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Itinerary Day 1: June 14, 2012: Depart the USA from your own home city or any city of your choice! Deb's Free to Fly program allows you to depart directly from any airport to meet our group in Paris, France. Not only will you avoid the hassles associated with meeting at a fixed departure airport to travel with a group, but you may leave when you want and use any airline points or mileage plan that suits you! In the past, clients who fly independently save 100s of dollars over group arranged flights. Deb's program allows you to save money while you relax and enjoy a flight from your hometown to Paris! Day 2: June 15, 2012: Today you will arrive in Paris. Our group will be meeting at a Paris CDG hotel for a relaxing evening following and overnight stay. Overnight Paris CDG. D Day 3: June 16 - Following breakfast, we depart on our incredible journey of France together. It's off to the TGV station where we will catch our high-speed TGV train to Avignon, our gateway to Provençe and the South of France. After arrival, we will be transferred to our Avignon hotel. It will be a great afternoon to take a walk around this fabulous and historical city. Don't miss la rue des Teinturiers (dyers street); following the Sorgue River you will find water mills - most used by the The Indienneurs (fabric printers and dyers) during the 17th and 18th centuries. For those who are interested, our guide will be leading an afternoon/evening walking tour around this part of Avignon. Overnight Avignon. B. Day 4: June 17 - Today will be a delight for any photographer, antique or fabric lover - it is market day in L'isle sur la Sorgue. Traveling through this part of Provence is a photographers dream as the colors of the lavender, sunflowers and poppies are ablaze in the fields only during this time of year and we will take the time to enjoy these sites during our travels through the area. Lisle sur la Sorgue is known as one of Europe's antique capital's, on Sunday this picturesque and sleepy village becomes a haven for shoppers. You will enjoy the aromas of freshly milled soaps, spices and sausages as you wander the cobblestone streets finding almost any treasure you can imagine. Throughout the village shops and boutiques you will find contemporary quilts reminiscent of the area's past. Textile vendor stalls are overflowing with antique quilts and textiles, Provençial fabrics and decorative pieces. Overnight Avignon. B Day 5: June 18 - After our breakfast buffet we will be heading further south to the village of Tarasçon and the Souleiado Museum. This is an amazing place dedicated to the preservation of the textile history of the area. The museum exhibits tell the story of the textile and boutis atelier's of Provence in the 18th and 19th centuries. Lucky for us, a factory outlet for Soulieado is on the grounds of the museum - a must stop for any fabric enthusiast. Following lunch, we will go to the screen-printing factory of Les Oliviades to contrast our morning visit with a factory tour during contemporary fabric production. A special surprise for chocolate lovers will conclude our day in St. Remy de Provençe. Overnight Avignon. B Day 6: June 19 - There are so many places rich with quilt and fabric resources in this part of France, and today we will visit one of my favorites. Located in Calvisson, The Maison du Boutis Museum is dedicated to the Broderie de Marseille style (or Boutis) quilts this region is famous for one will also see several examples of Indian Palampores. Following our visit here, it is a short drive over to Nimes, where we will enjoy the some first hand views of early Provençial life and culture in the Musée de Vieux Nimes. Nimes is best known for the first production of denim. Overnight Avignon. B Day 7: June 20 - Today we say good-bye to Provençe. By TGV, we will wind our way up to the northeast and the area known as Alsace and the city of Mulhouse. This is the largest area where fabrics were printed in 18th-19th century Europe. After arrival and check into our hotel, you will have an opportunity to participate in a walking tour of the city with our guide. Otherwise, the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy Mulhouse. Be sure to try some Alsatian food at dinner. Overnight Mulhouse. B Day 8: June 21 - Following breakfast today, we will visit the Musée d'Impression sur Etoffes (Museum of Printed Textiles) within walking distance of our hotel. Here, we will have a guided tour of the facility detailing fabric printing manufacture in Alsace from the 1700s. If it is desired, you have the option to spend time in their document study room with over 3,000,000 printed fabric samples. The museum will be having an incredible exhibition of fabrics from