NORMANDY and BRITTANY WALK August 31 to September 11, 2021
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NORMANDY AND BRITTANY WALK August 31 to September 11, 2021 FACULTY LEADER Ed Steidle began his graduate studies in comparative literature at Johns Hopkins University and went on to earn his MA and doctorate at UC Berkeley. Since joining the Stanford faculty in 1984, he has taught in various departments, offering courses in the English department, the Western Culture program, the literature and arts track of the English department and the graduate program in the humanities. He also developed the successful Crossroads series for the Continuing Studies program. He has focused his studies on the cultures of the medieval period across Eurasia, in particular on the comparative aspects of their literature and art. Most recently he has taught a series of classes on the European Renaissance and its impact on non-Western cultures. On our walk, Ed’s lectures will explore the role of Brittany in the formulation of Arthurian literature from the 6th to the 13th centuries as well as its more recent struggles with England for mastery over trade in the Channel and the colonization of North America. Ed will also lecture on two of Normandy's great medieval heroes, William the Conqueror and Bertrand du Guesclin. • Joined Stanford faculty in 1984 • Has taught in Stanford’s English department, graduate program in the humanities and Continuing Studies program • BA, English literature and Eastern philosophy, Franklin & Marshall College • MA, comparative literature, and PhD, medieval comparative literature, UC Berkeley ITINERARY Tuesday, August 31 RENNES, FRANCE / DINARD Arrive Rennes airport and transfer to the town of Dinard on Brittany’s rugged northern coast. Mingle with fellow walkers at a welcome reception and dinner this evening. LE GRAND HOTEL DINARD (D) Wednesday, September 1 DINARD / DINAN The superb medieval town of Dinan is one of the prettiest and most historic places in the region. We start our day with a stroll through the ancient center and down to the river port, where we start our walk along the Rance estuary. After a pause for a picnic lunch by the waterside, we continue our walk to the village of Lyvet. We return to our hotel by road. LE GRAND HOTEL DINARD (B,L,D) Thursday, September 2 BRITTANY / DINARD Drive south to the heathland of Brittany, which lies at the spiritual heart of this region. Hear the great stories of Celtic Brittany and trace the histories of Merlin, Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in the romantic forest of Brocéliande. Later this afternoon return to Dinard by road. LE GRAND HOTEL DINARD (B,L) STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 NORMANDY AND BRITTANY WALK August 31 to September 11, 2021 Friday, September 3 CANCALE / SAINT-MALO Today enjoy a spectacular cliff walk between the towns of Cancale and Saint-Malo. On arrival in Saint- Malo, explore the old walled town before returning by boat across the bay to our hotel. LE GRAND HOTEL DINARD (B,L,D) Saturday, September 4 MONT-SAINT-MICHEL / BAYEUX Head eastward to the very western edge of Normandy and its most-visited site, Mont-Saint-Michel. Explore the great Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel before lunching in the most renowned of the village restaurants, La Mère Poulard. This afternoon continue by road into Normandy to the charming town of Bayeux, where we spend the next two nights. HOTEL CHÂTEAU DE SULLY (B,L,D) Sunday, September 5 OMAHA BEACH / ARROMANCHES Today travel north to the landing beaches, including infamous Omaha Beach, to relive some of the most deadly moments of World War II. We view the site of the landings before climbing the cliff to the American cemetery. After lunch walk along the clifftops to Arromanches and the site of the remains of the floating Mulberry harbor. HOTEL CHÂTEAU DE SULLY (B,L,D) Monday, September 6 UTAH BEACH / SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE / CAEN Today travel westward around the end of the Cotentin peninsula and continue north along Utah Beach. This area is famous for the fierce battles among the hedgerows where in 1944 the capture of each field was a major achievement. Walk inland and stop briefly at Sainte-Mère-Église, where the effigy of a paratrooper still hangs from the church steeple. We travel to Pointe du Hoc before continuing to our hotel near Caen. HOTEL CHÂTEAU D’AUDRIEU (B,L,D) Tuesday, September 7 CAEN / SUISSE NORMANDE Today we visit a lesser known region of Normandy called the Suisse Normande after the hills that rise along the river Orne. This is beautiful walking country and also boasts famous towns and villages such as Livarot, home of some of France’s best cheeses, and Falaise, the castle birthplace of William the Conqueror. Return to our hotel by road. HOTEL CHÂTEAU D’AUDRIEU (B,L,D) Wednesday, September 8 BAYEUX / CAEN / HONFLEUR This morning visit the world-famous tapestry in Bayeux that depicts the