LEDORGA hereby proudly presents its big and unique gay event with vintage/classic/collector cars: the RAINBOW TOUR 2006. This event will be held from 7 up to and including 14 October 2006 and organised by Dominique LEHERRE and his team, responsible for the now traditional and renowned HAPPY WAY and ELEGANCE CRUISE.

The evident success of both the first and the second RAINBOW TOUR resulted in many requests from participants when or whether a next week-long event would be organised. Evidently, a longer event stimulates getting better acquainted and boosts developing friendships between participants. Since their enthusiasm on both occasions (2002 and 2004) was infectious and unanimous, there just had to be a 2006 sequel to it! Since classic car season is a bit slack in the month October, why not take advantage of quieter period and meet to discover yet another corner of “ la belle France ”. We count on you to welcome our offer and reply in large numbers. The success of the RAINBOW TOUR 2006 depends on you..!

Quite an unknown and still unexplored area of France has been selected for the Rainbow-Tour 2006. The selected area however does belong to one of the far-famed regions of France and therefore is quite suitable for this kind of prolonged event. This year’s grand tour will bring you to the banks and valleys of the last wild river in Europe: the Loire. Centuries ago, this part of France has already acquired a reputation for combining an impressive architectural heritage with great natural beauty and impressive scenery. The entire region has been classified an international heritage by UNESCO in 2000 and just deserves the detour! It not only boasts dozens of internationally renowned castles but also countless manors and family estates. The Loire countryside is equally famous for its wines; such as Touraine, Vouvray, Saumur or Anjou, to name but a few… Relatively unknown is the fact that this region counts numerous troglodyte settlements.
Although tourism has become an important trade interest, it certainly is not the major source of income of the cities and villages on the banks of the Loire. Actually, industrial enterprise is the first source of income; e.g. four nuclear power plants have been built on the river; Orleans accommodates many pharmaceutical companies, Tours’ core activity is pneumatics and compressed air; Angers houses motoring industries.
We invite you to set out with us on a journey along the Loire, a river imbued with French history. Let us guide you and your favourite classic car during a week of leisure. We promise you an unforgettable experience, holiday spirits and relaxation and therefore we have taken out the competition element: a leisurely journey in your classic car through one of the most charming historic regions.

Naturally, participation with a classic/vintage and/or exceptional vehicle is indicated.

For the first 2 nights, you’ll stay at the “Relais du Sapin” hotel** in Saint Laurent Nouan. And, if you’re nuts about the 50’s, you’ll just love this hotel! Its architecture and appearance have this typical 50-ish snazzy style that blends in perfectly with your Citroën DS, Renault 4CV, or Morris Minor. But also with your Ford Consul Capri! Especially its courtyard will be the perfect setting for any car from this era. The hotel rooms are unpretentious, spacious and properly furnished. Every room disposes of its own toilet and bathroom or shower, television and telephone. The hotel has recently been taken over by a dynamic young couple. They go to any length to provide a noticeably comfortable and clean accommodation. The hotel also offers a large bar for your pre-dinner appetizers, cocktail time and after dinner coffee or a nightcap. There also is a billiard table for those who’d fancy a game of billiards. The hotel also features a sauna and gym, open to their hotel guests...

The following 5 nights will be spent at the estate De la Blairie**, near Saumur. Its manor dates from the 18th century and was built entirely out of white, locally dug tuff chalk/limestone bricks and has been converted into a hotel recently. Every room disposes of a bathroom and toilet, telephone and television. Hotel rooms are either located within the main building or detached, on its grounds. Naturally, the hotel offers a bar and a billiard room for the thirsty and the restless. It also offers a large private enclosed parking area.

The event starts on Saturday 7 October 2006 with the initial gathering and check-in as from 17:00 until 20:00 hrs. leaving you the entire Saturday to get there in one’s own time. Meeting point is the “Relais du Sapin” hotel** in Saint Laurent Nouan. The hotel is situated on the river Loire near Blois. For this first evening, no other activities have been planned other than checking into the hotel for two consecutive nights, dinner at the restaurant of the hotel and optional rendezvous at the hotel bar.

