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A Trip of a Lifetime! We know the Bondurants are descendants of the Counts of Toulouse, Carcassonne, Beziers, and Foix. Along the way, we will talk about the intriguing question — were some Huguenots descendants of the Cathars? And you’ll be given the opportunity to suggest new settings and characters for Jules Larimore’s forthcoming books.
Day 1: Wednesday Sept 24: Welcome to Occitanie
From Toulouse airport, a transfer will be arranged for you to the city center. You will be greeted by Jules and your guide Mariette for lunch @The Bibent restaurant. After lunch, Mariette will take you for a guided tour including Les Jacobins Monastery and the history of the Counts of Toulouse. After the tour, you will travel to Carcassonne to check in to Les Chevalliers hotel with a breathtaking view onto the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. You will have time to settle in before the meet-and-greet cocktail at 6pm followed by dinner at your hotel.
Day 2: Thursday Sept 25: Carcassonne
You’ll begin the day with a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town and the Chateau de Comte, home of the Trencavels, resisters of the Cathar persecutions. Lunch will be cassoulet, the not-to-be-missed regional specialty dish @ Comte Roger. After lunch, you will be taken for a one-hour river cruise on the most famous canal in France: The Canal du Midi.
Dinner will be at a typical french bistrot, La table de Marie.
Overnight: Hotel Les Chevalliers, Carcassonne
Day 3: Friday Sept 26: Transfer to the Cevennes
Today, you will check out of your hotel in Carcassonne and head to Génolhac, the birthplace of ancestor Jean-Pierre Bondurant. Your first stop on the way will be a guided tour of the Maison Rouge to learn about Cévenol culture, followed by a lovely home-cooked lunch @ L’Oronge. After lunch, you will go for a guided tour of the birthplace of Rolland the camisard where you will delve into the history of French Protestantism at the Musée du Desert in Mialet. Another stop will be made at Chateau de Portes, a 1000-year-old castle filled with history.
You’ll check in to your charming french B&B Le Mas Nouveau and have dinner with a special guest.
Day 4: Saturday Sept 27: Genolhac
Today will be dedicated to walking in the footsteps of the Bondurant family ancestors. You will start with a guided tour of Génolhac followed by mingling with locals at the village market. Lunch will be in a French cafe on the village main square. After lunch, you will be introduced to wool carding and there will be a spinning demonstration. The rest of the afternoon will be at your pace or, if you feel up to it, Mariette will take you on a short hike to a camisard hamlet on Mont Lozere, offering a breathtaking view.
Dinner will be at the Mas Nouveau.
Overnight: Mas Nouveau, Génolhac
Day 5: Sunday Sept 28: Castelbouc and Menhirs
Today, you will visit a protestant temple in Pont-de-Monvert, the site of the onset of the Camisard war. At the next stop, you’ll be taken to stroll the village of Castelbouc, home of “The Muse of Freedom”. Lunch will be @ Aux Cinq Arches, a restaurant overlooking the village and the Gorges du Tarn. Your afternoon stop will allow you to admire one of France’s most spectacular menhir (standing stones) sites.
Dinner will be at the Mas Nouveau.
Overnight: Mas Nouveau, Génolhac
Day 6: Monday Sept 29: Cultural exchange
Today, you will experience a cultural exchange in your ancestors’ hometown, where you will engage in a meaningful dialogue on the importance of preserving history for future generations with local students, their teachers, and the esteemed historian, Marie-Lucy Dumas. This enriching experience will culminate in a tour of the Bondurant family house, offered by the actual owner and his wife, followed by a buffet lunch in the garden. In the afternoon, you’ll explore the land of dry-stone art and visit an ancient mill. Additionally, you’ll tour another private home that once served as an inn owned by the Bondurants.
You’ll return to the Mas to rest and pack for the transfer to Avignon on the following day.
Dinner will be at the Mas Nouveau.
Overnight: Mas Nouveau, Génolhac
Day 7: Tuesday Sept 30: Chestnuts and Uzès
You’ll bid farewell to Mas Nouveau and Genolhac. Just a short drive away, you’ll be welcomed by Emilie to her chestnut farm for homemade delicacies. The chestnut is a strong symbol of the Cevennes thanks to the Benedictines who started the first orchards. On your way to Avignon you will stop at Uzès for lunch @ Villa Curti followed by the visit of the Medieval gardens and the prison tower where a Bondurant ancestor was imprisoned.
