Land of Castles & Kings - Barcelona to Bilbao - JG Explorer

Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.

Travel onwards to our overnight hotel in the Montpellier region, stopping en route in Lyon – the perfect place to stop for lunch at your leisure thanks to its reputation as the gourmet capital of France! Situated where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet, this impressive city takes us on a journey through time. Its Old Town – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – offers a maze of narrow streets, vaulted passageways and historic buildings, while another highlight is the Notre Dame de Fourvière, a late 19th-century basilica built in shimmering white stone.

We continue onwards to the Evenia Roselló Hotel in Barcelona, visiting Étang de Thau along the way, known as the Venice of Southern France. The largest of the lagoons located along the French coast, this tranquil expanse of water is renowned for its unique ecosystem, which supports a rich variety of marine life and attracts many different migratory birds. During our journey we also stop for lunch at your leisure in the charming Catalonian city of Girona, with its beautifully preserved Jewish quarter and grandiose Gothic cathedral.

Join our guided city tour of Barcelona today, the capital of Catalonia renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, delicious tapas and vibrant culture. We see all the highlights of this beachside city, including the historic Gothic Quarter, the bustling streets known as the Ramblas and Gaudí’s incredible cathedral, the Sagrada Familia.

We spend the morning at leisure before making our way to the beautiful Parador de Cardona, where we stay for the next two nights.

Today we visit the fascinating Salt Mines of Cardona, a geologic wonder formed when the Mediterranean Sea became cut off from the Atlantic Ocean and evaporated over 30 million years ago. These mines have been a vital source of salt since ancient times, with evidence of extraction dating back to the Neolithic period! We descend to a depth of 86 metres to marvel at the shapes, textures, colours and intricate patterns of the salt formations here.

After breakfast we head to the quaint town of La Seu d'Urgell, the gateway to the Pyrenees. We enjoy a guided tour, taking in the Old Town with its narrow winding streets, quaint shops and picturesque squares that transport us back in time, along with the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria. Dating back to the 12^th century, this is a fine example of Catalan Romanesque architecture and is the seat of the Bishops of Urgell, Co-Prince of Andorra. Later we check into the Hotel & Spa El Castell de Ciutat, our base for the next two nights.

Today is spent at leisure – whether you'd like to make the most of the facilities at the hotel or head into La Seu D'Urgell to explore, the choice is yours!

We check out of the hotel and travel to Parador de Calahorra, stopping for lunch at your leisure along the way in Zaragoza, the stunning capital of Aragon. Following in the footsteps of the famous painter, Francisco Goya, be sure to admire the striking cathedral before finding a tapas bar or little restaurant – just one of the famous dishes here is migas, made from bread crumbs, garlic and often chorizo!

This morning we visit the Monasterio de Leyre, a historic Benedictine monastery along the Way of Saint James in the Navarre region. The oldest records here date back to 842 when the first king of Pamplona made a donation. It became increasingly significant thereafter and several kings of Navarre were buried at the monastery. The architecture is impressive, ranging from a Romanesque church to an ancient crypt, while the views over the surrounding landscapes are spectacular.

We continue to the 10^th-century Castille de Javiermon, where the ancient towers and walls are beautifully set against the rolling countryside like a scene from a Spanish fairytale. Once a strategic watchtower between the kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon, this was also the birthplace and childhood home of Saint Francis Xavier, who co-founded the Jesuit Order. Highlights here include the museum dedicated to the saint's life, along with his room and the old stables, which contains works of art, ancient utensils, historic documents and other interesting items.

We check out of the Parador and make our way to Bilbao via Pamplona for lunch at your leisure. The capital of the Navarre region, this pretty city is known for its vibrant cultural traditions and charming Old Town of medieval architecture, picturesque squares and quaint cobblestone streets.

We check out of our hotel and enjoy some free time in vibrant Bilbao before beginning our journey home. Our overnight hotel is in the medieval town of Poitiers and along the way, we stop for lunch at your leisure in Bordeaux, a world capital of wine and scattered with pretty vineyards.

Continue our journey to our overnight hotel in Rouen, stopping along the way in Le Mans, a historic city famous for its medieval architecture and stunning cathedral.

Continue to Calais for our return ferry home, stopping en route in pretty Le Touquet on the Opal Coast.