P r ivat e Cha uffe ured Excurs ions Your guide

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W h e n M a u r i c e C h a b é e s ta b l i s h e d h i s luxury chauffeured car service in

he made it a point of honor to combine comfort with efficiency and discretion. Over 90 years and four generations later, this family-owned business maintains the same commitment to excellence today.

Pa r i s i n 1 9 2 1 ,

As the market leader of chauffeured car services in Continental Europe, Chabé is at the forefront of the industry, and responds to the demands of a clientele whose expectations are rooted in the digital age.

Chabé provides a complete offer of personalized services for the most demanding clients. Whether shopping, sightseeing or for trips out of town, enjoy the comfort and flexibility of a private excursion in your own luxury vehicle. The friendly and professional team of chauffeurs has in-depth knowledge of Paris and French regions, and will make every precious minute of your excursion count. Hop from one stop to the next, take a lunch break, and never miss a landmark or view. Forget worrying about directions or the traffic, relax and let your expert chauffeur take care of everything.

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Paris Highlights p.4 - Paris : The Shopping Capital p.6 - Paris Museums p.8 - The Palace of Versailles p.10 - Giverny p.12 - The Castles of the Loire Valley p.14 - Reims & épernay p.16 - Deauville & Honfleur p.18 The D-Day Beaches in Normandy p.20 - Make It Up ! p.22 - Contacts p.24

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Paris Highlights

_Insider tip After nightfall, the Eiffel Tower (1) sparkles with 20,000 fairy lights for the first five minutes of every hour; a magical moment that makes for a great photo opportunity. Just ask your chauffeur to pull up in front to capture the moment!

D u r at i o n - 3 h o u r s

Pa r i s

Paris is an inexhaustible source of delight and inspiration. Whatever you want to explore - whether it’s some of the city’s historic monuments, its parks and gardens, the gourmet cuisine, the multitude of cultural treasures, the luxury boutiques, or all that and more – your chauffeur knows how to make it happen in comfort and style. Make Paris your own.

Pont Alexandre III © Atout France/Nathalie Baetens

Don’t miss (3) (4) (8)

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Paris by night from the Pont-Neuf © Bichot from Paris (1) e i f f e l t o w e r

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(2) p l a c e d e l a c o n c o r d e (3) a r c d e t r i o m p h e (4) c h a m p s - é l y s é e s (5) p o n t n e u f (6) p o n t a l e x a n d r e III

The City of Light

Sit back and enjoy the

is possibly at its most beautiful at night, when the monuments and streets are spectacularly lit, the Eiffel Tower sparkles (1), store windows glimmer, and the River Seine reflects all the magic.

show,

from the Place de la Concorde (2) to the Arc de Triomphe (3), along Paris’s most famous avenue, the Champs Elysées (4).

(7) p o n t d e s a r t s (8) p o n t m i r a b e a u

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T a k e t h e r i v e r b a n k s and namecheck Paris’s iconic bridges, including the city’s oldest, dating from 1607, the Pont Neuf (5); the majestic Pont Alexandre III (6); the bridge for lovers, the Pont des Arts (7); or the Pont Mirabeau (8), made famous in Apollinaire’s poem of the same name.

Sink back into your leather seat, and get ready to do it in style! Fashion was practically invented in Paris, and any visit here is not complete until you’ve stashed a piece of Parisian chic in your suitcase. Whether you’re looking for some French fashion history, a perfume or lipstick from luxury brands, designs from younger labels, or pieces from cutting-edge designers you won’t find back home, your dedicated chauffeur knows where the action is. He’ll drop you at the door, then be waiting with a smile when you emerge, ready to store your bags in the trunk and continue the retail whirlwind.

Pa r i s

Paris The Shopping Capital

D u r at i o n - 3 h o u r s

Designers shoes © Atout France/Nathalie Baetens

Don’t miss From the Left Bank’s Le

(1) to the Right Bank superstores (2), the city’s dizzying department stores will fast-track you through all the beauty, fashion and accessories of the moment.

Bon Marché

Get lost in the world’s b i g g e s t f l e a m a r k e t Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (3), an unforgettable labyrinth filled with treasures, antiques and charming junk.

