Villas and Gardens of the Cote d'Azur by Rail Tour
Villas and Gardens of the Cote d'Azur by Rail Tour
8 Days Starting and ending in St Pancras, United Kingdom
Visiting: Nice, Menton, Cap Ferrat, St Paul de Vence
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 25
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating journey through the Villas and Gardens of the Côte d'Azur by Rail Tour, where you'll explore the stunning French Riviera. Travel in comfort by Eurostar and TGV from St Pancras to Nice, and stay for seven nights at the charming Best Western Mediterranee in Menton. Discover architectural marvels like Eileen Gray’s Villa E1027, the opulent Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and the ancient Greek-inspired Villa Kerylos. Wander through the lush Villa Hanbury Gardens and the serene Serre de la Madone. Enjoy guided tours, insightful talks by Nicholas Merchant, and free time to explore the picturesque town of Menton and the vibrant city of Nice. This tour promises a perfect blend of culture, history, and natural beauty.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1:
Location: Nice
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and onwards to Nice by TGV. On arrival transfer to hotel for check-in for seven-night stay on bed and breakfast basis. On arrival at the hotel there will be a small snack served in the restaurant.
Day 2: Serre De La Madone And Maria Serena Gardens.
Location: Menton
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we enjoy our first talk ‘The Creation of the Cote d’Azur’ by Nicholas Merchant, Former Chairman of the Art Fund West Yorkshire Fundraising Committee who has lectured extensively on the decorative arts both for branches of The Arts Society and independently in America, South Africa and Europe. Situated in the hills behind Menton, this 9-hectare terraced garden was the creation of Lawrence Johnston, better known for his creation of Hidcote in the Cotswolds. Plants from Burma, China and South Africa thrive in this gently and sunny climate. It has now been restored after a period of decline. This afternoon we will have a guided tour of the Maria Serena Gardens. Right on the sea front, and the last house before the Italian border, the Maria Serena Villa and Gardens, was constructed around 1880 for the family of Ferdinand de Lesseps. Today it is a guest villa for the city of Menton. The villa is surrounded by a hectare and a half of gardens, where tropical and sub-tropical plants thrive, including a large collection of palm trees and cycad trees. They command a splendid view overlooking the sea and the old city of Menton.
Day 3:Villa E-1027 And Free Afternoon In Menton.
Location: Menton
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we will have another talk from Nicholas ‘Eileen Grey and the Villa E-1027’ before departing for a visit of the Villa E-1027. A veritable icon of modernist architecture overlooking the sea, Villa E-1027 was architect and designer, Eileen Gray’s first architectural creation and testifies to the thought and attention that she put into every detail of the design. It is tantamount to a manifesto both for its architecture and for the fixed and free-standing furniture, lamps and decorations that are inseparable from it. Eileen spent three whole years designing the furniture and working with her partner Jean Badovici on the plans. Le Corbusier was a visitor after Eileen Gray had left and painted murals on some of the walls, some of which remain in situ. After a long and checkered history, the villa has been carefully restored since 1999 and is now accepting visitors and offers a fascinating insight into its architect and the era. In the afternoon you will have some free time to spend in the town of Menton. A favourite resort for the English in the 19th century, including Queen Victoria, this town enjoys one of the most beneficent climates along this coast. Highlights include the Musee Cocteau, the Salle des Mariages in the Town Hall and the Basilica of St Michel is a magnificent example of baroque architecture.
Day 4: Full Day Nice.
Location: Nice
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning there will be a talk ‘Queen Victoria in the South of France’, by Nicholas before we then depart for our full day visit to Nice. France's fifth largest city, Nice has been a popular destination of the rich and famous including Queen Victoria for some 150 years. It is a wonderful city to explore with several distinctive districts, a wealth of galleries and museums, lovely port and famed Promenade des Anglais. Nice was Italian until 1860, reflected in the pastel facades and balconies of the old town which have a distinctly Italiante feel. Nice is overflowing with things to see and do - highlights include several museums including the Chagall, Matisse, Modern Art and Beaux-Arts, characterful flower market area, 17th century Palais Lascaris, Russian Church and much more.
Day 5: Villa Ephrussi De Rothschild At Cap Ferrat And Villa Kerylos.
