The North-East of France: from WWI history to vineyards
Region
in Champagne, Verdun, Burgundy & Paris
Wine Tasting
WWI & WWII Battlefields
Explore North-Eastern France and jump into French wines & history!
Starting in Reims, capital of the Champagne region, you will learn many stories starring Joan of Arc, Marie-Antoinette and a famous widow . . . Clicquot.
A private guide will make World War I history come alive, allowing you to get a comprehensive overview of the Verdun battlefields. You will bike and taste wines in Burgundy and finish your journey with flourish in Paris.
A fantastic well-planned self-drive tour We had the most amazing time on our 6 week self-drive tour designed by Laura, travelling through Brittany, Loire, Dordogne, Medoc, Basque …
A fantastic well-planned self-drive tour
We had the most amazing time on our 6 week self-drive tour designed by Laura, travelling through Brittany, Loire, Dordogne, Medoc, Basque France, Languedoc, Provence, the Alps, Alsace and Champagne. This was a big trip for us and it was everything I’d hoped and dreamed and even more besides. All our accommodation was delightful - all different and all with unique character and a personal touch. All our hosts and guides were fantastic and we so enjoyed our time with them. Everything was so meticulously planned, so well-organised, and presented clearly with a wealth of information and practical tips for suggested activities each day to make to most of our stay in each region. Restaurant recommendations were particularly helpful. The FJFY app is outstanding! We very much hope to travel with FJFY again. Thank you for all your hard work and attention to detail in making such a wonderful trip for us.
#1 - A town house, 300 yards to the magnificent Cathedral of ReimsA nice B&B with some Art Nouveau nice touches
#1 - A town house, 300 yards to the magnificent Cathedral of ReimsThis B&B is a classical building in the center of Reims...
#1 - A town house, 300 yards to the magnificent Cathedral of Reims...which your host decorated in a successfully eclectic way
#1 - A town house, 300 yards to the magnificent Cathedral of ReimsFeel at home...in Champagne
#2 - A comfortable B&B, in the WWI battlefields of ArgonneStay in a comfortable B&B, in Argonne battlefields area
#2 - A comfortable B&B, in the WWI battlefields of ArgonneRelax in a well equipped room
#2 - A comfortable B&B, in the WWI battlefields of ArgonneEnjoy the quietness of a vast garden with an orchards and the forest at the end
#2 - A comfortable B&B, in the WWI battlefields of ArgonneOne night, taste some local products prepared by your lovely hosts
#2 - A comfortable B&B, in the WWI battlefields of ArgonneThe B&B is nestled in a lovely "very French" hamlet
#3 - In one of Burgundy famous "village"Stay at a wine maker family
#3 - In one of Burgundy famous "village"Relax in a very well equipped room
#3 - In one of Burgundy famous "village"Meet with fellow travelers in a convivial atmosphere
#4 - A 3* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtA family owned Boutique-Hotel in the Latin Quarter
#4 - A 3* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtStay in a comfortable room...
#4 - A 3* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin district...with a balcony and nice view over one of Paris most famous landmarks
#4 - A 3* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtSavor breakfast in the historical vaulted cellars
Step by step
The Champagne region, from Reims
This itinerary starts at Paris CDG airport where you will pick up your rental car and drive 1hr30 to the Champagne region, your first stop for 3 nights.
In Reims, you will stay in a town house perfectly located in the old city, only 300 yards from the famous Cathedral. From here, explore the Champagne region from Reims to Epernay, which is only a 35 minute drive.
Spend an afternoon with an English-speaking guide touring the Champagne vineyards around Reims. You will visit some local producers . . . so you can decide the Champagnes you like best!
We will also recommend Champagne wineries you can visit on your own, as well as some local attractions including fossils, belle epoque architecture, a lively food market and many restaurants from simple fare to 3 stars with the Michelin guide.
Verdun & Argonne World War I Sites
After about a 1hr30 drive from Reims, you will arrive in the Verdun region.
Stay in a charming B&B, right in the Argonne battlefield area, between the Romagne Sous Montfaucon US Cemetery and the Verdun war sites. One night, your hosts will cook a great dinner which you will share with other fellow travelers.
You will spend a day with a passionate private guide who will take you to the main war sites around Verdun. The program will be tailor-made to your wishes. This is the best way to get a better understanding about this time in history.
In the Verdun region, you will also taste delicious local products, relax in nice bars by the Meuse canal and why not even taste some Côte de Meuse wine?
La Bourgogne - Burgundy
In Burgundy, you will reside for 3 nights in a beautiful B&B house owned by a wine maker family and located in one of Burgundy's most famous wine towns.
Situated in the heart of Burgundy, near Beaune, this is the perfect place to learn about the local wines. Explore all the major vineyards of the region and have a chance to taste red and white wines among the best in the world, directly at the winery!
To discover Burgundy vineyard trails, we plan for you to spend an afternoon on a bike to discover Burgundy wines. You will make several stops on the way to taste wine. Santé!