_Insider tip Bargain hunters, pick up this season’s must-haves for half price during the city’s twice-yearly sales, beginning at the end of June for the summer collections and the beginning of January for winter.

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Ta k i n g i n t h e f i n e s t w i n e ,

cakes, chocolate, macaroons, truffles, cheese, or caviar, your driver can devise a bespoke gastronomic tour of the city’s best food destinations for you (4).

Saint-Ouen (3) l e m a r c h é a u x puces de saint-ouen

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(5) (1) l e b o n m a r c h é ( 2 ) g a l e r i e s l a fay e t t e

(1)

& p r i n t e mp s (4) ladurée ( 5 ) r u e d u fa u b o u r g saint -honoré

Above : Galeries Lafayette © Atout France/Franck Charel Below : French perfumes, rue du Fabourg Saint-Honoré (5) © Atout France/Nathalie Baetens

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D u r at i o n - 3 h o u r s

Pa r i s

Any visit to Paris is not complete without seeing some of the world’s most important artistic masterpieces with your very own eyes. From Montmartre to Montparnasse, much of the history of Modern art was written somewhere in Paris, where artists such as Picasso, Matisse or Duchamp invented new ways of seeing and thinking. Over 170 museums house and demonstrate the city’s historic engagement with culture. Painting, architecture, sculpture, music, the decorative arts, fashion : whatever your inclination, your chauffeur can direct you, in comfort and style, to the city’s best.

_Insider tip Avoid the crowds and wander some of the city’s best museums after hours. Your driver can ferry you between the Centre Pompidou (3), the Musée d’art Moderne (4), the Musée d’Orsay (2), the Musée du Quai Branly (5),

The Musée d’Orsay © David Dennis

Paris Museums

and Musée des Arts Décoratifs (6), for example, all open late on Thursdays. (Note, the Louvre stays open until 9.45 pm on both Wednesdays and Fridays, and the Palais de Tokyo (7) is open till midnight every day except Tuesday!)

Don’t miss A museum, a monument, a

Get up close & personal

The world’s most famous museum is all that and more. Once home to French royalty, today the Louvre (1) hosts nearly 35,000 masterpieces dating from prehistory to today.

w i t h t h e a r t i s t s t h at h av e

landmark.

Imp r e s s i o n i s m e m e r g e d i n P a r i s . Immerse yourself in this defining art movement at the Musée d’Orsay (2) , dedicated to French art from 1848 to 1915. Experience for yourself masterpieces by painters including Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.

defined the 20th century,

at the Centre Pompidou (3), one of the city’s most popular museums, devoted to Modern and contemporary art, and itself a monument of avant-garde architecture designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano in 1977.

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(1) l o u v r e (2) m u s é e d ’ o r s a y (3) c e n t r e p o m p i d o u ( 4 ) m u s é e d ’a r t m o d e r n e ( 5 ) m u s é e d u q u a i b r a n ly (6)

musée des arts

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pa l a i s d e to k yo

d é c o r at i f s

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The Louvre © Atout France/Nathalie Baetens

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The Palace of

Versailles D u r at i o n - 4 h o u r s or full-day excursion D ISTANCE f r o m p a r i s - 2 0 k m

_Insider tip As French royalty did for centuries, ask your driver to take the picturesque “Royal Way,” passing by stunning avenues, monuments, parks and gardens between Paris and Versailles.

Pa r i s versailles

Don’t miss The jewel in the crown of t h e Pa l ac e o f V e r s a i l l e s

is possibly its magnificent Hall of Mirrors, built in the 1670s by Louis XIV as his most ostentatious display of royal power.

The ceiling of the Hall of Mirrors © Donald

B u i lt b e t w e e n 1 7 8 3 a n d

A m a s t e r p i e c e o f s ymm e t r y

on the orders of MarieAntoinette, the Queen’s Hamlet was conceived in the spirit of a true Norman village, and is composed of 11 quaint buildings – including the Billiard Room, the Boudoir, the Mill or Dairy – spread out around a big lake. The Farm is home to a small herd of eight cows and a bull, ten goats and pigeons.

1787

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a n d h a r m o n y on par with that of the Palace itself, the gardens were designed by André Le Nôtre, who made the French formal garden famous throughout Europe. Versailles is his absolute masterpiece.