the mid-eighteenth century until today that feature children. This will be a must for any quilt lover or textile historian. As an option, we have arranged an afternoon visit with Jacqueline Jacque, the former curator of textiles at the museum, she will share her insights on this areas textile and mill history. The remainder of the day is free to explore this enchanting town or perhaps take the train to the historic village of Colmar, less than 30 minutes away. Overnight Mulhouse. B Day 9: June 22 - Today is a free day in Alsace. You may use it as a day to recuperate from all of our activities, or enjoy some of the additional sights in this incredible area. There is a renowned automobile museum nearby as well as a historic wallpaper museum located in the next town. Additionally, we can arrange for block printing classes in the museum using blocks from their early wood block collection or additional textile study in their document room. Both optional activities have limited space, so do sign up early. Overnight Mulhouse. B Day 10: June 23 - Today we will travel by TGV train to the center of Paris. On our way to the station in Strasbourg, we will have a little surprise stop at the wonderful fabric outlet for reproductions of very early fabrics from this area and from the Oberkampf factory. Once we are in Paris, we will be transferred to our hotel. This evening is yours to enjoy the incredible 'city of lights'. Overnight Paris. B Day 11: June 24 - Not far from the center of Paris is the town of Jouy en Josas - the home of France's most well known 18th century fabric industrialist Christophe-Phillipe Oberkampf. As the home of 'Toile de Jouy', the factory here was known as a 'Royal Manufacture' as many cottons were printed for use by the Louis XIV. Here we will visit a museum that honors Oberkampf's contributions to the world of printed fabrics. This afternoon we will return to Paris where the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy on your own. If you like, we can drop you at Versailles where you can arrange your own tour and return to the hotel. Overnight Paris. B Day 12: June 25 - We're in Paris, there is so much to see and do here. Today is a day to enjoy the city. Use it to unwind, take time for some shopping, the Eiffel Tower, Luxembourg Gardens or any of the many Paris sites. Today we have arranged for an afternoon visit Parisian quilters for all who would wish to join us. Overnight Paris. B Extension Begins: Day 13: June 26 - Those not taking part in the extension tour will depart today while those continuing on with us will have another free day in Paris. Overnight Paris. B Day 14: June 27: Following breakfast we will depart for the train that will take us to Bayeux. Upon arrival we will go to see the historical and famous Bayeux Tapestry. After checking into our hotel, the evening is free to enjoy this quaint and picturesque village. Day 15: June 28: Today we will spend the full day touring Mont Saint-Michel which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famously located on a rocky tidal island (meaning its an island only at high tide; however, it is always connected via causeway to the mainland). Here we will have a guided tour of the island and the abbey that is here. B Day 16: June 29: A visit to this part of France would not be complete without a visit to the Normandy Beaches. We will tour all of the Normandy attractions, including Omaha Beach and the surrounding areas. B. Day 17: June 30: Today, we will return to Paris via train. Our stop will be at at the Paris CDG rail station. Our hotel is strategically planned so that you are not far from the airport for tomorrow's departure. We will meet this evening for a farewell dinner together. B, D. Day 18: July 1 - As all good things must come to an end - we must say good-bye to France and leave with memories of our journey together. It is my hope you return home from your adventure with vivid memories of a rich textile tradition and the inspiration to carry it forward in your own way. B Enjoy our slideshow from previous tours
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12 Day Tour - June 15-June 26, 2012 $2899 Extension June 26-July 1, 2012 $799 Above prices are based on double occupancy. Limited Single supplements are available, please refer to the registration form or email for single supplement pricing. In order to guarantee a space on this tour, we ask that you please register by March 1, 2012. Included in your quilting journey of France
Download Registration Materials Here Terms and Conditions apply when registration is received International travel law states that your passport must remain valid for 6 months after your scheduled return from this trip
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