Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, and drive through the Champs Elysees. Mass at Shrine of the Miraculous Medal.
Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary: Day 1 - Depart USA Depart from New York, JFK or from your hometown for the overnight flight to France. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2 - Lourdes Upon your arrival in Lourdes transfer to your hotel. Relax or explore before dinner, followed by a candlelight procession before retiring. Dinner and overnight.
Days 3 & 4 - Lourdes
Mass at the Grotto, enjoy a video presentation telling the story of Lourdes, and walk in the footsteps of St Bernadette. See Boly Mill where St Bernadette was born and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family. Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring or submerge yourself in the healing baths. Experience Christ's love as you walk the life-sized Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto. Kneel in the chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto, in obedience to the request of the "Immaculate Conception." Evenings are for Blessed Sacrament Procession before dinner. Your role in the universal church will have new meaning as you join the candlelight procession and group rosary. (candle light procession and group rosary April through October only).
Day 5 - Lourdes - Nevers After breakfast leave on the flight to Paris or Lyon. Upon arrival, you will meet your new guide. We will travel by motor coach to the town of Nevers by way of the picturesque Loire Valley. After taking the veil in 1867, St Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers. At least three times during her short life-time, she received the last Sacraments. She was gradually struck by other illnesses as well as asthma: among them, tuberculosis of the lung and a tubercular tumor on her right knee. St Bernadette eventually died at the age of 35. See St Bernadette's incorrupt body at the convent of St Gildard, miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Overnight in Nevers.
Day 6 - Nevers - Chartres - Lisieux After breakfast we depart for Chartres, famous for its stained-glass windows and wonderful colors dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. We will tour the Cathedral followed by free time for to explore and enjoy Chartres and it's famed maze on your own. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.
Day 7 - Lisieux - Rouen - Paris After breakfast we enjoy a tour of Lisieux, the home of St Therese whom Pope Pius X called "the greatest saint of modern times." Her extraordinary love for God and service to humanity comes alive as you visit the Basilica of Saint Therese, one of the biggest and most magnificent religious structures built in the 20th century. During our stay in Lisiuex a mass will be celebrated. We will stop at Les Buissonets, St. Therese's family home, there on display are relics, clothing, and personal objects belonging to the "little flower." Before leaving tour the ancient Cathedral of St Peter and the Carmelite Convent. We continue on to Rouen where on the 30th May 1431, Joan of Arc was burnt at Place du Vieux Marche. We will visit the Joan of Arc museum and Rouen church. We continue on to Paris for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 - Paris Wake up in Paris and depart for mass at Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. View the incorrupt body of St Catherine Labouret whose guardian angel led her to the chapel where the Blessed Virgin displayed a vision of the miraculous medal and later the green scapular. The Virgin promised bountiful graces for all who wore these. Our sightseeing tour includes some of the most beautiful and important churches in the world such as Notre Dame Cathedral and Sacre Coeur, see the sights as the Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, and drive through the Champs Elysees. Enjoy other sights on this mostly panoramic tour. Return to the hotel for little relaxing, dinner and overnight.
Day 9 - Depart from Paris Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