View from the garden © Atout France/Nathalie Baetens

One of France’s most emblematic monuments, and one of the most beautiful achievements of 17th century French art, the Palace of Versailles began as Louis XIII’s hunting lodge before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it in the 17th century. He moved the court and government of France to Versailles in 1682 and created the palace we know today, a symbol of royal power and an embodiment of classical French art, and today a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site. Visit it in style, fast tracking the 20 kilometers that separates it from Paris in all the comfort of your private chauffeur driven vehicle.

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D u r at i o n - 4 h o u r s or full-day excursion D ISTANCE f r o m p a r i s - 7 5 k m

Pa r i s giverny

Don’t miss Mrs Baudy’s small café

served the many artists, including Cézanne and Rodin, who flocked to Giverny in search of inspiration. You can still enjoy its authentic atmosphere and signature dishes including the omelet or delicious Camembert crepe.

Musée des Impresionnismes © Atout France/Patrice Thébault

Giverny

is dedicated to the history of Impressionism and particularly its expression by the Giverny art colony, a community of American artists who followed Monet to Giverny, eager to explore his avant-garde principles.

nismes

M o n e t ’ s fa m o u s g a r d e n s

were composed over decades with the same attention the famous painter gave to his artworks, and comprise a flower garden and a Japanese inspired water garden.

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_Insider tip Monet’s famous water lilies bloom at the height of summer over the months of July and August. If you miss them at Giverny, ask your driver to take you to the Orangerie, the Paris museum displaying his Nymphéas series of 8 monumental paintings, before returning to your hotel.

Japanese bridge over the lily pond, in the garden Claude Monet © Atout France/Catherine Bibollet

T h e M u s é e d e s Imp r e s s i o n -

The pioneering Impressionist painter Claude Monet moved to Giverny, a village located 75 kilometers from Paris, in 1883 with his family, at the age of 43. There he spent the second half of his life to creating the exceptional garden that served as the primary inspiration for his art. An advocate for getting art out of the studio and into nature, Monet painted outdoors, “en plein air,” inspired by his sumptuous garden, a living tableau. The artist spent three decades creating hundreds of paintings inspired by the water lilies in his Japanese water garden. Today the house and gardens are much as they were a century ago.

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The Castles of the Loire Valley D u r at i o n - f u l l - d ay e x c u r s i o n D ISTANCE f r o m p a r i s - 1 3 5 k m

The fairytale Loire Valley is just two hours from Paris by car. Since 2000, it has been included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites as a living cultural landscape, and is ideal for a road trip. The Loire came to life during the Renaissance, when French Kings and the nobility built extravagant country retreats there designed for enjoyment and entertaining, an extension of court life outside Paris. Surrounding these magnificent royal castles is an enchanting and fertile landscape of woodlands, vineyards and rivers.

Don’t miss With its 128 meters of

Lo c at e d o n a r o c k y

A fo r m a l R oya l p l ayg r o u n d ,

440 rooms and 365 fireplaces, the Château de Chambord (1), near Blois, is the largest of the Loire Valley castles. Built in the 16th century as a hunting lodge for Francis I, the castle flaunts a distinctive French Renaissance architecture, which provided inspiration for the building of Versailles.

the medieval fortress was confiscated by the monarchy to became the Château d’Amboise (2), the royal residence of kings Charles VIII, Louis XII and François I. It flaunts magnificent views over the valley and river. And one-time resident Leonardo da Vinci is even buried in the château’s Gothic chapel.

the Château de Chenonceau (3) spans the River Cher and is an exquisite mix of Gothic and Renaissance architecture styles. The extraordinary architecture is matched by the richness of its collections, furniture and decorations.

fa c a d e ,

promontory,

Orléans Pa r i s loire va l l e y

Blois (1) c h â t e a u de chambord

Amboise Tours

(2) c h â t e a u d ’a m b o i s e

_Insider tip The Loire Valley is not only famous for its magnificent castles. Let your driver introduce you to the Loire Valley wine route, where you can explore the region’s estates, visit the cellars, meet the producers, and taste some great wines!