Location: Cap Ferrat
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Built in 1895 for the enormously wealthy Beatrice de Rothschild, this pink, treasure-filled palace sits atop the promontory surrounded by its own lush gardens. Lunch is included in the villa's elegant restaurant overlooking the bay. After lunch we visit Villa Kerylos, one of the most extraordinary villas on the coast. Designed as a recreation of an ancient Greek Villa, this houses teeters on the water's edge, its rooms filled with furniture and artefacts taken from images on ancient Greek Vases.
Day 6: St Paul De Vence, Foundation Maeght And Maison Les Collettes.
Location: St Paul de Vence
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast
One of the great galleries of France, this privately funded establishment dating from 1964 has an enormous range of paintings, ceramics, stained glass and sculpture by Giacometti, Miro, Chagall, Calder and Braque to name but a few. Built by the Catalan architect Jose-Luis Sert, the building is itself an astonishing sight. Following some free time in St Paul de Vence, one of the most famous of the hill-villages of the region has proved a magnet for artists, and now contains not only galleries but also offers from its ramparts breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside and the sea. Return to Menton via Cagnes sur Mer where the Maison les Collettes contains ten of the paintings of Auguste Renoir who lived here up to this death in 1919.
Day 7: Villa Hanbury Gardens And The Villa Val Rahmeh.
Location: Menton
Accommodation Name: Best Western Mediterranee, Menton
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we have our final talk by Nicholas, ‘English Gardeners in the South of France’ before we set off for our day of visits. An excursion just over the border into Italy takes us to the 100-acre Villa Hanbury gardens laid out by Sir Thomas Hanbury in the mid-19th century. A dramatic site on a promontory the garden is planted with a wide range of specimens ranging from succulents to rose and plants indigenous to the site. Afternoon return via Villa Val Rahmeh (above Menton) a garden created by an Englishman, Sir Percy Radcliffe, former Governor of Malta. A private domain, now an outstation of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. This evening we will have a farewell dinner all together at the hotel.
Day 8:
Location: Nice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to Nice station for return TGV to Paris and onwards by Eurostar to St Pancras.
What's Included
-
Return standard class Eurostar and TGV from St Pancras to Nice via Paris
Travel to and from Nice via Eurostar and TGV in standard class.
-
Seven nights' bed and breakfast at the three-star Best Western Mediterranee, Menton, based on shared occupancy of a twin room
Accommodation for seven nights at the Best Western Mediterranee in Menton, including breakfast, based on shared occupancy of a twin room.
-
Small cold plate at the hotel on arrival on the first night and a farewell dinner at the hotel on the last night
A small cold plate on arrival and a farewell dinner at the hotel on the last night.
-
One lunch at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Lunch at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
-
Full coaching itinerary
A complete coaching itinerary for the duration of the tour.
-
Entrance fees
Entrance fees to all included sites and attractions.
-
Talks and accompanied visits by Nicholas Merchant, Former Chairman of the West Yorkshire Art Fund
Talks and guided visits by Nicholas Merchant, Former Chairman of the West Yorkshire Art Fund.
-
Tour manager throughout
A tour manager will be present throughout the tour.
What's Not Included
-
Double for sole use supplement
Additional cost for single occupancy of a double room.
-
Holiday insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
-
Room upgrade to a Privilege Room
Additional cost for upgrading to a Privilege Room.
-
Standard Premier/1st Class upgrade on Eurostar/TGV
Upgrade to Standard Premier or 1st Class on Eurostar/TGV, which includes upgraded seating and a light meal with a complimentary drink on Eurostar, and upgraded seating only on the French railway leg.
-
Meals other than those stated
Meals that are not explicitly mentioned in the inclusions.
-
Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, and telephone calls.
-
Porterage and gratuities
Porterage and gratuities are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel by Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and onwards to Nice by TGV. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for a seven-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Return TGV to Paris and onwards by Eurostar to St Pancras.
Accommodation
Best Western Mediterranee, Menton: This comfortable three-star hotel is ideally located in the centre of Menton. The hotel's panoramic terrace offers wonderful views of the gardens, hills and the sea as a backdrop, and the terrace bar provides a relaxing area opened daily - a great place to relax with a cocktail enjoying the view after a long day sightseeing. Bedrooms have private bathroom facilities, air conditioning, telephone, TV, minibar, hairdryer, safe, free wi-fi and tea/coffee making facilities. Alternatively you can upgrade to a Privilege Room (subject to availability) which has proved popular with our clients, as rooms are much more spacious and brighter, all have a balcony and the use of bath robes and slippers, as well as the above facilities included in standard rooms.
