Central Europe, 8 Days · Tailor-made by car

Charlemagne Route

Travel the heart of the Old Continent following in the footsteps of the first Carolingian emperor

Charlemagne is one of those essential characters without whom the history of Western Europe and that of the world in general would certainly be very different. No less a figure than great conquerors like Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great, Charles I "the Great" went down in history as the first proponent of the European idea, after reuniting under his reign a good part of the lands that today make up the western region of the Old Continent. Except, of course, for the British Isles, the Iberian Peninsula south of the Ebro river, and the Italian peninsula beyond Rome. Crowned emperor in the year 800 by Pope Leo III in the "Eternal City", Carolus Magnus not only unified over half of Europe in a enormous state baptized as the Holy Germanic Roman Empire, but conferred upon the countries of Western Europe an internal cohesion and a shared identity that still resonates today. Thanks to our "Charlemagne Route", you can visit at your own pace and at the wheel of a rental car many of the lands that once belonged to the domains of this iconic historical figure, which are home to some of the most modern and advanced countries on the planet. This magnificent Route hit major highlights in France, Belgium and Germany for you to follow in Charlemagne's footsteps, as he endlessly battles for conquest and conversion to Christianity of the pagan peoples of Central Europe. Enjoy stops along the way such as Paris, the "City of Light", Brussels, Antwerp, Cologne or Frankfurt, all vibrant and cosmopolitan cities that also feature beautiful legacy monuments from the Germanic emperors era. Liège, the French town where Charlemagne was allegedly born, is as mandatory a visit as the German city of Aachen, where he lived and died in 814, and whose Gothic cathedral, the culmination of Carolingian art built by Charlemagne himself in the late eighth century, holds his final resting place. Do not hesitate to recover your strength during the tour in the traditional French cafes, in the chocolate shops of Belgium or in the German taverns because the "Charlemagne Route" not only caters to history and art lovers, but also offers delicious gastronomy and wonderful natural environments worthy of the best postcard to all travellers.

Charlemagne Route

Departure date

Departures from May 2024 till April 2025

From

London...

Travel details

  • Travel details

  • Day 1 City of origin - Paris

  • Day 2 Paris

  • Day 3 Paris - Beauvais - Amiens - Tournai - Brussels

  • Day 4 Brussels - Bruges - Ghent - Brussels

  • Day 5 Brussels - Antwerp - Leuven - Liège - Brussels

  • Day 6 Brussels - Aachen - Cologne

  • Day 7 Cologne - Frankfurt

  • Day 8 Frankfurt - City of origin

Your trip includes

  • Return flight.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Paris.

  • Selected meal plan in Paris.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Brussels.

  • Selected meal plan in Brussels.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Cologne.

  • Selected meal plan in Cologne.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Frankfurt.

  • Selected meal plan in Frankfurt.

  • Rent-a-car.

  • Insolvency protection.

  • Amount of the supplement for collection and return of the vehicle in a different office.

Your trip doesn't include

  • Accommodation taxes in France direct payment in facility.

  • Accommodation taxes in Belgium direct payment in facility.

  • Accommodation taxes in Cologne direct payment in facility.

  • Accommodation taxes in Frankfurt direct payment in facility.

  • Possible toll charges.

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Important remarks

- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.

- The proposed excursions and tours for each day are purely suggestions, as you can tailor the trip to suit your times, tastes and needs.

- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.

- Hotels usually have cots available. Otherwise, babies will have to share a bed with an adult.

- To pick up your rental car, you'll need a credit (not debit) card in the name of the person who made the booking, who must also be the named driver of the vehicle.

- You must give notice that you are going to cross the border while collecting the vehicle. Authorisation may be required to drive through certain countries or areas/states (as is the case in the US and Canada). Depending on the conditions set out in the rental contract and the company hired, you might be charged a surcharge payable at the destination office.