Paris

(1) c h â t e a u de chenonceau

Château de Chambord © Atout France/Franck Charel Gardens of the Loire © Jean Aernoudts

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Reims & épernay _Insider tip During the grape harvest in September, you’ll be able to watch the 120,000 grape pickers hard at work in the vines. Manual picking remains the tradition in Champagne, the method remaining the same today as it was in the 18th century.

D u r at i o n - f u l l - d ay e x c u r s i o n D ISTANCE f r o m p a r i s - 1 5 0 k m

What would a trip to France be without visiting its world-famous Champagne country, located about an hour and a half east of Paris east of Paris? The neighboring villages of Reims and Epernay, located 30 kilometers apart, are at the epicentre of Champagne production and compete for the title of Champagne city. Follow the Route Touristique du Champagne circuit, visit the famous estates, tour the vineyards, then sample some bubbly in their cellars. Your chauffeur will be happy to store a case or two of your favorite bottles in the trunk to take back to Paris. Each year, millions of bottles mature underground in the region’s former chalk mines, some dating back to Gallo-Roman times. So if history is your thing, ask your driver to take you on a tour of Reims’ many Gallo-Roman monuments, dating back to the 2nd century A.D., including the forum, or the triumphal gateway La Porte de Mars, the largest in the Roman world.

reims Pa r i s

Don’t miss Get to the heart of t h e fa m o u s ‘ M é t h o d e

at iconic Champagne houses Maison Pommery or Taittinger for example, where you can taste some exceptional bubbly in their atmospheric underground cellars.

Reims

C h a mp e n o i s e ’

For more than 8 centuries,

the Reims Cathedral has towered over the region, a masterpiece of Gothic art where the Kings of France were crowned until the mid 19th century. No less than ten Gothic cathedrals dot the region, including in Amiens and Beauvais.

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épernay Paris

Châlon-en Champagne

Go for a drive through the magnificent landscape

of the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park, surrounding the Montagne de Reims, and dotted with woods, meadows, vineyards, and featuring Romanesque churches and villages nestling in the valleys.

Above : Champagne vineyards © CRT Champagne-Ardenne/Manquillet Below : Reims cathedral © Atout France/Michel Angot

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Deauville & Honfleur D u r at i o n - f u l l - d ay e x c u r s i o n D ISTANCE f r o m p a r i s - 2 0 0 k m

Le Havre

Honfleur

deauville

Deauville Caen

Pa r i s

The Normandy coast is a yearround festival of art and culture dotted with historical towns, wonderful beaches, seaside resorts and medieval villages. However you’d like to enjoy it, your chauffeur can make it happen. Experience all the glamour of the 19th-century seaside resort Deauville at its sumptuous casino. Or visit the Villa Strassburger, a listed monument and Deauville’s most beautiful villa. Normandy is one the main horse breeding regions in France, so why not spend a few hours at the races at the charming Deauville-La Touques Racecourse? If yachting is more your thing, Honfleur’s old dock provides no better site for sailing. Or experience Honfleur’s artistic heritage; recognized as one of the cradles of Impressionism, painters, writers and musicians including William Turner, Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Charles Baudelaire, or Erik Satie have all been inspired by this town and its beautiful natural setting.

Cabourg

Paris

Don’t miss D e a u v i l l e ’ s fa m o u s 643-metre-long beachfront boardwalk ‘Les Planches’

is lined on one side by the iconic blue and red bathing cabins, and on the other with the beach and its colorful umbrellas; it has been an elegant stage since 1923 to see and be seen.

_Insider tip The Normandy Coast is the theatre of Europe’s strongest tides. During equinoxes each March and September, watch the tide rise with the speed of a running horse. And at low tide, the sea can be as far as two kilometers away, providing a great opportunity to hunt for shrimps, clams, crabs and whelks in the sand and shallow pools.

Trouville’s historic fish

A preserved medieval

is located on the port, and is open daily, year round selling an abundant selection of local fish, shellfish and crustaceans; it supplies not just locals, but the town’s many excellent seafood restaurants. Ask your chauffeur to take you to his favorite !

to w n lo c at e d o n t h e

market

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estuary of the Seine,

Honfleur is famous for its picturesque old sea and river port. The harbor is surrounded by charming narrow houses with slate-covered frontages, and hasn’t changed a bit since artists such as Gustave Courbet or Claude Monet immortalized it in paint.