On arrival in Avignon, you will check-in to your room at the magnificent 16th century Hotel Le Cloitre st Louis, a former Jesuit seminary. You’ll have time to settle in and prepare for your farewell dinner at the hotel.
Day 8: Wednesday October 1: Farewell
Time for your last café au lait and croissant. Transfers to Avignon TGV high-speed train station will be arranged in the morning.
Optional tour add on: Guided walking tour of Avignon where the former Pope’s palace is located and other significant historical sites from 10 to 12 AM.
Read here what Jules Larimore has to say about travelling with the History and Heritage tour guests
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Deposit
To secure a place on this tour, you will be required to fill in our reservation form which indicates that a 30% deposit will be required. The balance will be due 2 months prior to the tour.
Included
All meals indicated in the program including breakfast, wine for dinner, gratuities in restaurants, taxes, professional tour guide throughout your stay, activities and admission fees as indicated in program, airport transfers on the first day from Toulouse airport to your hotel in Carcassonne and on the last day of the tour to Avignon high-speed train station before 11am (check-out time), accommodation in twin or double.
Not Included
Round trip airfare to France, tips to tour guide and coach driver, any personal souvenirs or purchases outside of this tour and not indicated above, additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals, spa services at the hotel and all the sweet treats you pick up along the way, travel insurance (highly recommended) and trip medical coverage (required for travelers over 50 years of age).
Terms and Conditions
If insufficient numbers of participants register for the tour, or in the event of conditions deemed unsafe for our clients, the tour may be cancelled or postponed. While we endeavor to operate all trips as described, we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary owing to circumstances beyond our control or if more interesting opportunities arise. Any changes will be of similar or superior quality and content. If author Jules Larimore is unable to travel, the tour will proceed as planned with Mariette Emile, the renowned expert historical guide.
Cancellation Policy
This is a package group tour and non-refundable even in case of injury or illness or personal emergency. Cancellation must be notified by email to emma@tourwithabsolutely.com. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance including medical assistance and cancellation. If you get sick before the trip departs or during it, you will need to have your own medical and trip cancellation insurance to cover any costs incurred.
Payment
We accept Visa, and MasterCard.
Travel with insurance
Check out SquareMouth, insurance specialists that compare coverage, including Covid, from 19 reputable providers. Just select what best suits you (cancellation for any reason, interruption, medical evacuation…). Prices are reasonable and well worth it for a stress-free trip.
Arrival and Departure
You will be welcomed on arrival by your tour guide Mariette and author Jules Larimore at the meet-and-greet lunch in Toulouse. The transfer from Toulouse airport to the hotel in Carcassonne on the day of arrival and transfers from your hotel in Avignon to the TGV high-speed train station are included. When searching for flights, check out Skyscanner which compares rates for flights with numerous airlines.
Photo Release
You hereby grant Tour with Absolutely permission to use your likeness in a photograph, video or other digital media in any and all of its publications including web-based publications, without payment or other consideration. In addition, you waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein your likeness appears.
Weather
We expect average temperatures of max 25°C (76°F) and min 14°C (57°F).
What to Pack
Phone chargers, medication, sweater or jacket for cooler temperatures, an umbrella or rain coat, comfortable walking shoes/sneakers.
Physical Requirements
This tour is “physically active.” Tour guests must be able to walk without assistance and carry their own luggage. You will be travelling in a coach for the day trips. You may be on your feet, walking and standing, on uneven sidewalks or cobblestone streets, going up and down stairs, for a few hours, indoors and outdoors, rain or shine. That means if you need help climbing into a tour bus or if you are winded after walking 50 feet, Emma will have other trips for you to join.
Accommodation
You will be staying in a 4-star hotel in Carcassonne for 2 nights, in a 3-star bed and breakfast on the 4 following nights and in a 4-star hotel in Avignon for the last night.
Trip add on
A guided tour of Avignon will be offered from 10 am to 12 am on October 1. Consult us for details.
Additional Services
Emma Gély of Tour with Absolutely is happy to assist with pre- and post-tour trip planning.
