Top France Historical Tours - page 2

On this eminently civilized guided tour with a round trip transportation from Paris. Your guide will show you the most magnificent of the 2,000 rooms, including the Hall of Mirrors, the King’s State Apartments, and the King’s Private Apartments, then introduce you to the magical 2,000-acre (800-hectare) gardens.

Spend a half-day exploring the unforgettable attractions of Versailles, including the extraordinary gardens, opulent palace, and Marie-Antoinette's Estate, all on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Follow a knowledgeable guide through King Louis XIV's 17th-century residence, imagining the ornately decorated Baroque rooms as a private home for the royal family and nobility. Tours are available in English and Spanish.

See various parts of Versailles and its palace grounds on this day trip from Paris via a high-speed train. When you arrive, cruise around town and the grounds of the palace on a bike. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the Palace where you walk through the famous gardens and see the fountains. You also stop at the farmers market, visit Marie Antoinette's hamlet.

With just one day to experience Provence, this full-day tour from Avignon includes the famous lavender fields (seasonal), picturesque hilltop towns, and Provencal markets. Visit historic landmarks such as Senanque Abbey and the UNESCO-listed Pont du Gard; explore the towns of Roussillon, les Baux de Provence, and Gordes; and follow in the footsteps of Van Gogh in Saint Remy de Provence.

Visit two of the most impressive Roman ruins in Provence and sample the region’s renowned wines on this half-day small-group tour from Avignon. Marvel at the grand aqueduct of Pont du Gard, visit the UNESCO-listed Roman Theater in Orange, then enjoy wine tasting at a Chateaneuf du Pape winery.

Experience the Eiffel Tower the way Gustave Eiffel himself would have by climbing its stairs on a guided adventure. Learn about its history, hidden stories and engineering feats along the way. Then from the second level, take the elevator to the top (optional extra) for panoramic views of Paris, where you can stay and explore at your own leisure.

Visit some of World War II’s most important battle sites—and leave all the planning and navigation to someone else—on this full-day tour of the Normandy landing beaches from Bayeux. Walk the battlefields and beaches where thousands of Allied troops took part in history’s largest seaborne invasion, including key sights such as Utah Beach, Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc. Then, pay your respects at the Normandy American Cemetery.

Discover Lyon’s highlights, and wend your way past major landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage sites alike, on this small-group walking tour. Meet your guide in the afternoon at the Bartholdi Fountain, and set off on foot. Over the course of several hours, you’ll learn all about the city’s history and gourmet traditions, will stroll through Vieux Lyon (its Old Town), will travel by funicular up Fourvière Hill, and more.

Pedal through the parks of Versailles and enjoy timed entrance to the magnificent palace on this full-day tour from Paris. Learn the secrets of palace life, the truth about Marie Antoinette and the palace’s role in the French Revolution on a bike tour of Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet and the Petit and Grand Trianons. Visit Palace of Versailles, where you have time to explore the apartments and Hall of Mirrors independently. Discover the market with your guide and delve into the flavors of French cuisine.

Ensure you won't miss any of the famous masterpieces at Paris’s Louvre Museum on a small-group tour. Avoid getting lost in the large museum and follow your guide to collection highlights, including the "Mona Lisa," "Venus de Milo," and more. Learn the backstories of these works and enrich your understanding of the art.

Marvel over the masters of Impressionism on a private or small-group tour of the Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum) in Paris. Enjoy the undivided attention of your expert guide, who introduces you to famous works by artists including Renoir, Cézanne, and Manet, while explaining the innovative techniques used by Monet and Van Gogh. A must-do tour for art enthusiasts and anyone wanting to learn more.

Discover the charms of one of Paris' most popular neighborhoods, without getting lost, on a guided walking tour of Montmartre, a district known for its artists and historically bohemian vibe. See where artists like Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Pissarro lived and worked, sights such as the Basilica du Sacre-Coeur, and get insights from your guide about the art, music, food, and history of Montmartre.

