For an illustrated brochure and full details email frieda.looser@gmail.com

the fee displayed is ground and ferry only and twin share.

Frieda Looser History Ltd

Normandy and Brittany

History Study Tour

Thursday 5 - Friday 27 June

2014

Abbey of Mont St-Michel

Enjoy a small group study tour in friendly company with an experienced lecturer

and tour leader.

Normandy and Brittany 2014

Small group history study tours are devised to suit the interests of adults in the community who delight in lifelong learning and appreciate the companionship of a relatively small number of like-minded individuals. This study tour in June 2014 will explore famous sites on both sides of the Channel such as Battle Abbey, Mont St-Michel and Claude Monet's home and garden at Giverny, and also the less well-known gems often hidden down country byways never frequented by commercial tours and inaccessible to huge coaches.

This will be the seventh history study tour led by Frieda Looser as academic leader, the first five being under the auspices of the University of Canterbury from 2006 to 2010. Since the Christchurch earthquakes, the University has withdrawn from offering Community Education classes and study tours. Frieda formed a company in late 2012 to continue offering History courses and study tours in Community Education. Frieda led a very successful tour through the northern and western isles of Scotland in September 2013, and is once again working with Frank Wharram, the same agent in Britain contracted for the six previous study tours.

After gathering at a hotel in Hastings, participants will explore sites in England associated with the Norman Conquest of 1066 and also take part in commemorations of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day 6 June 1944, before crossing the English Channel to Caen to begin exploring historic sites in Normandy. The third phase of the study tour takes us into the ancient kingdom and duchy of Brittany, with its prehistoric megaliths and rich and distinctive Celtic culture and traditions.

Academic Leader - Frieda Looser

Frieda Looser was a Senior Tutor in the History Department at the University of Canterbury, tutoring and lecturing in a number of courses, and currently teaches in the Learning Skills Centre. She has been a contributor to the University's Community Education programme since 1998, offering a wide range of courses exploring European, as well as local Canterbury history. She has an MA (Hons) in History and is the author of Fendall's Legacy, a history of Fendalton and Northwest Christchurch. Frieda offers history courses to U3Aand other community groups, and is a committee member of the Canterbury History Foundation, Canterbury Historical Association, and the Cornish Association.

Day 1: Thursday 5 June

Arrive at hotel in Hastings area; there are frequent trains from London. Meet the group and your Tour Leader, Frieda Looser, and have dinner in the hotel. Stay 2 nights in Hastings.

Day 2: Friday 6 June

Participate in the70th Anniversary of D Day celebrations. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 3: Saturday 7 June

Meet driver and tour bus at hotel and drive to various sites associated with William the Conqueror and 1066. Visit Pevensey Bay where the Normans landed and Pevensey Castle. There was a castle on this site which was visited by William. Continue to Battle Abbey, Battle Museum of Local History etc. Continue to Southampton. Stay overnight. Dinner in your hotel.

Day 4: Sunday 8 June

Time for optional early Sunday morning service. Visit Portsmouth Dockyard and the Mary Rose, HMS Victory, D-Day Museum etc. Take a boat trip around Portsmouth Harbour. Own arrangements for dinner. Depart on overnight ferry to Caen.

Day 5: Monday 9 June

Arrive Caen. Transfer to Rouen and check in to your hotel. Afterwards explore the old town of Rouen, with a local guide, including the great cathedral, the Gros Horloge, the Abbaye Church of St. Ouen and the Musée des Beaux Arts. Dinner in your hotel. Stay 4 nights in Rouen.

Claude Monet's house and garden at Giverny

Day 6: Tuesday 10 June

Full day drive from Rouen. Visit the Abbaye de Jumièges and the Abbaye Saint-Georges de Boscherville. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 7: Wednesday 11 June

Full day drive from Rouen. Visit Château Gaillard and the House & Gardens of Monet at Giverny. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 8: Thursday 12 June

Full day drive from Rouen. Visit the Château de Miromesnil and Gardens of Les Bois des Moutiers.

Day 9: Friday 13 June

Transfer to Caen. En route visit the Château of William the Conqueror in Falaise, and the Château de Crèvecoeur. Dinner in your hotel. Stay 3 nights in Caen.