On Sunday, 8 October, however, the rally route starts and guides you to Cheverny Castle. The castle is still in private hands and has been opened to the public since 1922. It is lavishly furnished with historical paintings and old masters, Gobelin tapestries, 17th century Flemish tapestries, an exceptional Louis the Fourteenth cabinet, an impressive ceremonial bed in the Royal state room and many more treasures and riches.

This Castle has served as a model for Hergé’s design of Moulinsart castle, the residence of Captain Haddock in the adventures of Tintin. A dedicated exhibition will bring Tintin, Haddock, and their adventures to life in this life-sized mythical setting; a definite must for any Tintin-fan.

Following on from the castle, luncheon is served at the Pichet-Inn just across from the castle. After lunch, the rally route recommences by guiding you out of Cheverny in the direction of the city of Valencay.

When approaching the city castle on its main avenue, please note and enjoy on the left hand side the city’s dinky little motor museum: some 60 vehicles from 1898 to 1979 are on display on 1,200 m2, ranging from a nifty 1900 Panhard & Levassor, or a prestigious 1936 Bugatti 57 to the popular 1954 Renault 4CV or the racy 1971 Alpine A110.

On the return trip the next motor museum awaits you: the Matra Experience at Romorantin. The museum marks the fact that the Matra Company was based here until 2003, the year of its dissolution. It is entirely dedicated to the intertwined history of Matra and Romorantin and divided in three thematic areas. The first area is dedicated to the performance cars with the notorious Le Mans 24 hours and some F1 racing cars. The second area emphasizes design and shows Matra prototypes. The last area focuses on production cars and features the Jet, 530LX, Rancho, Murena and many more, including their last: the Avantime. After this visit, today’s final drive starts, guiding you back to the hotel at Saint Laurent Nouan.

On Monday 9 October, after checking out of our first hotel, the destination of today’s rally route is The Jewel among the Loire castles: Chambord. The palace of King Francis I not only is a classic example of the first French Renaissance, but also the largest and most sumptuous of all Loire castles and therefore classified as mondial heritage by UNESCO. It features some hundred chimneys and its reflection is everywhere in the water of its moat and fosses. In its 440 rooms, some 3,000 works of art are on display; e.g. furniture, paintings and a remarkable collection of tapestries.

Luncheon will be served in a restaurant in the vicinity. After lunch, today’s rally route resumes and will bring you to our second (and last) hotel near Saint Martin de la Place. You’ll be driving alongside the Loire River for some time and you’ll come upon Amboise, Tours, Blois and Saumur. You’ll encounter a fair part of this region’s castles and some of the numerous troglodyte settlements, built into the rock river beddingl.

On Tuesday 10 October, a visit to a less renowned castle has been planned, Brézé Castle. One of the reasons for its obscurity is that this castle hasn’t been open to the public. It is an exceptional example of a Loire fortress and once inside, you’ll make a historical voyage from the original fortress to the actual Renaissance Castle. In the morning, you’ll be guided through the castle and exceptionally also through the private apartments of the duke and duchess of Colbert, who still live here.

Luncheon will be served by a local caterer in the Condé ballroom, constructed within the original 16th century stables of the castle. It is followed by a visit to its subterranean citadel from the 10th century, parapet, kitchens, troglodyte drawbridge, dungeons and catacombs and other dug-out installations. This citadel was occupied by the troops of the Prince of Condé during the revolt. The castle itself disposes over more than 1,000 metres of underground network ending in the largest dry moat of Europe !

Next, resuming the rally route and leaving Brézé, the little town of St. Cyr-en-Bough comes into view. Here, we’ll visit the Saumur wine cellar. The Saumur wine-association has been set up in 1957 by a number of winegrowers wanting to cluster and preserve their know-how and experience.

We’re invited to take a look in their underground gallery network of over 6 Miles long and you’ll be able to learn some of the tradition of wine making in this region and the history of these underground catacombs and galleries, dating back to the 12th century and also used as limestone quarries. These quarries were essential to building castles in the region. Naturally, no such visit would be complete without a wine tasting of an extensive choice of Saumur wines (e.g. Saumur brut, crémant de Loire, Saumur Champigny, Saumur Blanc, or rouge, rosé de Loire, cabernet de Saumur or even Cabernet d’Anjou, to name but a few).

