FROGS IN FRANCE

AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL GARDENS OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

22 May 2020 – 30 May 2020

Day 1 – Fri. 22 May 2020: ARRIVALArrival to Toulouse Airport. Airport assistance (guide).Transfer to your hotel. Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Toulouse:INCLUDED: QUALITY HOTEL in Toulouse

Day 2 – Sat. 23 May 2020: TOULOUSEBreakfast in your hotel. No bus that day.Departure for a guided tour of Toulouse. This visit to the historic heart of Toulouse proposes a concentrate of emblematic monuments. 2 hours

Lunch on your own.

Succumb to the charm of the Toulouse gardens, whether it is the Japanese garden or the garden of plants. Each of the gardens will transport you to its unique universe on the heart of city – 2 hours guided.

Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Toulouse.

Day 3 – Sun. 24 May 2020: MOISSAC – MONTAUBAN - ROCAMADOURBreakfast in your hotel Departure for Moissac – 71.8 km – 1h15

"The most beautiful cloister of the world", it’s the first cloister that has preserved its intact sculpture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. – 2 hours guided.

Departure for Montauban – 30.1 km – 40 minLunch on your own.You discover this pink city, Montauban, made of brick, water and nature which has a rich heritage.

You will enjoy a moment at the arboretum extends over an area of 3 hectares on either side of Tescou. It presents some remarkable specimens of plants. – 2 hours guided.

Departure for Rocamadour –

111 km – 1h40Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Rocamadour: BEAU SITE in Rocamadour 3*  https://www.votre-hotel.com/hotel-rocamadour,best-western-beau-site,50942,fr.htm

Day 4 – Mon. 25 May 2020: ROCAMADOUR – FIGEAC - ALBIBreakfast in your hotel

Guided visit of Rocamadour.Visit of a Rocamadour cheese producer.

Lunch on your own.

Departure for Regional Nature Reserve of the marsh of Bonnefont – 19.5 km – 40 minEnjoy the serenity of the marsh in winter, dive into the spring when the marsh turns green, listen to the songs of birds in summer or paint the reed in the colors of autumn. (visit on your own).

Road to Albi. Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Albi: Mercure Hotel Bastide in Albi https://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-1211-hotel-mercure-albi-bastides/index.shtml

Day 5 – Tues. 26 May 2020: ALBI – CORDES/CIEL - ALBIBreakfast in your hotel

Discovery of the emblematic sites of the episcopal city: the Sainte-Cécile Cathedral listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, the Palace of Berbie and its magnificent garden overlooking the river Tarn, the

collegiate church of Saint-Salvi and its cloister, the banks from the Tarn, the Pont-vieux.... – 2 hours guided.

Lunch on your own.

Road to Cordes-sur-Ciel – 25.4 km – 50 min

Return transfer little train in Cordes.

Guided visit of Cordes. You immerse yourselves in a medieval atmosphere with your guide. (2 hours guided)

Return ride in Albi – 25.4 km – 50 minDinner at leisure. Accommodation in Albi. Mercure Hotel Bastide in Albi https://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-1211-hotel-mercure-albi-bastides/index.shtml

Day 6 – Wed. 27 May 2020: CASTRES - CARCASSONNEBreakfast in your hotel

Road to Castres - 30.5 km – 40 min Visit : Bishopric Garden The garden of the Evêché is an exceptional example of a French garden, in the pure tradition of 17th century classicism. With his games of perspectives, his basin and boxwood embroidery, he is

representative of the creations of André Le Nôtre.

Lunch on your own.

Road to Carcassonne – 64.8 km – 1h30

In the heart of the city of Carcassonne, discover the Count's castle and the ramparts, a masterpiece of Gallo-Roman inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO – 1h30 guided.

Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Carcassonne.

INCLUDED:HOTEL DONJON http://www.cite-hotels.com/hotels/best-western-donjon/

Day 7 – Thu. 28 May 2020: LAGRASSE – ROQUEBRUN - SETE

Breakfast in your hotel

Departure for Lagrasse – 35.8 km – 1 hourGuided visit of the Abbey of Lagrasse ant its gardens. At the apse of the abbey church, three apsidioles and the tower-tower, the garden of about 1500 m² is composed of four parts.

Stop in Narbonne.

Lunch on your own.

Road to Roquebrun – 47 km – 1h

Discover an exotic & Mediterranean paradise in the heart of the Hérault. This garden highlights the Mediterranean flora of Roquebrun and its region and includes a more exotic part including cacti and citrus fruits. Finally, it is the support of a botanical conservatory of endangered local fruit varieties based on original cultivation techniques. – 1 hour (entrance only, not guided)

Road to Sète - 1h30(Or Montpellier)Dinner at leisure. Accommodation in Sète or Montpellier.INCLUDED: Le Mas de Grille, Montpellier Sud ***https://www.theoriginalshotels.com/hotels/montpellier-sud-le-mas-de-grille

Day 8– Fri. 29 May 2020: SETEBreakfast in your hotel

Discovery of the Mediterranean Garden with your guide. In Balaruc-les-Bains,

on a site of 1.7 ha overlooking the pond of Thau, the Mediterranean Garden offers an introduction to the

botanical archeology of the Greek and Gallo-Roman worlds.A showcase of Mediterranean species and a museum of ancient planting techniques, this garden is a unique facility in France and in the Mediterranean basin.You are invited to discover, through 7 original creations (gardens and thematic woods), the Mediterranean flora and its subtle uses (agriculture and horticulture, sacred and mythology, medicine, cooking, cosmetics ...).Its course is chronological (from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century) with educational stations explaining to the visitor the evolution of the Art of gardens and the relationship between Man and Vegetation in Antiquity in a setting landscape, ecological and architectural scene.

Named "Remarkable Garden" in 2012, "Heritage Collection of Biodiversity" in 2013…

Guided tour of Sète – 2 hours A city on the water, Sète .This port made its wealth thanks to the wine trade. Its urbanization and its architecture still bear witness. Stop at the garden of the water tower in the heard of city of Sète..

Dinner at leisure.

Accommodation in Sète or Montpellier.

INCLUDED: Le Mas de Grille, Montpellier Sud *** (no extra cost)https://www.theoriginalshotels.com/hotels/montpellier-sud-le-mas-de-grilleON REQUEST: Hotel Port Marine 3* in Sète. http://fr.hotel-port-marine.com/

Day 9 - Sat. 30 May 2020: DEPARTUREBreakfast in your hotel

Guided Tour of Montpellier. Relive the prodigious growth and exceptional destiny that Montpellier has forged over the centuries. A journey of a thousand years through the alleys of the historic center to

make you live the special atmosphere of the Ecusson. – 2 hours.

Time permitting, depending on your flight time, stop at gardens of plants, the old royal garden of Montpellier, and the oldest in France.

Transfer to Montpellier airport for your departure flight.

*** END OF TOUR ***