Above : Deauville’s beach © Atout France/CDT Calvados Below : waterfront villa in Trouville © Atout France/CDT Calvados

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Don’t miss (1) is a museum and war memorial commemorating the Second World War and the Battle for Caen, and an excellent starting point for those who want to immerse themselves in this historical event.

The Mémorial de Caen

Lo c at e d o n a c l i f f o v e r © Official RN photo

_Insider tip Your chauffeur can customize your itinerary : stop for some spectacular coastal views before arriving at the memorial sites, or make time for a delicious seafood lunch at one of the region’s famous restaurants.

Immerse yourself in a decisive page of Western history. More than 70 years after Operation Overlord changed the course of history on June 6, 1944, leading to the liberation of France from the Nazis, and an Allied victory in the war, make a pilgrimage to these famous battlefields. Your chauffeur will take you on a tour of the site of the Normandy Landings: from the legendary Omaha Beach to the Utah Beach and SainteMère-l’Eglise (5), explore the poignant setting of “the longest day” at your own pace.

The D Day Beaches in Normandy D u r at i o n - f u l l - d ay e x c u r s i o n D ISTANCE f r o m p a r i s - 2 3 5 k m

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l o o k i n g Om a h a B e a c h

and the English Channel in Colleville-Sur-Mer (2), the Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial is the final resting place for over 9,000 American soldiers, most of whom lost their lives during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. You might recognize the cemetery from the opening scenes of Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award winning 1998 film, Saving Private Ryan.

T h e m a i n l a n d i n g p o i n t for the battle of Normandy, Omaha Beach (3) still bears the scars of this event, including bunkers, moonscapes, traces of shell explosions and numerous memorials commemorating the victims. The Utah Beach (4) Museum is located at the very site of the U.S. naval landing; here films, archives and models provide a unique recounting of the D-Day events.

© Myrabella

(5) Sainte-Mère-l’Eglise

(3) OMAHA BEACH

Colleville-sur-mer d-d a y beaches

(4) u t a h BEACH

(2) N o r m a n d y American Cemetery & Memorial

Pa r i s

Bayeux

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(1) m é m o r i a l de caen

Caen

Paris

Make It Up! Clustered around Paris are many exceptional sites and landscapes, perfect for exploring by car. Your chauffeur can come up with a custom itinerary according to your tastes history, nature, gastronomy, wine, monuments – to explore over a few hours, or during an all-day excursion.

Chantilly

Barbizon

Unquestionably one of the jewels of French heritage, this castle is remarkable for both its architecture and its gardens designed by the famous landscape architect Le Nôtre. The castle also has the second largest collection of paintings in France only surpassed by the Louvre. Just an hour from Paris, it’s a good option if you don’t have time to visit the Loire Valley, or as an extension of a trip to Giverny.

Barbizon is a charming village not far from the Fontainbleau forest (the two destinations can be combined in one excursion). It was made famous in the 19th century by a pioneering school of painters led by Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet who reinvented landscape painting there. D uration : 4 hours or full - day excursion distance from paris - 6 0 km

Fontainebleau © Atout France/Fabrice Milochau

D uration : 4 hours or full - day excursion distance from paris - 5 5 km

Le Mont Saint-Michel This well-preserved Benedictine Abbey is dramatically located on the peak of a rocky island just off the coast of Normandy, and surrounded by the winding streets of the medieval town.

Fontainebleau A favorite weekend getaway for Parisians, Fontainebleau is renowned for its historic royal castle, and large and scenic forest. (A visit here can be combined with an excursion to the neighbouring village of Barbizon, see above.) D uration : 4 hours or full - day excursion distance from paris - 7 0 km

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(1) P a r i s (2) F o n t a i n e b l e a u (3) B a r b i z o n ( 4 ) C h a n t i l ly

D uration : full - day excursion distance from paris - 3 6 0 km

(5) mont saint-michel

Chantilly © Jean-Pierre Belingard

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All the propositions featured in this guide can be customized to suit your needs. Please contact our guest relations team for more information or to make a reservation. CHABÉ PARIS

91-99 avenue Jules Quentin - 92000 Nanterre Tel. : +33(0)1 41 20 95 27 [email protected] www.chabe.fr

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