STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Burgundy and Alsace Walk September 9 to 21, 2014 On this amble through one of France s most enchanting regions, enjoy the history and scenery waiting around every turn in the road. From Paris, shuttle to Vézelay and explore the beautiful valley that was carved by the Cure River. Travel east to the medieval town of Flavigny and walk across the hills of Mont Auxois, the site of Gaul s last stand against Julius Caesar. Stroll through quaint villages and the world-renowned vineyards of Côtes de Beaune before exploring the extraordinary Abbey of Cluny. Walk above the Vosges Mountain s vineyards and view the spectacular terrain of the Lorraine and Rhine region. FACULTY LEADER EDWARD STEIDLE joined the Stanford faculty in 1984. Raised and educated in Europe, Ed completed his degree in comparative literature at UC-Berkeley. Ed speaks several languages and has traveled extensively throughout Europe. At Stanford, Ed has taught in the Western Culture Program and in the literature and arts track of the English department. He also developed the successful Crossroads series for Continuing Studies. His specialties are Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and he has lectured on the art and literature of the ancient cultures of Europe, Asia, Africa and Central America. He is currently offering a series of classes on the Renaissance and its impact on European global expansion from the 15th through 18th centuries. Ed is indeed one of our favorites! His subject matter is pertinent in every way to the itinerary and he is able to readjust his lectures to be relevant to particular places or events. Lynn Lowenson Marks, 57, Normandy and Brittany Walk, 2010 A Program of the Stanford Alumni Association
ITINERARY Tuesday & Wednesday, September 9 & 10 U.S. / PARIS, FRANCE / VÉZELAY Depart the U.S. on overnight international flights, arriving in Paris on Wednesday. Upon arrival transfer to our hotel in Vézelay, our home for the next two nights. Gather this evening for a festive welcome reception, followed by dinner at our hotel. HOTEL L ESPERANCE (9/10: D) Thursday, September 11 VÉZELAY Our inaugural walk commences in the beautiful valley of the Cure River just below the great abbey of Vézelay itself. Visit this magnificent building, perched on the summit of a nearby hill and the starting point for many medieval pilgrims bound for Spain s Camino de Santiago. Its superb Romanesque architecture and carved portals have earned it World Heritage site status. HOTEL L ESPERANCE (B,L,D) Approx. 2.5 hours of walking Friday, September 12 VÉZELAY / FLAVIGNY / BEAUNE Travel east by road to the medieval town of Flavigny and begin our walk across the hills to Mont Auxois, site of Gaulish ruler Vercingétorix s last stand against Julius Caesar s legionnaires. After a picnic lunch, walk along the valley to the abbey of Fontenay, another World Heritage site. This afternoon continue to the beautifully preserved town of Beaune, famous for the Hospices, a charitable foundation that hosts the great candlelit Beaune wine auctions. We stay in the heart of town at one of France s best-loved hotels, with various local restaurants close by. HOTEL LE CEP (B,L,D) Approx. 3 hours of walking Saturday, September 13 CÔTES DE BEAUNE Our walk leads us through the world-renowned vineyards of the Côtes de Beaune. The villages here are inhabited by just a few hundred people, but the village names reverberate around the world; Pommard, Montrachet and Volnay. We have a chance to taste some of these famous wines after our afternoon stroll. Dinner and the evening are at leisure. HOTEL LE CEP (B,L) Option I: Approx. 4 hours of walking Option II: Approx. 5.5 hours of walking
Sunday, September 14 MÂCONNAIS / BEAUNE Travel south by road to the Mâconnais, a lovely white wine region of rolling hills, and walk across the hills toward the great abbey town of Cluny. In the afternoon visit the sparse ruins of the abbey. Enough remains to get an impression of what was once the most important religious institution in the Christian world and the largest church ever built until the completion of Saint Peter s in Rome. Return to Beaune by road. Enjoy dinner and the evening independently. HOTEL LE CEP (B,L) Approx. 3.5 hours of walking Monday, September 15 CÔTES DE NUITS / BEAUNE This morning, take a walk through the Côtes de Nuits, the region of such famous wine villages as Aloxe-Corton, Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges. In the afternoon we continue to the Renaissance-style Château du Clos de Vougeot before returning to Beaune for a superb dinner. HOTEL LE CEP (B,L,D) Option I: Approx. 4 hours of walking Option II: Approx. 5.5 hours of walking Tuesday, September 16 BEAUNE / HAUT-SAÔNE / ALSACE Drive north to the little-known département of Haute-Saône. This morning, explore the extraordinary region called the Plâteau de Milles Étangs, where we walk around the many ponds and lakes that give the region its name. After lunch, pause to admire the stunning chapel of Notre Dame du Haut at Ronchamp, a masterpiece by the great Swiss-French architect, Le Corbusier. From here we continue by road to Alsace and our home for the next two nights. HOTEL LE CHATEAU D ISENBOURG (B,L,D) Approx. 1.5 hours of walking Wednesday, September 17 ALSACE Spend the day high up on the Route des Crêtes, which was built during World War I as a military road. Today the road provides superb access to some of the finest scenery in France and, if the weather is clear, we can enjoy views of the Alps and the nearby Vosges mountains. After our walk return to Alsace for the evening. HOTEL LE CHATEAU D ISENBOURG (B,L,D) Option I: Approx. 3 hours of walking Option II: Approx. 4.5 hours of walking Thursday, September 18 ALSACE / RIBEAUVILLÉ or COLMAR / RIQUEWIHR / KAYSERSBERG Begin the day at the Castle of Haut Koenigsbourg, which stands in a magnificent setting high above the vineyards. From here opt to follow trails through vineyards and hills covered in lush forest to the little town of Ribeauvillé. Alternatively, spend the morning in the charming Alsatian town of Colmar and visit its great Unterlinden Museum. After lunch our entire group continues to the picture-postcard village of Riquewihr, famous for its wines. Later stroll through vineyards
