NIU and France: Roads of Champagne, Burgundy & Alsace
August 8-17, 2003, "Travel with the Professor"
Daily Itinerary

Friday, August 8 
Departure from Chicago, American Airlines. Overnight flight to Paris, France

Saturday, August 9 
Enjoy Paris at leisure. Paris -- City of Lights -- is one of the world's great art capitals. You have time today to visit one of the museums of Paris if you wish or see Notre Dame or the "jewelbox " Sainte-Chapelle.  Group meeting and orientation later in the day at hotel with welcome beverage.

Sunday, August 10
Paris to Strasbourg. Morning drive through Champagne to the area of Lorraine. Stop at Verdun, site of the heroic French stand of the Great War. Here, you visit Fort Douaumont and see the Ossuary before continuing to Alsace. Alsace is a blend of French and German heritage, its roots firmly planted in both cultures. Bordered by the Rhine and the Black Forest, Alsace has changed 'nationality' four times in just over one hundred years. We approach its capital, Strasbourg, by driving through the magnificent, rugged forms of the Vosges Mountains. Known to the Romans as Argentoratum,  Strasbourg is capital of the Alsace region and became 'a free imperial city' is 1262.  Today it is a seat of the Council of Europe, and notable for fine foods and wines. This evening, enjoy a highlight dinner with local specialties. (B,D)

Monday, August 11
Strasbourg to Colmar. Your locally guided tour takes you past the parliament complex and then shows you the Old Town with its 16^th century burgher houses. In the afternoon, you begin your short drive to the picturesque town of Colmar, capital of Upper Alsace.  Colmar, this renaissance city south of Strasbourg is the 'wine capital' of Alsace. You also visit the wonderful Gothic cathedral with its astronomical clock.. (B,D)

Tuesday, August 12
Colmar, Alsatian Excursion. Morning visit to the villages of the Alsatian countryside. Following the 'wine-road', seeing the fine vineyards, beautiful half-timbered houses decked with geraniums, and perhaps a stork.  Stop in the tiny town of Riquewihr, home of fine Reisling wine and Kugelhopf cake. Learn how Rhinish wine and cuisine changed to meet French tastes. Later, you have a wine tasting before returning to Colmar. In the afternoon, a 'little train ride' through the Old town. Free time to explore Merchants Street. (B)

Wednesday, August 13
Colmar to Beaune.  Continuing south, you enter another famous wine growing district of France, Burgundy. Through venerable vineyards, you reach Dijon, the ancient Burgundian capital. Stroll the cobbled streets and see the Palais des Ducs and colonnaded Place de la Liberation before continuing on to the walled town of Beaune. Professor Dillman opined that this place may be one of the highlights of the entire trip. En route, the scenic towns and villages such as Gevrey-Ghambertin and Nuits-St Georges read like a wine list. You sample some of the local produce before reaching the hotel.(B,D)

Thursday, August 14
Beaune, Burgundy excursion.  You drive through the Burgundy countryside this morning to Vezelay, built along a rock ridge among the northern Morvan foothills.  Tradition has it that Mary Magdalene was buried here, and from the famous basilica, Richard the Lionheart set off for the Crusades. You return to Beane to visit Hotel Dieu with its fine architecture, and stunning multicolored glazed tile roof.. (B)

Friday, August 15
Beaune to Reims. First, you drive to the pleasant wine village of Chablis, before continuing into the Champagne region to stop at historic Troyes. The food and wine of the Champagne region reflect its classic, royalist French image. You continue to the religious capital of France, Reims. France's kings were crowned in the splendid cathedral. Here you visit the cathedral of 'royal Reims". (B)

Saturday, August 16
Reims to Paris. This morning you drive though the world famous vineyards to the Mountain of Champagne. Reims and neighboring Epernay are home to grand champagne 'houses." You visit a 'cave' to sip some bubbly. You will learn how champagne became the wine of kings. Lectures review vineyard history, Dom Perignon's creation of the methode champagneioise, and the legacy of the great champagne families.  Return to Paris for a free evening or perhaps an optional dinner show with the group. (B)

Sunday, August 17
Paris. Transfer to airport, flight to Chicago (B)