The Best Shrines of France - Connaissance Travel and Tours

12 Days
Tour 5
The Best Shrines of France
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Day 1 - Depart Canada
Depart Canada for your overnight flight to Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.
Day 2 - Arrive Lourdes
Upon arrival in Europe you will connect with your flight to Toulouse, Pau or Lourdes airport. Upon
arrival you will find your luggage and exit the baggage claim into the arrivals hall where you will be
greeted by a tour guide and/or driver. You will be escorted to the vehicle which will then take you on
your scenic drive to Lourdes. Upon arrival you will check in to your hotel and relax or explore before
dinner. Following dinner you may choose to participate in the candlelight procession before retiring
for the evening.
Days 3 & 4 - Lourdes
During the next two days in Lourdes you will have time to pray with your fellow pilgrims from around
the world. During your trip you will have an opportunity to: Attend Mass at the Grotto, watch a video
presentation telling the story of Lourdes, and walk in the footsteps of St. Bernadette. See Boly Mill
where St. Bernadette was born, and the "Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family lived. Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for
the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring or submerge yourself in the healing baths. Experience Christ's love as you walk the lifesized Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto. Kneel in
the chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto, in obedience to the request of the "Immaculate Conception." Evenings are free for optional Blessed Sacrament Procession before dinner. Your role in the
universal church will have new meaning as you join the candlelight procession and group rosary.
(candle light procession and group rosary April through October only).
Day 5 - Lourdes – Toulouse - Rocamadour
After an early breakfast we make our way to Toulouse. Once an important Roman colony, Toulouse
is full of religious and historical treasures. The Basilica of St. Sernin is one of the finest Romanesque
churches in France. St. Thomas Aquinas is buried in the Eglise des Jacobins, and it is also the proud
home of 20 historical pipe organs (more than any other city in France). After our tour, we will continue on to Rocamadour, situated atop a rocky plateau overlooking the Alzou Valley. Rocamadour was
the home of an early Christian hermit named, Zaccheus of Jericho. He died in 70 A.D. and had conversed with Jesus himself. Zaccheus was the husband of St. Veronica, who wiped the face of Jesus as
he climbed to Calvary. Once we arrive, we will take time to visit one of its most important sites: the
Shrine of Our Lady of Rocamadour. A complex of religious structures centered on a miraculous statue
of the Virgin Mary and the tomb of an ancient saint. We enjoy a lovely dinner before returning to our
hotel.
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Day 6 - Rocamadour – Paray Le Monial
After an early breakfast, we begin our journey to Paray-le-Monial where we will visit the Chapel of the Visitation
where Jesus exposed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a number of apparitions, Reliquary
of St. Margaret containing her relics, located underneath a wax figure of the saint. You will have the remainder of
the day free to spend at your own leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – Paray Le Monial – Taize – Paray Le Monial
After an early breakfast we depart for Taize, one of the world’s most important sites of Pilgrimage, bringing in over
100,000 young people from all across the world each year. The Taize Community was founded by Frere Roger in
1940 when he pondered what it really meant to live a life according to the Scriptures. He then began a quest for a
different expression of the Catholic life. In 1940, he purchased a small house that would eventually become the
Taize Community. People travel there each year for prayer, Bible study, sharing, and communal work. The community is currently led by Brother Alois, a German-born Catholic, who had been appointed by Brother Roger before his death in August 16, 2005. Return to Paray Le Monial for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 – Paray Le Monial – Nevers – Chartres – Le Mont Saint Michel
After an early breakfast we will depart for Nevers by way of the picturesque Loire Valley. After taking the veil in
1867, St. Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers. At least three
times during her short lifetime, she received the last Sacraments. In addition to asthma, she was gradually struck
by other illnesses, among them was tuberculosis of the lung and a tubercular tumor in her right knee. St. Bernadette eventually died at the age of 35. See St. Bernadette's incorrupt body at the convent of St. Gildard, miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Continue on to Chartres, where we will visit the famous Cathedrale
Notre-Dame de Chartres. Not only is it one of the greatest achievements in history of architecture, it is almost
perfectly preserved in its original design and details. Its extensive cycle of portal sculpture remains fully intact and
its glowing stained-glass windows are original. It is also the only cathedral that conveys an almost perfect image
of how it looked when it was built. We continue on to our final destination of Le Mont Saint Michel in time for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 – Le Mont Saint Michel
After an early breakfast we will spend the day touring Le Mont Saint Michel and the different stages of its construction that have now classified it as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. It was here, Aubert, Bishop of
d'Avranches, founded a sanctuary on Mont-Tombe, after 3 successive appearances by the Archangel Michael.
Consecrated in 709, the church has attracted both the curious, and pilgrims from all over the world ever since.
After having been made into a prison from the time of the French Revolution up until the time of the Second Empire, the Abbey became the responsibility of the Historical Monuments Department in 1874. Since 1969 the Abbey
has been home to a monastic community, ensuring the continuation of a spiritual presence. Rightly called "The
Wonder of the Western World", the Mont-Saint-Michel is surrounded by a magnificent bay, which is the theatre of
the greatest tidal ranges in Europe, a wonderful view on its own. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 – Le Mont Saint Michel – Lisieux - Paris After an early breakfast we make our way to Lisieux where
we will enjoy a tour of the home of St. Therese whom Pope Pius X called "the greatest saint of modern times." Her
extraordinary love for God and service to humanity comes alive as you visit the Basilica of Saint Therese, one of
the biggest and most magnificent religious structures built in the 20th-century. While in Lisieux we will celebrate
Mass will be celebrated. We will stop at Les Buissonets, St. Therese's family home, there on display are relics,
clothing, and personal objects belonging to the "little flower." Before leaving, tour the ancient Cathedral of St.
Peter and the Carmelite Convent. We will continue on to Paris in time for check in, dinner and overnight.
Day 11 - Paris
After an early breakfast we depart for our tour of Paris. We will begin with holy Mass at the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. View the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Labouret whose guardian angel led her to the chapel where
the Blessed Virgin displayed a vision of the miraculous medal and later the green scapular. The Virgin promised
bountiful graces for all who wore these. Next we depart on our sightseeing tour which includes the Notre Dame
Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, the and Champs Elysees. Enjoy other sights on this mostly panoramic tour. We enjoy a lovely dinner before returning to our hotel for a restful overnight.
Day 12 – Paris - Canada
After breakfast, we transfer to Paris Airport for our return flight home.
YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
† Round Tr ip Airfar e
- Our price is based out of Toronto, you may depart
from your own airport
- You may book without airfare: (land only option)
† 10 nights at centr ally located Fir st Class hotels fol
lows: (or similar)
~ 3 nights: Lourdes: Hotel Moderne
~ 1 night : Rocamadour: Hotel du Chateau
~ 2 nights: Paray Le Monial: Hostellerie des Trois
Pigeons
~ 2 nights: Le Mont Saint Michel: Hotel Mercure
Mont Saint Michel
~ 2 nights: Paris: Marceau Bastille Hotel
† Br eakfast and Dinner daily
† Wine with dinner s
† Assistance of a professional local Catholic guide(s)
† Tr ansfer s as per itinerary
† Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
† Catholic Priest available for Spir itual Dir ection
† Mass daily & Spiritual activities
† Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Not Included: Lunches. Travel Insurance optional Extended Cancellation Protection Plan, Tips to your guide &
driver. Items of a personal nature. All airport taxes and
fuel surcharges.
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