NORMANDY AND BRITTANY WALK - Stanford University
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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 | TRAVELSTUDY@ALUMNI.STANFORD.EDU
FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305NORMANDY 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 | TRAVELSTUDY@ALUMNI.STANFORD.EDU
FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305NORMANDY 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 | TRAVELSTUDY@ALUMNI.STANFORD.EDU
FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305NORMANDY 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. There are short stretches of rocky or shoreline walking and some short beach
walks across sand. Sturdy, well-fitting, waterproof, broken-in hiking boots with ankle support are
essential. Participants will need to bring a daypack with rain gear, extra layers, sunscreen and a water
supply. “Nature” is often the only restroom facility available, and one must be comfortable using it and
carrying out paper waste. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Deposit, Payments and Cancellations
A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to reserve space on this program. Final payment is due 90 days
prior to program start. Deposits and any payments are fully refundable until 90 days prior to program
start. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place is resold, in
which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply.
Insurance
Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical,
accident and evacuation coverage, as well as on-tour quarantine-related trip-cancellation, -interruption
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | TRAVELSTUDY@ALUMNI.STANFORD.EDU
FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305NORMANDY AND BRITTANY WALK
August 31 to September 11, 2021
and -delay insurance coverage, under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to
provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. You may choose to
subscribe to optional nonquarantine-related trip-cancellation, -interruption and -delay insurance
coverage and/or baggage insurance. Information offering such insurance will be included in your
confirmation materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you purchase your insurance
within 14 days of receiving your welcome email.
Eligibility
We encourage membership in the Stanford Alumni Association, as the program cost for nonmembers is
$300 more than the members’ price. A person traveling as a guest paid for by a current member will not
be charged the nonmember fee. To purchase a membership, call (650) 725-0692 or visit
alumni.stanford.edu/goto/membership.
Responsibility
The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the
passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can
assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service
of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for
the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the
arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due
to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or
other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as
tour rates include arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations
to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. We reserve the right to cancel any program
prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our
part. We also reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program.
No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient
time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to
be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their
plane or conveyance. Neither the Stanford Alumni Association nor Stanford University nor our operators
accept liability for any carrier's cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket
in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the brochure is
published and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel
charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign an Assumption of
Risk.
California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50
STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY | (650) 725-1093 | TRAVELSTUDY@ALUMNI.STANFORD.EDU
FRANCES C. ARRILLAGA ALUMNI CENTER | 326 GALVEZ STREET | STANFORD, CA 94305You can also read
