Village Life in the Dordogne September 8-16, 2005 Savor the good life in the Dordogne River Valley—one of France’s best-kept travel secrets. From your base in the medieval town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, explore the region’s numerous historic, cultural and natural attractions, including the prehistoric caves of Font-de-Gaume, Lascaux II and Rouffignac, where some of the most important prehistoric art ever discovered brings the past to life. Also, follow in the footsteps of Richard the Lionheart at the castle of Beynac, explore the medieval labyrinth of lanes of Domme, enjoy the cliffside town of Rocamadour and savor Périgord’s world-renowned foie gras and truffles. Throughout this unique Village Life program, your experience will be enhanced with exclusive lectures, special meals and a village forum discussion where you will interact with local residents to gain a unique perspective about life in provincial France. Accommodations will be at the 100-year-old Hôtel de la Madeleine where your gracious and charismatic host, Philippe Melot—a highly regarded chef and local historian—will provide insight into the region’s history and architecture in addition to introducing you to the culinary wonders of Périgord’s traditional cuisine. From $1,995 per person all inclusive land program. Airfare from the U.S. available. This trip is offered in cooperation with Thomas P. Gohagan & Company. Detailed Itinerary Day One—U.S./In Transit Travel from the U.S. to Bordeaux, France. Day Two—Bordeaux/Sarlat Arrive in Bordeaux. Enjoy a scenic motorcoach transfer through the Périgord Noir to Sarlat-la-Canéda and the Hôtel de la Madeleine. Day Three—Sarlat Enjoy a lecture on architectural preservation in Sarlat given by your host, Philippe Melot. Then take a walking tour of historic Sarlat. Explore St-Amand-de-Coly, one of the most unusual villages in the Périgord Noir. All of its picturesque lanes lead to the stern, outsized Abbey Church. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, it looks more like a fortress than a place of worship. In the lovely hamlet of St. Geniès, admire wonderful 14th-century frescoes in the tiny Chapelle du Cheylard. Attend a private welcome reception at the hotel in the evening. Day Four—Rocamadour Enjoy a tour of Rocamadour, including the Notre Dame Chapel and the Museé d'Art Sacrée. This extraordinary medieval chapel hugs a sheer cliff, making it one of the most dramatic and improbable pilgrimage sites in the world. Lunch is included in Rocamadour. Day Five—L'Abri du Cap-Blanc and Les Eyzies-de-Tayac Visit L'Abri du Cap-Blanc where Magdalenian-period (12,000 to 10,000 B.C.) camps have been found. The true treasures here are the extraordinarily realistic, life-size high relief sculptures of horses, bison and reindeer. Continue on to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, France's capital of prehistoric humanity. This is where fossils of Cro-Magnon Man were discovered. The area's cave paintings, fossils and early tools are given context at the National Museum of Prehistory, which you will visit. Day Six—Lascaux Travel to Lascaux II and Rouffignac Cave. The magical landscape surrounding Sarlat was not lost on Aquitaine's prehistoric ancestors. Around 15,000 years B.C.—no one knows exactly when—unknown painters created Lascaux, the "Sistine Chapel of Prehistory." Because of its deterioration, Lascaux II was created, an extraordinarily skillful, inch-by-inch replica of the cave using the same methods. In Rouffignac Cave, dubbed "Cave of a Hundred Mammoths," five miles of caverns can be explored by electric train, with deft drawings of extinct beasts populating the walls. Later in the day, attend the Village Life Forum, where local residents will discuss contemporary issues of the region. Day Seven—Sarlat/Temniac The morning is at leisure to wander through Sarlat's famed weekly market. In the afternoon, travel to the hamlet of St-Nathalene for a visit to the Moulin de la Tour, a walnut oil mill. Enjoy a tasting of specialty vinegars, mustards and walnut oil. Continue to Temniac, where, in the shadow of the 12th-century chapel and a Knights Templar castle ruin, you will tast the brandies of a local distillery. Conclude the day with entertainment by Los Cordillous del Buguo, who will perform traditional songs and dances from southwest France in 19th-century period costume. Day Eight—Beynac and Castlenaud Tour the Beynac-et-Cazenac Castle, overlooking the Dordogne Valley from a 300-foot sheer cliff. Explore this castle, which with its curtain walls, parapet walks, watchtowers and passageways, was once the proud possession of Richard the Lion-Hearted. Then relax on a cruise up the Dordogne aboard a gabare, a traditional 19th-century barge, to the remarkable ruins of Castlenaud, where you will enjoy astounding views and learn more about the Hundred Years' War. Savor a fine lunch of Périgord specialties at the Hosterllerie de Maleville in Beynac. Take a walking tour of Domme, a true medieval bastide or fortified town. Day Nine—Return to the U.S. Transfer to Bordeaux for your return to the U.S. The organizers of the tour reserve the right to make changes to this itinerary as may be necessary for the integrity of the program and for the comfort and safety of the passengers. Hôtel de la Madeleine While enjoying the tranquil pace of French village life, your accommodations will be at the Hôtel de la Madeleine. This converted 19th-century townhouse features first-class accommodations steeped in provincial appeal. Hôtel de la Madeleine is ideally situated just outside the ancient walls of the village's medieval quarter, a mere five-minute walk to the center of town. Intimate, with only 39 guest rooms, the hotel will cater to our group for the length of your stay. The hotel is owned by one of the region's most accomplished chefs, Philippe Melot, who specializes in offering a variety of delectable recipes drawn from the distinguished culinary heritage of the Périgord region. