* France - Lozère and Cévennes : a coach tour full of legend and traditions

Arrive in Marvejols. Lunch followed by free time to explore the medieval town famous for its statue of "the Beast of Gévaudan", a man-eating wolf-like wild beast that terrorised the region in the 18^th century. We continue to La Canourgue, the "Little Venice of the Lozere", a labyrinth of cobbled streets criss-crossed by lots of little canals. Check-in to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

We head for the plateau of Aubrac. Visit to the chateau of la Baume whose gilded interior recalls the decor of Versailles.  On to Ste Lucie where we stop for lunch then time to explore the village at leisure with its slate-roofed granite houses.  We visit the Wildlife Park where nearly 120 wolves from Europe and Canada are free to roam. Dinner. Overnight. 

Off to Mende where we enjoy a guided tour of the town dominated by its impressive cathedral, and its centuries' old houses. After lunch we continue to Ste Eulalie via the heather and broom scattered moorlands of la Margeride where you expect to see the "Beast of Gevaudan" behind every rocky outcrop. Our tour of the Bison Park is by horse-drawn carriage. Dinner. Overnight.
 

We set out for Florac where we visit the Cevennes Park Country house. Lunch and a picturesque drive along the corniche road of the Cevennes which offers superb views over the "serres" or jagged ridges of the Cevennes. Check-in to our hotel. Dinner and overnight. 

We journey by steam train across the countryside of the Cevennes, stopping to visit the bamboo forest, unique in Europe.  Lunch then on to visit the Museum of « Santons », figurines used to decorate the Christmas crib. Over 200 figurines on display recreate the life and times of long ago. Dinner. Overnight.

Guided tour of the « Pont du Gard », the enormous viaduct bridge over the river Gard, a most striking feat of engineering built by the Romans  to supply water to the nearby town of Nimes. Lunch.