Event Brochure

Tuesday 16th September
Over the Alsace hills first via the Col du Bonhomme. Then down through Gerardmer and Remiremont to Plombieres-les-Bains
for a lunch stop. After which down to St Loup and along the D417 past Bourbonne and down on the D14 and D35 to Langres
and Hotel le Cheval Blanc for the night.
Mileage 125
THE 2014 VSCC OVERSEAS TOUR
TO THE ALSACE, FRANCE
9 - 20 SEPTEMBER
An 11 night Tour through rural France to the beautiful Alsace region
Wednesday 17th September
Travelling across gentle rolling countryside with good country roads via Arc-en-Barrois, Essoyes,
Chaurce, St-Forentin to Joigny and the Hotel Rive Gauche.
Riquewihr Architecture
Mileage 107
Thursday 18th September
Generally flat or gently rolling countryside through the “bread basket” wheat farms of France.
North west via Courtenay, Ferrieres-en-Gatinais, Chateau-Landon, Pithiviers, where there is a
lunch break, Angerville and so to Chartres and our central Hotel.
Mileage 114
Lurking Invictas
Friday 19th September
Back to the coast today via Digny, La Ferte-Vidame, L’Aigle where we stop for lunch, Liverot, St-Pierre-s-Dives, Moult, Troarn ,
Benouville to Colleville Montgomery and our Final Tour Dinner venue at Restaurant la Ferme St Hubert. Then it’s the 2 miles
to the docks for check by 22.00 for the 23.00 Brittany Ferries
overnight sailing.
Mileage 115
Saturday 20th September
Arrive Portsmouth at 06.45 for the drive home in daylight
Total Tour mileage approx 870
Resting Aston & Bentley
Our Prices for the eleven night Tour
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From £1995.00 per person
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sharing car and accommodation, depending on accommodation required
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For other types of accommodation: ferry cabin upgrades to Commodore cabins or en-route
hotels to superior rooms, please indicate on the Booking Form.
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What’s Included on The Tour:
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Outward ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, return ferry from Ouistreham to
Portsmouth with an en-suite window cabin home
Cabins are 4 berth window for each booking (usually 2 persons), so no going up the
little ladders to the upper bunks
Bed and buffet breakfasts for 10 hotel nights
8 hotel dinners with wines, water and coffee or tea
2 wine tasting sessions AND superior rooms in Riquewihr
Final Tour Dinner with wines, water and coffee or tea in Ouistreham
Visits to by coach to the French National Railway and Motor Museums and to the
Enjoy the back roads of France
Badischer Winzerkeller at Breisach and including all entry fees on the coach trip
Detailed Route Book Tour Guide, Rally Plates and services of an experienced professional Tour Director
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4 nights in Riquewihr, the 16thC village set in vineyards
En-route let the detailed Route Book take you down
the quiet country roads
Enjoy hotels of character with good parking and good
food, all Michelin listed - including 9 dinners with wines
Drive daily distances of 125 miles or less so enjoy
coffee and lunch stops and the scenery
Planned and escorted by a VSCC Member experienced
in The Alsace and running vintage car Tours
VSCC Tour in France in 2013
A Motoring Tour to the spectacular Alsace wine region of Eastern France.
A wonderful combination of history, culture, scenery and especially food and wine make
this one of the most delightful places to visit in all of Europe. To include visits to the
Schlumpf (French National) Motor and the National Rail Museums.
Riquewihr Village from the vineyards
What’s not included:
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Fuel and motorway charges, though we don’t plan to use the motorways
Meals and drinks other than stated in the itinerary
Insurance – either personal or the car, including car repatriation. You must have at least medical cover
Items of a personal nature, including drinks, other than stated in the itinerary, tips and gratuities, laundry, phone calls
VSCC Tour in France
The Old Post Office, West Street, Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 5EL
Tel: 01608 644777 Fax: 01608 644888 Email: [email protected]
Our fourth Overseas Tour - come and enjoy rural France at wine harvest time
The Tour Hotels
The Itinerary and Visits
Mercure Hotel, Beauvais
Tuesday 9th September
3 star
Used mainly because of its location some 62 miles from the Dieppe ferry, this modern hotel
with 60 rooms, has an out door pool and good parking. www.mercure.com/0350
Hotel Aux Armes, L’Epine 3 star
Using two buildings next to the beautiful Basilica Notre-Dame-de-L’Epine, this hotel has a
pleasant French country feel. Set in a village on the plain near Reims, rooms have the
“traditional” flowers wall paper, there is an outdoor pool, plus a new lounge bar on the first
floor. Finally the restaurant’s food is excellent, it being 3 Knife and Fork rated by Michelin.
Used on many previous Tours and always popular. 37 rooms in total, with good private
parking. www.aux-armes-de-champagne.com
Report to Newhaven Docks by 09.00 for the 10am sailing on LD Lines to Dieppe. Coffee Morning gathering on board at
10.30am. Own lunch arrangements. Arriving at Dieppe at 15.00 we drive via Neufchatel-en-Bray, Gerberoy and Savignes
to the south side of Beauvais and the Mercure Hotel.
