After travelling by rental car through some of the most scenic regions of France, you will switch to the rails for a trip around the Riviera to Milan, then continue on to Venice, Florence and Rome.
This trip will be customized according to your wishes.
Paris is more than just a city – the name itself is legend. From the late Middle Ages to the nineteenth century the focus of the entire country was on Paris, the center of western culture and a major influence on western history.
The city's layout and buildings reflect its cultural and political significance: the Champ-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Place de la Concorde and Notre Dame. Paris is also considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the world. The museums of the French capital are unparalleled. From the Louvre to the Orsay, from the Centre Pompidou to the Rodin to the Cité des Sciences, each museum offers a unique aesthetic experience. Moreover, names like Faubourg, Saint Honoré and the Avenue Montaigne are reminders that Paris is famous for fashion. A shopping excursion with a stop for pastries at a picturesque street café is a must in Paris. Whether you prefer the opera, a ballet, classical music, jazz, a night club or a dance revue, the word Paris is synonymous with night-life. In the surrounding localities you can experiences aristocratic Paris: Versailles, Fontainebleau, Saint-Germain and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Here travelers are invited to escape to the glitter of the Louis XIV era.
This enchanting little hotel is situated in the heart of Paris, in the shadow of the Louvre. It is so close to St. Germain l'Auxerrois that you can hear the hymns from the former “King's Church” and see the Gothic windows from your bedroom.
In the cellar there is an old printing press that was used to print illegal leaflets during the French Revolution. It is said that the reception area was once the Café Momus (a debating club of the revolutionaries) and it was here that Puccini allowed parts of his opera “La Boheme” to be played. Breakfast, true to Parisian custom, is served in your suite. The hotel is air conditioned. Sophie Aulnette has managed the hotel for the past 10 years and personally attends to her guests' comfort. Tickets to local museums and other attractions can be purchased at a shop near the hotel.
Rental car pick-up
Broker: Sunny Cars GmbH
Company: Keddy by Europcar
Vehicle: Peugeot 2008 or similar (CDMR)
Location: Paris City (Railway Station)
Burgundy must be enjoyed with all five senses, especially the eyes! In Dijon you can visit the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, the museum of fine arts and the beautiful old town.
Other highlights in the vicinity are the Romanesque Basilica of Vézelay, Beaune with its famous high peaks and brightly painted roof tiles, and Nevers with its cathedrals. Outside the cities the beautiful landscape beckons. The forests in Morvan Nature Park seem to have existed since the dawn of civilisation. An excursion on foot or horseback is an unforgettable experience. Waterways covering a distance of 1,200 km represent a tranquil means of transport to the castles, abbeys and convents in one of the most beautiful regions of France. The wines of Burgundy are world famous and include Chablis, Côtes-de-Nuits, Côtes-de-Beaune, Côtes-Chalonnaises, Maconnais and Pouilly. The wines are rivalled in importance by the region's cuisine. Visitors shouldn't miss such specialities as the famous vineyard snails, eggs meurette (in delicate wine sauce), hams from the Morvan hills, Charolais beef and Bresse chicken.
The manor house has served as an inn since the 16th century and many famous people have stayed there – including Ludwig XIV.
The property was fully renovated in 1986 and turned into a modern hotel. One of the towers contains a glass elevator which offers nice views of the old town. The rooms are decorated with priceless antiques. The hotel has a first-class restaurant with an excellent wine cellar. The old wine cellar, a cosy room with a low, arched stone ceiling, is used as a Breakfast room when the courtyard cannot be used due to inclement weather.
The center of the former Roman “Provincia Fallia Narboniensis” forms the Bas Provence around the city of Avignon. It is one of the oldest cultural landscapes of Europe and has written world history more than once.
During the schism of the medieval church, alongside the Pope in Rome there was another one, residing in Avignon and shaping the city and region. Ancient towns nestle in the mountain wilderness, deserted villages are being reclaimed by nature. In addition to cities such as Arles, Nimes or Aix visitors can find almost untouched landscapes: Mont Ventoux, the highest massif of the Provence or the endless oak forests of the Luberon. Considering the pleasant Mediterranean climate, it is understandable that this land has always attracted travelers, painters and artists.
This country inn is located in the regional park of Luberon in the heart of Provence. The 200-year-old building, which is typical of Provence, has been meticulously restored.