Enjoy an intimate historical look at the D-Day landings on this full-day trip to the beaches of Normandy from Paris. Travel by comfortable van accommodating no more than eight people, and visit Omaha Beach, the Operation Overlord Museum, German bunkers, Pointe du Hoc, as well as the American Cemetery home to 10,000 white crosses. See period-era military maps, plans, and photos, while listening to inspiring stories about June 6, 1944. Sip some of Normandy’s famous traditional cider before returning to Paris.

Experience the glamorous resort towns, white-sand beaches, and ocean views of the French Riviera on this full-day small-group tour. With an extended itinerary, you’ll visit Antibes, Eze, Saint-Paul de Vence, and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Explore the local market in Antibes, admire the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, and see the world-famous Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, with convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in Nice.

Bordeaux is home to a wide range of UNESCO–listed attractions—but it can be hard for first-timers to see them all on their own. Instead, book a hassle-free, private walking tour to check off the city's best-known sights in a single excursion. Choose a start time that works best for your schedule, and set off to discover highlights from the Port Cailhau and Grand Théâtre to the Bordeaux Cathedral.

Step into the heart of Paris on a guided walking tour of Île de la Cité, home to Notre Dame Cathedral and centuries of fascinating history. Stroll along the Seine, learn about the island’s transformation from ancient village to cultural hub, and admire the cathedral’s ongoing restoration. Upgrade to step inside Sainte-Chapelle, then finish at the storied Pont Neuf—Paris’s oldest bridge.

Saint-Emilion is both a UNESCO-listed town and home to some of Bordeaux’s most famous red wines, and this small-group tasting tour from Bordeaux makes it possible to experience both in one afternoon. Learn the secrets of winemaking and ‘terroir’ on a tour and tasting at a Grand Cru winery; take a walking tour through the medieval streets of Saint-Émilion; and pair fine Bordeaux reds with delicious cheeses and other local delicacies at a family-run winery.

Rather than exploring the sprawling grounds of Versailles on foot, pedal your way around with a guide on this group bike tour. Discover garden trails and tree-lined paths and reach parts that on-foot visitors generally miss, including Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon and Grand Trianon. Stop by the Grand Canal for a picnic lunch (own expense) before heading inside the Palace of Versailles with admission tickets.

Short on time in Bayeux but keen to see Normandy’s World War II US D-Day sites? Visit some key 1944 American locations on a half-day tour from Bayeux. Travel by air-conditioned minivan to Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc, where US troops landed. Your guide shares details and stories of the landings. Finish at the American Cemetery to pay homage to those who lost their lives.

Get more out of your time in France by going on a day trip to explore the many wineries in the Burgundy winemaking region. After meeting in Beaune, you’ll travel in a small group by minivan to multiple dispersed sites. You’ll save time planning how to get between wineries by having transport organized for the day. Learn about the different classifications of Burgundy wine and enjoy several delicious wine tastings.

Explore the Palace of Versailles, without getting overwhelmed by its sheer size, on this group tour from Paris. Well-suited for first-timers looking for a streamlined experience, relax knowing the day's logistics and activities are all sorted for you. Enjoy an itinerary that includes visiting the Hall of Mirrors, Grand Apartments, State Rooms, and more.

As one of Paris' top landmarks, the Louvre is always crowded, but this tour ensures a smooth and enjoyable visit. First, meet your guide near the museum; then, explore the museum's most famous and captivating works, including the "Mona Lisa," "The Raft of the Medusa," and other masterpieces. For a more intimate experience, opt for a private tour or visit the Louvre before closing time.

Perfect for World War II history buffs—particularly those who read Stephen Ambrose’s famed tract, Band of Brothers (or who saw the Band of Brothers miniseries), this small-group tour will help you discover many of Normandy’s key historical landmarks. Meet your guide in central Bayeux, and venture to Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, and more. In the afternoon, follow in the footsteps of the “Band of Brothers” and visit the very locations where the action took place.

Discover the sacrifices made by Canadian forces during 1944’s D-Day landings and Battle of Normandy on this 8-hour tour from Bayeux. Visit Juno Beach where Canadian troops landed on June 6, and chart the stories of soldiers at the Juno Beach Centre. See the now-excavated German beach bunkers, track the advance to Abbey d'Ardenne and Carpiquet, and visit the Canadian Cemetery and Hill 67. Bayeux hotel, train station, and central pickup and drop-off included.