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily. Each guest room is individually furnished, and all feature private facilities, air conditioning, soundproofing, television, and a mini-bar. Included Features seven nights’ accommodations at the Hôtel de la Madeleine private welcome reception in the hotel three meals each day—including two-course lunches and three-course dinners—featuring superb traditional cuisine of the region's finest gastronomic specialties, prepared by the Hôtel de la Madeleine's owner, acclaimed chef Philippe Melot. Local wine with dinner. all tours and excursions listed, led by an exclusive local cultural expert:  half-day architectural walking tour of Sarlat half-day tour of St-Amand-de-Coly and St. Genies excursion to Rocamadour and its Musee d'Art Sacree, including lunch. half-day tour of L'Abri du Cap-Blanc and Les Eyzies-de-Tayac half-day excursion to Lascaux II and Rouffignac "Cave of a Hundred Mammoths" visit the Moulin de la Tour walnut oil mill, and taste liqueurs at the Temniac distillery tour the fortress of Beynac-et-Cazenac specially arranged gabare cruise along the Dordogne to Castlenaud, including lunch. walking tour of Domme exclusive Village Forum featuring local residents who will discuss history, politics, society and contemporary issues of region a lecture on architectural preservation in Sarlat by Philippe Melot, who also heads the preservation initiative in Sarlat folk performance by the 15-member troupe Los Cordillous del Buguo, featuring traditional songs and dances of southwest France transfers and luggage handling abroad for passengers traveling on group flights gratuities to guides and drivers on included excursions a hospitality desk in the hotel the services of an experienced program director throughout the program travel document wallet, name badge and pre-departure information for each passenger automatic $250,000 flight insurance for each passenger ticketed on flights by Gohagan & Company Not Included in the Cost of the Tour airfare and associated local taxes federal inspection fees airport facility taxes and local departure air taxes land taxes  passport fees personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, meals and alcoholic beverages not listed in the “included features” section optional sightseeing excursions services other than those specifically mentioned in the “included features” section services other than those specifically mentioned in the “included features” section transfers and luggage handling to/from airport/hotel/ship on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you have not purchased your air arrangements through Gohagan & Company, or if you are arriving or departing earlier and/or later than the arrival and/or departure of the group flights accident/sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance excess baggage charges on aircraft Tour Cost $1,995 per person, double occupancy $600 additional for single occupancy $195 for taxes additional per person and subject to change $1,015 round trip airfare Los Angeles/Bordeaux and Bordeaux/Los Angeles Deposit/Final Payment: A $500 per person deposit is required to confirm your reservation; final payment is due to Gohagan & Company by June 3, 2005. Deposit checks should be payable to Thomas P. Gohagan & Company and sent to aggieAdventures Travel Program, Cal Aggie Alumni Association, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8517. Deposits can also be made by credit card; however, all final payments are required to be made by check or wire transfer. Cancellations and Refunds: Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until they are received in writing in the offices of Gohagan & Company. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply: Reservations are subject to a $100 per person cancellation fee from the time of booking up to and including 120 days prior to departure; cancellations received from 95 through 119 days prior to departure are subject to a $500 per person cancellation fee; from 45 through 94 days prior to departure 50% of the published tour cost will be charged; from 22 through 44 days prior to departure 75% of the published tour cost will be charged; and cancellations received 21 days or less prior to departure, no-shows or early returns from the trip will result in forfeiture of 100% of the published tour cost. These cancellation fees are for the land program and are in addition to any applicable cancellation fees for the airlines. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended! For further information, contact Jennifer Barber, director of the aggieAdventures travel program, Cal Aggie Alumni Association, UC Davis, at (530) 754-9903 or e-mail jabarber@ucdavis.edu. Travel plans for this tour will be arranged by Thomas P. Gohagan & Company in Chicago, Illinois, (800) 922-3088.