Day 10: Saturday 14 June

Explore the old town of Caen with a local guide. Visit the Château of the Dukes of Normandy, the Musée de Normandie, Abbaye-aux-Hommes, the church and Abbey of St. Etienne, and the Pegasus Memorial. Driver's Rest Day. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 11: Sunday 15 June

Full day drive from Caen, visiting the Bayeux Tapestry, Museum of the Battle of Normandy and the Juno Beach Centre. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 12: Monday 16 June

Transfer to Pontorson near Mont St. Michel. En route visit the Musée Régional de Poterie and the Abbaye St. Trinité. Dinner in your hotel. Stay 2 nights in Pontorson.

Day 13: Tuesday 17 June

Visit Mont St. Michel in the morning. After lunch drive to Avranches and visit the Scriptorial, the Museum of Mont St. Michel Manuscripts etc. Own arrangements for dinner.

The Breton flag

Day 14: Wednesday 18 June

Transfer to Rennes. En route possibilities include the village of Melle, gardens of the Château de la Ballue and the fortified town of Fougères. Dinner in the hotel. Stay 3 nights in Rennes.

Day 15: Thursday 19 June

Exploring Rennes with a local guide. Visit the Royal Square, the Brittany Parliament Building, the Champs Libres Centre, incorporating the Brittany Museum. Driver's Rest Day. Own arrangements for dinner.

Château of Josselin

Day 16: Friday 20 June

Full day drive from Rennes. Visit La Roche aux Fées dolman in Esse, the Château de Châteaugiron and the Domain du Bois Orcan.

Day 17: Saturday 21 June

Transfer to Carnac. En route visit possibilities include the archaeological site at Monteneuf, the town and château of Josselin, the Château des Rohan at Pontivy, the Petit Mont Cairn and the megaliths at Lampouy. Dinner in the hotel. Stay 2 nights in Carnac.

Day 18: Sunday 22 June

Flexibility for optional early Church service. Full day exploring Carnac, including the great avenue of megaliths, the Barrow of St. Michel, the megaliths at Locmariaquer and the Museum of Prehistoric Remains. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 19: Monday 23 June

Transfer to Quimper. En route visit Musée Nationale de la Marine at Port Louis and the Château de Keriolet in Concarneau. Dinner in your hotel. Stay 3 nights in Quimper.

Day 20: Tuesday 24 June

Full day drive around Quimper. Visit the Faiencerie de Quimper and the Breton Departmental Museum, both in Quimper, Kerazan farm and Penmarc'h lighthouse. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 21: Wednesday 25 June

Full day drive around Quimper. Visit the Musée de l'Ancienne Abbaye de Landevennec, the Route des Fortifications Ile de Crozon, the Abbaye de Daoulas and the Domaine de Trevarez. Own arrangements for dinner.

Day 22: Thursday 26 June

Transfer to St. Malo. En route visit the Château de Kerjean, the town of Tréguier, the Abbaye Maritime de Beauport and the Musée de la Mer both at Paimpol and the town of Dinan. Farewell dinner in the hotel. Stay 1 night in St. Malo.

Breton women wearing the Bigouden distinctive headdress, one of the symbols of Breton identity.

Day 23: Friday 27 June

End of tour - group disperses after breakfast by individual arrangement.

**Note those who wish to return to England with the tour bus may do so on payment of a small supplement.

Fees and General Information

Fees: The fee for this study tour does not include international flights. This will enable you to choose your own flight dates and times to and from the United Kingdom, which may perhaps, coincide with a longer stay in the UK or Europe.

Tour fee: $7810.00 per person

(accommodation will be on twin share basis)

This is calculated on a group of 10 participants; a reduced fee will apply if a larger number of participants are enrolled. This tour may proceed, at an increased fee of $8850, with eight participants.

Single travellers: A single person supplement fee of $1340.00 per person is payable for individuals who do not wish to share accommodation. If single persons wish to share, we will do all that is possible to match that person with a suitable travelling companion. If a match cannot be found or that person withdraws from the tour, the single supplement fee will apply.

Fee includes:

• Frieda Looser as Tour Leader, a UK bus and driver, and ferry ticket from Portsmouth to Caen

• Accommodation for 21 nights with breakfast

• 9 evening meals

• Admissions to all sites mentioned in the itinerary

• Official Guides in Rouen, Caen, Mont St-Michel and Rennes.

