Event Information

Experience the best of France on this customized tour including Paris, Chateaux Country and Mont St. Michel, hosted by President Dottie L. King.

A special inclusion for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods students and alumnae/i is the opportunity to visit Etables-sur-Mer in Brittany, France; the birthplace of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, the foundress of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Also included will be several recitals by the College Madrigals choir!

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Itinerary

Board your overnight flight.

Day 1 – 09 May (Wed) – Arrival in Paris, France – Normandy- Mont St Michel Area

Upon arrival claim your luggage and pass through customs where you will meet your Globus Tour Director and depart for the Normandy Beaches. Focus on the scene of the Allied Forces’ landing on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. Drive by Juno Beach, and then stop at Gold Beach for a view of the Mulberry Harbor remains at Arromanches. Visit the AMERICAN CEMETERY where time will be given for prayer and reflection. Also visit its VISITOR CENTER at Omaha Beach. Continue to SAINTE MÈRE EGLISE, the first town to be liberated, with its evocative parachute memorial. DINNER and overnight on the coast near Mont St. Michel. (D)

Day 2 – 10 May (Thu) – Mont St Michel

Start the day with a visit to the D-DAY MUSEUM in Arromanches, which will show you how the plan was executed.Time will be given for a performance or a memorial service. Next, enjoy a guided visit of the famous ABBEY OFMONT ST. MICHEL, perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf of Saint Malo. Celebrate Mass at ST. PETER’S ABBEY,followed by an informal recital presented by the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals. Return to your hotel for DINNER and overnight.(B,D)Note- Performance will be independently arranged and is subject to confirmation).

Day 3 – 11 May (Fri) – Mont St Michel – Excursion to Etables-sur-Mer Depart for Etables-sur-Mer, birthplace of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Time will be given for prayer and reflection. Enjoy lunch on your own and this afternoon celebrate Mass at the NOTRE DAME DE L’ESPERANCE CHAPEL, as sung by the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals,followed by a recital. Return to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. (B)Note- Performance will be independently arranged and is subject to confirmation.

Day 4 – 12 May (Sat) –Mont St Michel – Blois

Enjoy a scenic ride right across Brittany via Châteaubriant to Angers. Stop here for pictures of the impressive 13th-century castle. Then, continue your journey to Ruille sur Loir (Motherhouse of Sisters of Providence) continue to Blois in the Loire Valley, where you will stay for the next two nights. (B)

Day 5 – 13 May (Sun) Blois – Loire Valley Excursion

A rich day of sightseeing. Visit the jewel of the French Renaissance, Château CHAMBORD, and the 16th-century Château of Catherine de Medici, lovely CHENONCEAU maybe Chateau Usse. On to Amboise. Visit CLOS LUCÉ and marvel at an amazing collection of models of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, painstakingly reconstructed from the drawings of the great renaissance genius. (B)

Day 6 – 14 May (Mon) – Blois - Chartres - Paris

This morning, visit Chartres with its superb 13th-century gothic CATHEDRAL—a jewel of medieval architecture.The 11:00am Mass will be sung by the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals. Arrive in Paris in the afternoon.DINNER is included tonight. (B,D)

Day 7 – 15 May (Tue) – Paris

The morning is dedicated to the architectural wonders of NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, where the relics of the Passion of the Christ can be seen. An informal performance by the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals will be arranged here. Next visit SAINTE-CHAPELLE with its 6,458 square feet of stained glass windows of the upper chapel, surrounded by delicate painted stonework. The windows are in deep reds and blues and illustrate 1,130 figures from the Bible. The rose windows were added to the upper chapel in the 15th century. Enjoy free time for lunch. Next Join your local guide for Sightseeing featuring the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées.Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL, and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER End your day with an excursion and DINNER IN MONTMARTRE the most artistic and picturesque district in Paris. Located on the high hill famous for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacre Coeur, you'll have time to stroll around Place du Tertre and watch bohemian street artists at work. (B,D) Note- The performance at Notre Dame is independently arranged and is subject to availability.

Day 8 – 16 May (Wed) – Paris. Excursion to Versailles

A short journey from Paris with your local guide to the lavish 17th-century classical palace built by Sun King LouisXIV, with its magnificent STATE APARTMENTS, Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Chapel. Time to stroll through parts of the elegant 250-acre GARDENS. DINNER is included at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)

Day 9 – 17 May (Thu) – Paris

Let your guide bring to life the most celebrated treasures of the impressive LOUVRE MUSEUM including the famous"Mona Lisa", the masterpiece of Leonardo Da Vinci. Lunch on your own. This afternoon a formal concert at LAMADELEINE CHURCH, presented by the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Madrigals. Tonight enjoy a FAREWELL DINNER at a local restaurant followed by a CRUISE ON THE RIVER SEINE. (B,D) Note- Performance will be independently arranged and is subject to confirmation).

Day 10 – 18 May (Fri) –Departure from Paris.

A group transfer is included to the Paris airport after breakfast this morning. (B)

Guest List

Jeanie Heller '70
Barbara Sopp
Marilynn Sonderman
Kathy Lubeznik ’80
Mary Kay Watson ’69
Al Watson
Sr. Denise Wilkinson ’68
Ann Staats ’88
JoVonna Hogan ’05
Karen Guettler-James
Barbara Brugnaux ’70

Carl Bender
Phyllis Sharp ’70
Bart Sharp
Ann Erie ’85
Alice Erie
Mary Brown ’57
Deborah Lary ’79
Sr. Martha Jacob ’57
Karen Dyer – Vice President for Advancement
Chanel Reeder ’10 - Director of Alumnae Affairs and Annual Giving
Dottie King - President