MORE INFO
We are delighted to have received this feedback from Ms Pamela Richardson who has taken over 30 of our tours......''It took precisely one day back in a cold, damp, dark London in late October to realise why wealthy Britons and Queen Victoria headed for the Cote d’ azur for the winter. Nicholas Merchant, our eminent lecturer, regaled us most mornings with stories of beautiful gardens, extraordinary villas and their often illustrious owners. I was most looking forward to Lawrence Johnston’s Serre de la Madone in the hills above Menton and the pink tinted Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild at Cap Ferrat. They didn’t disappoint. I’d done the Tour before, in the spring of 2015, so knew the direct route to the loggia of the villa Ephrussi where I sat, sheltered from the sun, to read A Life by Maupassant and to wait for the fountains to erupt and dance to the strains of Verdi, Mozart, Offenbach and Strauss. As the fountains cascaded up and down and from side to side to the music I was reminded of the poem Absence by Elizabeth Jennings, ‘Nothing was changed, the gardens were well-tended, The fountains sprayed their usual steady jet’. It was and they did, just as beautiful in the last days of autumn as it had been in the spring. Menton is an ideal base for the daily excursions and the hotel was good. Serge Bertini, our knowledgeable and endlessly patient Tour manager guided us daily from villas to gardens with a visit to Fondation Maeght to see the modern art collection. This is a delightful Tour. Would I do it a third time? You bet I would!''......
Check out our Q&As
-
What type of transportation is used for this tour?
The tour includes travel by Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and onwards to Nice by TGV. Return travel is also by TGV to Paris and Eurostar to St Pancras.
-
Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
No, travel insurance is not included in the tour package.
-
Is there any free time during the tour?
Yes, there is free time in the town of Menton on Day 3, allowing you to explore attractions such as the Musee Cocteau, the Salle des Mariages in the Town Hall, and the Basilica of St Michel.
-
Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes breakfast daily, a small cold plate on arrival, a farewell dinner at the hotel on the last night, and one lunch at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.
-
What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
Accommodation is provided at the Best Western Mediterranee in Menton, a comfortable three-star hotel. The hotel offers amenities such as private bathroom facilities, air conditioning, telephone, TV, minibar, hairdryer, safe, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities. There is also an option to upgrade to a Privilege Room, which includes additional amenities like a balcony, bath robes, and slippers.
-
What personal expenses are not included in the tour?
Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls, porterage, and gratuities are not included in the tour package.
-
What are some of the key highlights of the tour?
Key highlights include visits to Eileen Gray’s Villa E1027, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Villa Kerylos, Villa Hanbury Gardens, Villa Val Rahmeh, St Paul de Vence, Fondation Maeght, Renoir’s Maison les Collettes, Serre de la Madone, Maria Serena Gardens, and a full day visit to Nice.
-
Are entrance fees to attractions included?
Yes, entrance fees to all included sites and attractions are covered in the tour package.
-
Can I upgrade my room or train class?
Yes, you can upgrade to a Privilege Room at the hotel and also upgrade to Standard Premier or 1st Class on Eurostar/TGV for an additional cost.
-
Who will be guiding the tour?
The tour will be guided by Nicholas Merchant, Former Chairman of the West Yorkshire Art Fund, who will provide talks and accompanied visits. Additionally, a tour manager will be present throughout the tour.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final joining instructions and documentation will be despatched approximately 10 days before travel.
-
Do I need any Visas or Vaccinations for my holidays?
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change. Please check with your local doctor/GP about the current Vaccination requirements of the country you are visiting. For Visa enquiries, please contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Generally, single and double rooms carry the same price, which means that single supplements for certain itineraries can seem high. We would be pleased to arrange for clients travelling alone to share with another client, however this is subject to somebody in the same situation booking on the tour. If you would be interested in this option, please let us know at the time of enquiry/booking.
-
Where does the tour manager meet us?
In most cases the tour manager will travel out with the tour group from the UK. However, this is not always the case and the tour manager may meet you at the destination station / airport. The exact details specific to your tour will be given to you in your final documentation, 10 days prior to departure.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Sunday
Oct 06, 2024 - Oct 13, 2024Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Travel Editions requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel editions charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 45% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.