Fee does not include:

• International flights and all associated costs such as airport transfers and

taxes etc to the United Kingdom and return

• Travel Insurance

• Visa costs (if required)

• Meals and activities not mentioned in the itinerary, or listed as optional

• Any other personal expenses and gratuities not detailed above

Enrolment/Deposit: A deposit of $1000.00 is required to secure a place on the tour. Participants are strongly encouraged to enrol promptly as places are limited and numbers and deposits are required for hotel and transport bookings.

To enrol, please complete the attached enrolment form and return with your deposit to:

Frieda Looser History Ltd

25 Northwood Villas

Northwood

Christchurch 8051

Final Payment: The final balance of payment is due no later than Friday 2 May 2014.

Changes to the fee:

Although changes to the published fee are unlikely, please note that adjustments to the tour fee may be necessary should changes to the value of the NZ dollar, or conditions imposed by other service providers or government agencies, impact on the tour experience.

Cancellations/Refunds:

Frieda Looser History Ltd reserves the right to cancel the tour or propose an increase in the fee should the minimum number of 10 enrolments not be received by Friday 7 March 2014, or for other extraordinary circumstances. Any decision will be made in consultation with the group. Should the tour be cancelled, any payments, including your deposit, will be refunded minus unrecoverable costs.

Withdrawal: Anyone withdrawing from the tour before final payment is due, but after a deposit has been paid, will be required to pay a withdrawal fee of $600.00 plus any unrecoverable costs incurred by Frieda Looser History Ltd or Frank Wharram in the UK.

If you withdraw from the study tour after payment has been made in full, the following refunds will apply:

Notification of Withdrawal

Refund

45- 60 days prior to departure

75%

31- 44 days prior to departure

50%

10 - 30 days prior to departure

25%

less than 10 days prior to departure

No refund

Please note refunds will not be given for unused accommodation, meals, transport or other services once the tour has commenced, except where covered by your travel insurance policy.

Tour group: Approximately 10 -15 participants

Enrolments will be accepted in order of receipt.Early enrolment is recommended to ensure a place.

Changes to the itinerary: While we take all reasonable care to ensure that our suppliers are of a high standard and meet our requirements, changes to operating conditions may be outside of our control. Therefore, we reserve the right to alter the itinerary or substitute services should the need arise. Any alteration to the published itinerary will be at least of an equal or superior standard to the original.

Accommodation: We have selected accommodation of a good standard, with private facilities, throughout the tour. We have generally avoided large international style hotels, instead choosing smaller, more atmospheric and historic properties, in keeping with the theme of the tour. NB Luggage may need to be carried upstairs in some hotels.

Pre-tour lectures: Tour participants are encouraged to enrol in evening and weekend lectures related to Normandy and Brittany presented by Frieda Looser leading up to the study tour in 2014.

Travel kit: Prior to travelling we will meet together to discuss details of expected weather conditions in Normandy and Brittany at the time of tour, clothing suggestions and practical travel hints. An illustrated handbook of the full itinerary will be provided to each participant.

Health: For your comfort and peace of mind, we suggest you consult your physician before travelling. You will not be expected to walk long distances, but some walking and standing will be required depending on the site visited. A Health and Contacts Form will need to be completed by each participant.

Passports: Please remember it is essential to have a current passport, which is valid for at least 6 months after your return to New Zealand.

Insurance: We strongly advise you to take out adequate travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances prior to, and for the duration of the tour.

Frieda Looser is unable to accept responsibility for any aspect of your study tour arrangements influenced by matters over which she has no control.

General Queries - please contact:

Frieda Looser

Email: frieda.looser@gmail.com

Telephone: 364-2987 ext 4976 mobile:021 02331282

A/H 323 7165

Enrolment Form

Normandy and Brittany - June 2014

Please complete this form and send with your deposit of $1000.00 to:

Frieda Looser History Ltd

25 Northwood Villas

Northwood

Christchurch 8051

Personal Details

Name____________________________________________________________

Postal Address__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Email_____________________________________________________________

Telephone (Daytime)_______________________________________________________

(Evening)________________________________________________________

Date of Birth_____________________________________________________________

Please find enclosed deposit of $1000.00

(Cheques payable to Frieda Looser History Ltd)

Accommodation:

£ Travelling alone share twin

£ Travelling alone require single room

£ Travelling with friend/partner/spouse with whom I wish to share

Name of person you wish to share with:

______________________________________________________

Item added 1 February 2014

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