SOUTHWEST FRANCE – SUMMER 2025

Meeting at the airport and direct flight with AEGEAN to Bordeaux, the "vineyard of the world". In the region where wine defines the Art de Vivre, everything is intoxicatingly beautiful, because "wine makes the heart happy"... Stylish, seductive, with the relaxed air of the French countryside, the birthplace of the great Enlightenment philosopher Montesquieu, has many epithets: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sémillon Muscadelle... 50 famous appellations and 1200 wines from palatial vineyards "Châteaux" of another era. Its fortification, the so-called "bordelais", is its viticultural zone. The "Sleeping Beauty", as it is called, woke up through a renovation of hundreds of buildings that have been classified as preserved and protected by UNESCO. In the 19th century, Victor Hugo said: "Take Versailles, add the city of Anvers (Antwerp) and you have Bordeaux". The city, which is today a port on the navigable part of the river, also has intense commercial activity that is perfectly combined with a corresponding industrial one. Upon arrival, we begin our tour of the historic city, in which medieval monuments coexist with the refined architecture of the 18th century. We will see the Cathedral of St. Andrew, the City Hall, the central square of the Stock Exchange, the largest square in France, the Quinconces Square, we will wander through the narrow streets of the old town with antique shops, art museums, galleries, bistrots, cafés, grocery stores - figurines of another era and we will stroll through the romantic Port de la Lune - Port of the Moon - before raising our glass for a toast: "A votre santé"! Check-in at the HILTON GARDEN INN BORDEAUX CENTRE 4* hotel (www.hilton.com). Overnight.

Morning visit to the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the heart of the Bordeaux wine region. The "city of Art and History" is particularly beloved by Michelin-starred Chefs, since the most famous, rare and expensive edible fungus, the black truffle, this edible treasure that costs up to €12,000 per kilo, can be auctioned as a work of art and is a must in the culinary arts. We will have the opportunity to tour the narrow alleys of the picturesque town and see the wine production centers. At the end of the tour we will also visit one of the wineries in the area as a gift from our office. Return to Bordeaux and our hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast and then we will visit one of the most beautiful and impressive wine museums in the world (entrance fee included). The La Cité du Vin Wine Museum, which opened on the west bank of the river in 2016, connects the city with wine culture. It guides us with a modern style and is an excellent example of architecture. La Cité includes 10 levels with various themes, such as a wine bar, a retail store, exhibition spaces, special tasting rooms, a theater (named after Thomas Jefferson) and, on the top floor, a panoramic restaurant with stunning views of the city. But the heart of the museum is a permanent exhibition of 19 thematic areas that provide an overview of the world's vineyards, the development of domesticated vines, the complex ways of wine production, the taste notes of the drink, historical presentations on wine transportation and the general history of wine dating back to 6000 BC. Then, weather permitting, we will visit the largest sand dune in the world called Dune du Pilat. Return to Bordeaux and our hotel. Overnight.

Morning departure for the fourth largest city in France, Toulouse. Before arriving, however, we will visit the enchanting episcopal city of Albi, birthplace of the aristocratic impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, which will transport us to the belle époque, the era of the late 19th century. Then we will depart for Toulouse, which is a city that always sees life joyfully, "La vie en Rose", dressed in pink, due to the pink color of the tiles on the facades of its buildings, but also because, although the fourth largest city in population, it comes second in quality of life metropolis, after Lyon, with a natural joy of life that emerges effortlessly in its squares, cafes and elegant bistros. "Flying and gentlemanly" is our walk today - as we are in the center of the aerospace industry and construction. During our tour of the large city with a rich architectural past, we will see the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, considered the largest Romanesque church, the series of monasteries of the Jacobin Order, the Capitol, the square with the magnificent Salle de l'Ilèstre, etc. We will also see the Canal du Midi, the 240-kilometer-long waterway that connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic via the Garonne River, a technological achievement of the 17th century, a magnificent work of hydromechanics. The short cruises at varying heights on the river with its picturesque ferries are so romantic that no one misses a taste! Check-in at our hotel PLAZA CAPITOLE TOULOUSE 4* ( https://toulousecapitole-plazahotel.com ). Overnight.

Morning departure for the small town of Castelnaudary, whose old port is located on the Great Basin of the "Canal of the Two Seas". 90 weirs, aqueducts, bridges and dams have been built to support the Canal. It is noteworthy that in this otherwise small town, the religious, heretical, community of the Cathars was founded in the 12th century, the cause of great persecutions and religious wars. We continue for the amazing and extremely interesting castle city of Carcassonne. It is a fairytale city with a rich history, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the few fortified medieval cities that preserves its original fortifications and old medieval center. We will visit the Acropolis, the old town with the 12th century Castle, which was chosen as a natural setting for the filming of many period films, such as Robin Hood, the Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire with its magnificent stained glass windows and the largest church organ in France, the narrow cobblestone streets reminiscent of a Gallic village, the houses with their peculiar architecture with turrets and other sights. We will continue with the Lower Town, which is the newest extension and is crossed by the Canal du Midi. Return to Toulouse and our hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast and free day until transfer to the airport and boarding the flight to Athens.