A Trip of a Lifetime! We know the Bondurants are descendants of the Counts of Toulouse, Carcassonne, Beziers, and Foix. Along the way, we will talk about the intriguing question — were some Huguenots descendants of the Cathars? And you’ll be given the opportunity to suggest new settings and characters for Jules Larimore’s forthcoming books.
Day 1: Wednesday Sept 24: Welcome to Occitanie
From Toulouse airport, a transfer will be arranged for you to the city center. You will be greeted by Jules and your guide Mariette for lunch @The Bibent restaurant. After lunch, Mariette will take you for a guided tour including Les Jacobins Monastery and the history of the Counts of Toulouse. After the tour, you will travel to Carcassonne to check in to Les Chevalliers hotel with a breathtaking view onto the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. You will have time to settle in before the meet-and-greet cocktail at 6pm followed by dinner at your hotel.
Day 2: Thursday Sept 25: Carcassonne
You’ll begin the day with a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town and the Chateau de Comte, home of the Trencavels, resisters of the Cathar persecutions. Lunch will be cassoulet, the not-to-be-missed regional specialty dish @ Comte Roger. After lunch, you will be taken for a one-hour river cruise on the most famous canal in France: The Canal du Midi.
Dinner will be at a typical french bistrot, La table de Marie.
Overnight: Hotel Les Chevalliers, Carcassonne
Day 3: Friday Sept 26: Transfer to the Cevennes
Today, you will check out of your hotel in Carcassonne and head to Génolhac, the birthplace of ancestor Jean-Pierre Bondurant. Your first stop on the way will be a guided tour of the Maison Rouge to learn about Cévenol culture, followed by a lovely home-cooked lunch @ L’Oronge. After lunch, you will go for a guided tour of the birthplace of Rolland the camisard where you will delve into the history of French Protestantism at the Musée du Desert in Mialet. Another stop will be made at Chateau de Portes, a 1000-year-old castle filled with history.
You’ll check in to your charming french B&B Le Mas Nouveau and have dinner with a special guest.
Day 4: Saturday Sept 27: Genolhac
Today will be dedicated to walking in the footsteps of the Bondurant family ancestors. You will start with a guided tour of Génolhac followed by mingling with locals at the village market. Lunch will be in a French cafe on the village main square. After lunch, you will be introduced to wool carding and there will be a spinning demonstration. The rest of the afternoon will be at your pace or, if you feel up to it, Mariette will take you on a short hike to a camisard hamlet on Mont Lozere, offering a breathtaking view.
Dinner will be at the Mas Nouveau.
Overnight: Mas Nouveau, Génolhac
Day 5: Sunday Sept 28: Castelbouc and Menhirs
Today, you will visit a protestant temple in Pont-de-Monvert, the site of the onset of the Camisard war. At the next stop, you’ll be taken to stroll the village of Castelbouc, home of “The Muse of Freedom”. Lunch will be @ Aux Cinq Arches, a restaurant overlooking the village and the Gorges du Tarn. Your afternoon stop will allow you to admire one of France’s most spectacular menhir (standing stones) sites.
Dinner will be at the Mas Nouveau.
Overnight: Mas Nouveau, Génolhac
Day 6: Monday Sept 29: Cultural exchange
Today, you will experience a cultural exchange in your ancestors’ hometown, where you will engage in a meaningful dialogue on the importance of preserving history for future generations with local students, their teachers, and the esteemed historian, Marie-Lucy Dumas. This enriching experience will culminate in a tour of the Bondurant family house, offered by the actual owner and his wife, followed by a buffet lunch in the garden. In the afternoon, you’ll explore the land of dry-stone art and visit an ancient mill. Additionally, you’ll tour another private home that once served as an inn owned by the Bondurants.
You’ll return to the Mas to rest and pack for the transfer to Avignon on the following day.
Dinner will be at the Mas Nouveau.
Overnight: Mas Nouveau, Génolhac
Day 7: Tuesday Sept 30: Chestnuts and Uzès
You’ll bid farewell to Mas Nouveau and Genolhac. Just a short drive away, you’ll be welcomed by Emilie to her chestnut farm for homemade delicacies. The chestnut is a strong symbol of the Cevennes thanks to the Benedictines who started the first orchards. On your way to Avignon you will stop at Uzès for lunch @ Villa Curti followed by the visit of the Medieval gardens and the prison tower where a Bondurant ancestor was imprisoned.