It exudes joie de vivre and comfort. Each of the 14 rooms has unique furnishings with traditional furniture, colorful tiles, local fabrics and warm colors. Most of the rooms are large enough for families. The sizable park shaded by sycamores offers a refreshing pool for hot days. The food is a daily highlight here. An ample Breakfast is served with homemade jams, fresh fruit from the market and figs from the inn's own garden. In the evenings, your host, Thierry, will conjure up a tasty seasonal meal made with local ingredients.
The River Verdon is a tributary of the River Durance. Along its 175 kilometer route it has dug a huge canyon into the Alps which is the deepest valley in Europe and one of its most impressive natural wonders.
The canyon is 21 km long, 700 m high and only 6 m wide in some places. It represents a constant challenge for climbers, white water rafters and well-equipped hikers. There is a road around the edge of the gorge which leads to splendid viewpoints.
In the hills of Haute Provence, where lavender fields reach down to the steep bank of the Verdon, lies the former oil mill of the castle of St-Laurent-du-Verdon.
Edith and Nicolas, a couple from Switzerland, have transformed the venerable 17th century building into a Mediterranean paradise with ten rooms. The idyllic surroundings, peace and quiet and a strong organic cuisine characterize the house, which belongs to the Slow Food network and can be counted among the “Hôtels au Naturel” because of its constant commitment to sustainable tourism.
Bicycles are provided; hiking trails lead directly past the property. Just as well, one can enjoy the peace and quiet in the shade of the olive trees and read or play boules or billiards.
Tucked away in the mountains between Nice and Antibes is the charming township of Vence. Its splendid location and medieval city center attracted many artists in the 19th century.
There is a lot to discover in the surrounding mountains: St-Paul-de-Vence with its old city wall, Haute-de-Cagnes, a picturesque village, and Tourettes sur Loup. Although the Côte d'Azur is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide, there are still plenty of places off the beaten track where you can enjoy the beauty of this unique region.
This guesthouse in downtown Vence was a pharmacy in the 18th century – the oldest pharmacy in the French Riviera.
The building subsequently served as the residence of a wealthy family and was later used as a small hotel before being acquired by its current owners, who converted it into the elegant guesthouse it is today. The inninterior reflects Venceimportance as a city of artists: the reception area is decorated with modern sculptures and original paintings, while the living room contains a large library. The guest rooms are all air conditioned. A garden with a swimming pool is available to guests.
Rental car drop-off
Location: Nice (City Office)
Your train tickets will not be booked by Umfulana. You have several options to book them online. The two official websites of the local providers are www.italotreno.it and www.trenitalia.com.
Alternatively you can book on www.italiarail.com, where prices will be displayed in most currencies, but tend to be more expensive. Another option is to purchase your ticket on arrival at the station.
This city at the foot of the Alps, which was founded by Etruscans in 600 B.C. and conquered by the Romans in 222 A.D., is more than just the main city of Lombardy.
The second largest city in Italy after Rome is one of the world's leading commercial and financial centers. The AC Milan and FC Internazionale play in the first division and at times in the European Champions League. The Milan opera, La Scala, is located in a classical 18th century building and enjoys worldwide renown. Several historical buildings can be found in the city center. The most important of these is the Italy's largest Gothic cathedral, which took nearly 200 years to build starting in 1375 and holds 40,000 people. Close by is Milan's shopping district with its famous fashion designers and cozy cafés.
This small, attractive inn is located in an 18th century building in the heart of Milan, within walking distance of the opera and the famous Milan Cathedral.
All rooms in the 4 star hotel are air-conditioned and furnished with en-suite marble tile bathrooms.
Your train tickets will not be booked by Umfulana. You have several options to book them online. The two official websites of the local providers are www.italotreno.it and www.trenitalia.com.
Alternatively you can book on www.italiarail.com, where prices will be displayed in most currencies, but tend to be more expensive. Another option is to purchase your ticket on arrival at the station.
This centuries-old city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Countless churches and palaces bear witness to the power and unsurpassed wealth of this small republic.
The lagoon city was founded in northern Italy during the troubled times of the decline of the Roman Empire. The remains of the evangelist Mark were transferred to Venice in 829. The streams of pilgrims that followed gave the city much added importance. Since then the sacred symbol of the lion has been the city's coat of arms. Venetian troops later occupied eastern Italy and, in 1204, even Constantinople. At the height of its power Venice ruled the Mediterranean. The demise of the “serrenissima repubblica” began with the fall of Constantinople and the opening of the Western Hemisphere by Spain, Portugal and Holland. Venice's political importance declined after the Congress of Vienna and it was given to Austria. Returned to Italy in 1866, Venice has inspired generations of artists, writers and musicians. More than a city, it is a symbol of wealth and beauty as well as death and decay.