momentous events of 1066, including the Norman invasion of England. Then drive east to the historic city of Caen. Our walk takes in the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, founded by William the Conqueror, and the château begun in 1060 by this remarkable man. After free time for lunch, continue to one of the newest and most striking museums in France, the Caen Memorial, dedicated to peace and featuring events of World War II. From here continue to Honfleur, where we stay for the next three nights in the glorious setting of La Ferme Saint- Siméon. This spectacular residence overlooking the Normandy coastline was a famous retreat for Monet, Sisley and many other impressionist painters. HOTEL LA FERME SAINT-SIMÉON (B,D) STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 NORMANDY AND BRITTANY WALK August 31 to September 11, 2021 Thursday, September 9 SEINE VALLEY Visit the Seine Valley and the abbey church of Jumièges, which dominates the landscape. The abbey is located on a loop in the river accessible by ferry. Our walk leads us to the abbey, and after a picnic and visit there, we continue our walk before returning to our hotel. HOTEL LA FERME SAINT-SIMÉON (B,L) Friday, September 10 ÉTRETAT / HONFLEUR Today we walk north along the Alabaster Coast to the little seaside port of Étretat. The coastline here is quite stunning, with its sheer chalk cliffs eroded into extraordinary formations that have been the subject of myriad paintings by several impressionist masters. Return by coach to the town of Honfleur and our hotel, made famous by Boudin and Monet Tonight we gather to celebrate our adventures at our farewell reception and dinner. HOTEL LA FERME SAINT-SIMÉON (B,L,D) Saturday, September 11 HONFLEUR / PARIS / U.S. Transfer together from Honfleur to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport for outbound flights to the U.S. (B) INFORMATION Covid-19 and Travel With travel requirements and local Covid-19 conditions changing weekly, travel protocols for specific destinations will be shared with confirmed travelers closer to departure. To read more about Travel/Study’s approach to ensuring traveler health and safety, visit our Covid-19 Travel page. Size This trip requires a minimum of 14 participants and is limited to 32 (single accommodations are limited). Travel/Study is committed to providing a low-density experience on all programs and will implement protocols to do so, including social distancing on transportation as well as during lectures, meals and excursions. Cost* $9,995 per person, double occupancy $11,995 per person, single occupancy *Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person Included ● 11 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations ● 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners ● Welcome and farewell receptions ● Gratuities to guides and drivers for all group activities ● All tours and excursions as described in the itinerary ● Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days ● On-tour quarantine-related trip-cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance coverage ● General medical, accident and evacuation insurance STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | [email protected] FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305 NORMANDY AND BRITTANY WALK August 31 to September 11, 2021 ● Educational program with lecture series and predeparture materials, including an education resource list and travel information ● Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program Not Included ● Your personal flights to and from the program ● Passport and visa fees ● Immunization costs ● Meals and beverages other than those specified as included ● Independent and private transfers ● Nonquarantine-related trip-cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance coverage ● Baggage insurance ● Excess-baggage charges ● Personal items such as internet access, telephone calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services Air Arrangements You are responsible for booking and purchasing airfare to the start location and from the end location of the program. These air purchases are NOT included in the program cost. To assist you in making these independent arrangements, we will send you details with your confirmation materials on when to arrive and depart. What to Expect We consider this walking program to be moderately strenuous and physically demanding. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health and must be able to navigate walking routes that are often rugged, uneven and steep without assistance. Our walks range in length from three to eight miles per day, with a daily average of about six miles and no more than 800 feet of elevation gain/loss. The Normandy and Brittany regions are not mountainous, but there are some hills, and coastal walking is notoriously undulating. The terrain is varied and includes rough and muddy hill paths as well as farm tracks and grassy paths.