to the delightful village of Kaysersberg, a fairy-tale-like town of distinctive Alsatian architecture and where we spend the next two nights. HOTEL CHAMBARD (B,L,D) Option I: Approx. 2 hours of walking Option II: Approx. 5 hours of walking Friday, September 19 KAYSERSBERG This morning, we drive back into the hills high above the vineyards in the Vosges Mountains for our walk today that takes us from a high ridge with views across the Rhine to Germany's Scwharzwald to the east as we descend ridges and pass lakes on our return to Kaysersberg. HOTEL CHAMBARD (B,L,D) Option I: Approx. 3.75 hours of walking Option II: Approx. 4.75 hours of walking Saturday, September 20 KAYSERSBERG / STRASBOURG This morning, drive to the historic old city of Strasbourg in the far northeast corner of France. Situated on the banks of the Rhine River across from Germany, Strasbourg is the seat of numerous European institutions, including the European Parliament. This morning visit the city center and its magnificent Cathedral de Notre-Dame. This afternoon check in to our hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure before tonight s farewell reception and dinner. HOTEL COUR DU CORBEAU (B,D) City Walking Sunday, September 21 STRASBOURG / TGV STATION / U.S. After breakfast depart for the train station and board independent TGV high-speed trains to Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG), connecting with flights back to the U.S. Trains traveling directly to Terminal 2 of CDG take approximately 2 ½ hours. (B) INFORMATION DATES September 9 to 21, 2014 (13 days) SIZE Limited to 32 participants COST* $8,595 per person, double occupancy $10,495 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $200 per person
INCLUDED 11 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners Welcome and farewell receptions Bottled water on excursions Gratuities to porters, guides, drivers and tour staff for all group activities All tours as described in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program NOT INCLUDED International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services AIR ARRANGEMENTS International and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the program cost. Round-trip, economy-class airfare on Air France from San Francisco to Paris is approximately $1,300 as of November 2013 and is subject to change without notice. Information on recommended flight itineraries will be sent by our designated agent. WHAT TO EXPECT We consider this to be a moderately strenuous and physically demanding program that involves a great deal of walking. Our walks range in length from five to 10 miles per day, with a daily average of about six miles. Most days offer two walk options, with varying distances and levels of difficulty. The terrain of Burgundy and Alsace includes mountain ridges, rolling hills and valleys, and some open farmland and dense forests. Some of the trails may be uneven, rocky or muddy and may involve significant uphill and/or downhill grades. Sturdy, well-fitting and broken-in hiking shoes with ankle support are essential. To participate fully in this walking tour, you need to be physically fit, agile and used to moderate exercise. All participants must be able to navigate rocky paths without the assistance of handrails or tour staff. Several of our daily excursions might be considered by some participants to be hikes rather than walks. However, if you are in good shape and active, you should have no problem keeping up with the group. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to hold your space. Complete and return the attached reservation form or sign up online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?burgundy2014. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be 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 under our group-travel insurance policy. We strongly encourage that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. A brochure offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation. The product offered in this brochure includes special benefits if you postmark your insurance payment within a specified window: 15 days of the date listed on the confirmation letter for the Waiver of Pre-existing Conditions and coverage for Financial Insolvency; 21 days for the Cancel for Any Reason benefit. ELIGIBILITY We encourage membership in the Alumni Association; the program cost for nonmembers is $200 more than the members price. Parents and their children under 21 may travel on one membership. For more information or 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 provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved 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 onboard their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket connected with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in November 2013 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50
Stanford Travel/Study Reservation Form Burgundy and Alsace Walk September 9 to 21, 2014 Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. Miss / Dr. / Prof. Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. Miss / Dr. / Prof. age Stanford class age Stanford class address city / state / zip home phone work phone cell phone email address I/We have read the Terms and Conditions for the program and agree to them. signature If this is a reservation for one person, please indicate: I wish to have single accommodations. or I plan to share accommodations with or I d like to know about possible roommates. Here is my deposit of $ ($1,000 per person) for place(s). Enclosed is my check (payable to Stanford Alumni Association ). or Charge my deposit to my Visa MasterCard American Express card # expiration DatE authorized cardholder signature date Mail completed form to Stanford Travel/Study, 326 Galvez Street, Stanford, CA 94305-6105 or fax to (650) 725-8675 or place your deposit online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?burgundy2014. Please submit your payment only once to avoid multiple charges to your account. 10766