We will provide you with detailed itineraries to discover the authentic and charming Burgundy. This region is much more than the vineyards: winding roads leading to tiny timeless villages - some of them "Most Beautiful Villages of France". You will get a real feel for this region. Taste some local cheeses, the "Epoisse" at the cheese factory or stroll around Beaune from the cellars to the ramparts.
End in Paris
On the 10th day, drive back to Paris (3hrs) and return the rental car.
End your trip living the Parisian life for 3 nights. Comfortably accommodated in a charming boutique-hotel in the heart of the Latin Quarter, you will discover the French capital city’s must sees and hidden beauties.
Being based 10 minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral, you can explore Paris by foot, by boat or using public transportation with different and unique itineraries we have prepared for you. We also recommend our favorite restaurants and boulangeries in different districts of the city so you’ll know where to take a break.
One night, you will enjoy a high quality and quite private classical music concert in a very little church - away from the crowds. A unique night in Paris that only the locals know about, and which we hope will become a great memory of your trip.
On your last day a private driver will take you to the airport.
Activities included
Champagne Tasting Tour
Spend an afternoon with an English-speaking guide touring the Champagne vineyards around Reims. You will visit some local producers…so you can decide the Champagnes you like best!
Private Guide on the WWI Sites near Verdun
Spend a day with a private guide specialized in World War I history in Argonne & Verdun area. We will be happy to tailor make your program if you wish.
Burgundy Wine & Bike Tour
Spend an afternoon with a guide who will take you wine tasting in Côte de Beaune famous vineyards...and wineries of course.
Classical Music Concert in Paris
Enjoy listening to a classical music concert in one of the oldest Churches in Paris. It will be a great evening!
Lovely trip made easy by France just for you! We had a fabulous time in France on a two week driving trip. We provided a brief outline of some of the things we wanted to see and do and France Just for you created a daily itinerary, booked our Bed and Breakfasts and hotels, reserved our car and suggested things to see in each city we visited. It was …
Lovely trip made easy by France just for you!
We had a fabulous time in France on a two week driving trip. We provided a brief outline of some of the things we wanted to see and do and France Just for you created a daily itinerary, booked our Bed and Breakfasts and hotels, reserved our car and suggested things to see in each city we visited. It was very simple and enjoyable. We covered a lot of ground in two weeks which gave us a taste of many of the regions in France. Enough so that we know where we would like to visit in the future and build off of this French experience. I recommend this tour company as they have good relationships with very nice properties. I would recommend this tour company to my friends and others.
Peter
France-Just for You is the best agency/coordinator we have EVER used. We have traveled around the world to more than 50 countries and this was by far the best job of coordination we ever experienced. The owner, Emilie, lives in France and is 100% accessible by email or phone. We emailed her the first time we learned about her business and from then …
France-Just for You is the best agency/coordinator we have EVER used. We have traveled around the world to more than 50 countries and this was by far the best job of coordination we ever experienced. The owner, Emilie, lives in France and is 100% accessible by email or phone. We emailed her the first time we learned about her business and from then on her attention to detail and efficiency were outstanding. She outlined a custom trip for us based on our criteria and then created a detailed plan for us to follow with options for various activities. She took care of every detail, bike rental, car rental, cooking class , museum passes, directions etc etc. Then, about a month before we went , she mailed us a 300+ page book custom created for our trip which gave background information on all the places we were to visit, gps directions, options for different routes, recommendations for restaurants, background on bed and breakfast hosts (whom she personally meets with), comments on French customs, and hundreds of tips and suggestions. Her guide was so complete, we did not need any other books. She created an experience for us we will never forget. When we return to France we will ask her to plan the trip for us.
Robert & Karen
Anyone planning a trip to France, whether for the first time or for the twelfth (like me), will benefit from the fabulous itinerary that Emilie can craft for you. My husband and I just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in the Medoc and the Loire Valley that Emilie planned for us: top-notch historic B&Bs with character, charming friendly hosts and sumptuous …
Anyone planning a trip to France, whether for the first time or for the twelfth (like me), will benefit from the fabulous itinerary that Emilie can craft for you. My husband and I just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in the Medoc and the Loire Valley that Emilie planned for us: top-notch historic B&Bs with character, charming friendly hosts and sumptuous breakfasts and table d'hotes dinners; reserved TGV train tickets and fine car rental; and most specially, unique and interesting daily suggested itineraries crafted to our specific interests. Emilie provided us an amazing detailed day-by-day BOOK with photos, maps, and historical data that would interest us. She arranged wine tastings and other visits, and booked bikes for us to ride along the Loire. Many suggestions are personal--her favorite restaurants and wines, for example, in each area. We enjoyed every one. Emilie was available at any time for advice or help if needed. We could not have asked for more personal service or a more well-chosen itinerary. We are recommending France-Just for You to all our friends! Thank you, Emilie.