Mileage in France 62
NOTE: Those wanting accommodation in Newhaven on Monday night should use The Premier Inn, 0871 527 8810, www.premierinn.com
Under a mile from the docks with a good restaurant, and good parking, it has been used very happily on previous Tours.
Wednesday 10th September
Through the Champagne vineyards today. Pleasant hills then fairly flat after Epernay.
Travelling via Mouy, Verberie, and Vez to Villers-Cotterets for a lunch stop. Then via FereenTardenois, Chatillon-s-Marne, and the north side of Eperny to Chalons-en-Champagne
and on to L’Epine and our hotel.
Mileage 125
Hotel Burnel et la Cle des Champs, Rouves-en-Xaintois 3 star
Set in a small village in the centre of Lorraine, this family run hotel is typical of the Logis
group – Reasonable well equipped bedrooms and excellent food. So much so that it has
a 2 Knife and Fork Michelin rating. The ancient Auberge has rustic décor in the restaurant,
but you may eat on the terrace overlooking the garden and its flowers if the weather is
good. 21 rooms and good private parking. www.burnel.fr
Thursday 11th September
Through the Champagne Vineyards
Good straights and gentle hills as we drive via Bar-le-Duc, Ligny-en-Barrois, to Hevilliers for a lunch stop at a village
auberge. Then via Gondrecourt, Domremy, Coussey to Gironcourt and Rouvres-en-Xaintois and Hotel Burnel for the night.
Mileage 97
Friday 12th September
Our Alsace Base for 4 nights
Best Western le Schoenenbourg, Riquewihr 3 star
Within 100m of medieval Riquewihr village, this modern building is
surrounded by vineyards. All the rooms we are using are superiors with air
conditioning. The excellent buffet breakfasts will set you up for the day.
Relax round the outdoor pool whilst your car relaxes in the car park or
garage. 58 good sized rooms with tea/coffee makers. All rooms here are
superior ones. www.hotel-schoenenbourg.fr
Le Cheval Blanc, Langres 3 star
Characterful hotel set in the centre of historic Langres. Guest rooms in the former
Abbey are individually decorated, the original stonework being in evidence. Some
rooms are in the annexe nearby. The 2 Knife and Fork Michelin rated restaurant has a
large terrace for eating out. 23 rooms with garage space reserved for our cars.
www.hotel-langres.com
Hotel Le Rive Gauche, Joigny 3 star
Situated on the banks of the River Yonne, this modern hotel has fitness spa for your use
in the nearby sister hotel, the Cotes St Jaques Hotel (which has a top 3 star Michelin
Restaurant, one of only 18 outside Paris). The Rive Gauche’s 2 Knife and Fork Michelin
rated restaurant will welcome us. The large enclosed car park will welcome your car. 42
rooms. www.hotel-le-rive-gauche.fr
From the hills of the Vosges to the mountains of the Alsace and then the Rhine valley – today’s drive is wonderful. From
Rouvres, via Mirecourt, Nomexy, Bruyeres, Corcieux and over the Col du Bonhomme, 949m/3084ft. Then through
Kaysersaberg to Riquewihr and our hotel for the next 4 nights, Le Schoenenbourg.
Mileage 85
Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th and Monday 15th September – in
the Alsace
Riquewihr
Virtually unchanged since the 16thC, it avoided damage during WW11,
and is now meticulously preserved. Life revolves around the wines that
grow to the edge of the town, and the tourist that visit. But by 6pm they
are virtually all gone and since, we are staying there, the cobbled streets,
alleys and wooden beamed buildings are ours. Our hotel does not have a
restaurant, but there are more than a dozen in Riquewihr, six of them
Michelin listed. Dinner is included in the Tour on Friday and Monday,
leaving you two evenings to choose as you wish, without having to drive.
Look up www.i-love-riquewihr.com and see the photos.
The Alsace Wine Villages Drive
The local Tourist board suggest 18 villages as “must-sees”. www.tourisme-alsace.com ERL
will suggest a Tour to include some of them over about 40 miles as a day’s drive. But you
can explore many more easily – park and walk is the key, and take your camera. Geraniums
and beamed buildings galore – just wander and enjoy.
Riquewihr Wine Tasting
On Sunday evening we shall gather at 6.30pm for a tasting of the local Riquewihr wines,
before you head off for dinner.
Visit to Mulhouse and Breisach
The Grand Monarque, Chartres 4 star
The only quality hotel in the centre of Chartres, formerly an 18thC post house, with a
full large spa and locked parking. It was recommended in the Michelin Guide of 1900,
though the rooms have been updated since. 50 rooms. Dinner will be in a restaurant near
the Cathedral. www.bw-grand-monarque.com
On Monday by coach to the City of Mulhouse to visit the famous Schlumpf collection in The National Motor Museum,
preceded by a visit to The National Railway Museum for coffee. Lunch can be taken at The Schlumpf. Leaving at about
3pm we enter Germany to visit a vineyard in Breisach that is one of the largest in the World. Seeing the thousands of
cases of wine being produced, is a far cry from the usual small private vineyard. Tastings will of course be part of the
visit. Then, in the evening, last Alsace Dinner together in Riquewihr.