The palace from the 17th Century is located behind SaintMark's Square, where the most elegant streets of Venice run. Once the seat ofthe Venetian school of painting, the building now houses a charming hotel with43 rooms, furnished by the Romanelli family with antiques from the 17th Century.
A green oasis in the city and valuable retreat after busysightseeing is the courtyard with lots of shaded seating areas and a fountain.The inside features a bar in a retro style. The rich Breakfast (for Italianstandards) is served in in the café or in the adjacent garden. The staff makeyou feel at home and lift your spirits.
Your train tickets will not be booked by Umfulana. You have several options to book them online. The two official websites of the local providers are www.italotreno.it and www.trenitalia.com.
Alternatively you can book on www.italiarail.com or www.raileurope.com, where prices will be displayed in most currencies, but tend to be more expensive. Another option is to purchase your ticket on arrival at the station.
The capital of Tuscany lies on the banks of the Arno between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas, near the center of the Italian peninsula.
It is a city that bustles with industry and crafts, commerce and culture, art and science. The Chianti region between Florence and Siena is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy and a famous wine production area. Founded by the Romans in the first century B.C., Florence reached its pinnacle between the 11th and 15th centuries, when it was a free city balancing the authority of the Emperor with that of the Pope. In the 15th century it came under the rule of the Medici family, who later became the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. The city is considered the cradle of the Renaissance and humanism and was a leading center of art, culture, politics and economic power during this period. The universal geniuses Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo thrived here. Their works, along with those of many generations of artists up to the masters of the present century, are gathered in the city's many museums.
The sixteenth century villa with a beautiful garden is surrounded by olive groves, vines, rows of cypress trees and ochre-coloured farmhouses – all this just twenty minutes from Florence and a little more than thirty from Siena. It is more like a private house than a hotel: a Tuscan villa with its family antiques, an elegant but very warm ambiance, spacious and quiet bedrooms, lavish breakfasts. The latter feature a large buffet that includes Tuscan specialities such as fresh ricotta cheese, the local focaccia bread, prosciutto and home-made brioche. Whereas the loggia looks out onto a formal garden, the swimming pool is located in an olive grove. All the bedrooms are spacious – most are even enormous – some have frescoed walls and ceilings, and a couple of them have a fireplace. Each room has its own refrigerator, computer outlet, safe, air conditioning, an electric kettle and a tea and coffee tray. The view is of the garden, the olive grove or the central courtyard with the old well and fragrant creeping vines. The bathrooms have been decorated with thorough attention to detail, each with handmade tiles and some with original frescoes.
Getting to Florence from the hotel is quite easy: guests can drive into the city and park at the train station, drive to a large park & ride parking lot just outside of Florence and take the tram into town, or take the bus to Florence from a stop two miles from the hotel. A visit to a working winery, including wine tastings and a light buffet of local products, can be booked upon request.
The journey will take you through Tuscany and Lazio.
Your train tickets will not be booked by Umfulana. You have several options to book them online.
The two official websites of the local providers are www.italotreno.it and www.trenitalia.com. Alternatively you can book on www.italiarail.com or www.raileurope.com, where prices will be displayed in most currencies, but tend to be more expensive. Another option is to purchase your ticket on arrival at the station.
The western world was ruled from the city built on the legendary seven hills for 1,500 years. Rome was the stage for many historic events of worldwide significance during that era.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire the city became the seat of the Catholic Church. During the zenith of its power (the second century A.D.) Rome's population numbered more than a million, making it the world's first metropolis. However, only 25,000 people lived among the city's ruins at the close of the Roman Empire. Regrowth didn't begin until the return of the Pope from Avignon in the fifteenth century. Today the Italian capital ranks amongst the premiere cities of Europe with regard to art, culture and a fast-paced lifestyle. Millions of tourists visit Rome annually to take in the sights, shop and enjoy the cuisine.
This centuries-old building is located in the city centre, between the Spanish steps and the Via Veneto. Marco and Giulia, the enterprising proprietors who have roots in the hotel business, have completely restored the property and now offer modern, comfortable accommodation in a historical building.
Marco can suggest the best sites to see – he is an accredited Rome tour guide. The building offers many practical conveniences. An elevator takes guests to the air-conditioned rooms on the three upper stories. The upstairs suites have a view extending over the roofs of the old city to the dome of St Peters. You're guaranteed a good night's rest here (a valuable commodity in Rome), as the guesthouse is next door to a convent! The subway station Barberini is only a few steps away.
Ph.: +49 (0)2268 92298-25
Attractions 
Hiking suggestion 