On arrival in Avignon, you will check-in to your room at the magnificent 16th century Hotel Le Cloitre st Louis, a former Jesuit seminary. You’ll have time to settle in and prepare for your farewell dinner at the hotel.
Day 8: Wednesday October 1: Farewell
Time for your last café au lait and croissant. Transfers to Avignon TGV high-speed train station will be arranged in the morning.
Optional tour add on: Guided walking tour of Avignon where the former Pope’s palace is located and other significant historical sites from 10 to 12 AM.
Read here what Jules Larimore has to say about travelling with the History and Heritage tour guests
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Deposit
To secure a place on this tour, you will be required to fill in our reservation form which indicates that a 30% deposit will be required. The balance will be due 2 months prior to the tour.
Included
All meals indicated in the program including breakfast, wine for dinner, gratuities in restaurants, taxes, professional tour guide throughout your stay, activities and admission fees as indicated in program, airport transfers on the first day from Toulouse airport to your hotel in Carcassonne and on the last day of the tour to Avignon high-speed train station before 11am (check-out time), accommodation in twin or double.
Not Included
Round trip airfare to France, tips to tour guide and coach driver, any personal souvenirs or purchases outside of this tour and not indicated above, additional wine, beer or spirits beyond what is offered at meals, spa services at the hotel and all the sweet treats you pick up along the way, travel insurance (highly recommended) and trip medical coverage (required for travelers over 50 years of age).
Terms and Conditions
If insufficient numbers of participants register for the tour, or in the event of conditions deemed unsafe for our clients, the tour may be cancelled or postponed. While we endeavor to operate all trips as described, we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary owing to circumstances beyond our control or if more interesting opportunities arise. Any changes will be of similar or superior quality and content. If author Jules Larimore is unable to travel, the tour will proceed as planned with Mariette Emile, the renowned expert historical guide.
Cancellation Policy
This is a package group tour and non-refundable even in case of injury or illness or personal emergency. Cancellation must be notified by email to emma@tourwithabsolutely.com. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance including medical assistance and cancellation. If you get sick before the trip departs or during it, you will need to have your own medical and trip cancellation insurance to cover any costs incurred.
Payment
We accept Visa, and MasterCard.
Travel with insurance
Check out SquareMouth, insurance specialists that compare coverage, including Covid, from 19 reputable providers. Just select what best suits you (cancellation for any reason, interruption, medical evacuation…). Prices are reasonable and well worth it for a stress-free trip.
Arrival and Departure
You will be welcomed on arrival by your tour guide Mariette and author Jules Larimore at the meet-and-greet lunch in Toulouse. The transfer from Toulouse airport to the hotel in Carcassonne on the day of arrival and transfers from your hotel in Avignon to the TGV high-speed train station are included. When searching for flights, check out Skyscanner which compares rates for flights with numerous airlines.
Photo Release
You hereby grant Tour with Absolutely permission to use your likeness in a photograph, video or other digital media in any and all of its publications including web-based publications, without payment or other consideration. In addition, you waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein your likeness appears.
Weather
We expect average temperatures of max 25°C (76°F) and min 14°C (57°F).
What to Pack
Phone chargers, medication, sweater or jacket for cooler temperatures, an umbrella or rain coat, comfortable walking shoes/sneakers.
Physical Requirements
This tour is “physically active.” Tour guests must be able to walk without assistance and carry their own luggage. You will be travelling in a coach for the day trips. You may be on your feet, walking and standing, on uneven sidewalks or cobblestone streets, going up and down stairs, for a few hours, indoors and outdoors, rain or shine. That means if you need help climbing into a tour bus or if you are winded after walking 50 feet, Emma will have other trips for you to join.
Accommodation
You will be staying in a 4-star hotel in Carcassonne for 2 nights, in a 3-star bed and breakfast on the 4 following nights and in a 4-star hotel in Avignon for the last night.
Trip add on
A guided tour of Avignon will be offered from 10 am to 12 am on October 1. Consult us for details.
Additional Services
Emma Gély of Tour with Absolutely is happy to assist with pre- and post-tour trip planning.