The road book will guide you back to the hotel at Saint-Martin-de-la-Place comfortably.

Wednesday 11 October will be a busy day. We’ll start early with our morning drive that will bring us to the regional capital: Angers. This city accommodates a unique plant: The Cointreau Company, keeper of the secret recipe, handed down mysteriously through the generations. Severe selection of orange peel, quality sugars and subtly distilled alcohol of course was part of their recipe…for success!

The guided tour through the plant is divided in 4 phases: first comes the actual production process, then a synopsis on 150 years of corporate history in artefacts and documents but also illuminated with a 12 min. film. The third phase dwells on the advertising throughout its history and phase 4, finally, we get to taste the stuff and learn some cocktail-recipes on the side The road book will bring you swiftly to our next appointment: luncheon at the restaurant “Colibri”. Their specialty is straightforward and nutritious food, speedily served. And the speed factor is unfortunately important, since we simply cannot be late for our next engagement. By way of an exception, the truck production plant of Scania will allow us to take a peek inside!

Generally, no member of the public is authorized to visit the plant, but an exception has been made just for our group. Thus you’ll be able to witness the production and assembly of a truck. After Renault Agriculture and their tractors in 2002, Peugeot and the car production line in 2004, only the visit of a truck-division was lacking. And after this guided tour through the trucker temple in macho world, you’ll just be ready for the fray! Therefore you’ll get the afternoon/evening off to reconnoitre the ancient city centre of Angers or its rural surroundings. Return to the hotel Saint Martin de la Place at your own discretion.

Thursday 12 October. Your rally route will bring you to the magnificent castle of the Loire valley: the Castle of Azay-le-Rideau. Its construction started around 1518 upon the foundations of an ancient fortress, during the reign of King Francis I.

This dwelling marks an important point since a new era dawned; the era that introduced something quite new, the country estate, combining both the romantic charm of the typical French castle and the baroque pomp and circumstance of an Italian palace. The reflecting surface of the surrounding water mirrors the façades of the castle and adds a delightful touch. In the nineteenth century, the marques of Biencourt started off thorough alterations to both interior and exterior; the neo-Renaissance library, the grand salon and English gardens among others were added. In 1907, the castle became state property and the milestones in its historic evolution have been preserved. We continue our drive now, leaving Azay-le-Rideau, towards a place quite nearby called “ Marnay ”. Here you’ll find the museum Maurice Dufresne. A catering company has prepared a lunch for us within the museum complex and after lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to discover this unique museum, the acme of M. Dufresne’s life’s work. There are some 100 rooms filled with treasures and exhibits on 12,000 sq.mtrs. Maurice Dufresne was passionately fond of mechanicals and he has filled the Marnay Mill with a unique collection of anything related to ingenious mechanical devices.

Amongst the exhibits are also automobiles e.g. George Irat 1939, Buick 1919, a Hanomag 1935 tractor, lorries, farming machinery, weaponry and a guillotine from 1792 that has really served its purpose during the imminent French revolution… In all there are some 3,000 exhibits awaiting!

On the morning of Friday the 13th, we’ll be paying a visit to the French national military riding academy a.k.a “ cadre noir de Saumur ” (Saumurian black troop). This academy is widely known nationally since the cavalry of the French National Guard is trained here. You’ll get an introduction to the operational activities and facilities of this unique institution, followed by a lunch within the academy with the teaching staff and/or pupils.

The afternoon will really bring you high up in the air, because a circuit over the town of Saumur, its fortress, Moncereau Castle, Fontevreau Abbey and Brézé Castle, in a single-engined aeroplane is scheduled.

(Please mark: in case of unfavourable weather e.g. low-lying clouds, fog or storm, the flight may be cancelled. In this case, an alternative will be proposed). Alternately to the circuit over town, different visits are scheduled. One visit is to the mushroom museum.

This region is punctured with a system of underground passages, mainly used to put down wine, but also in use for the cultivation of mushrooms. You’ll visit one of these cultivations, with all sorts of edible fungi, e.g. oyster mushrooms, shii-takes, chanterelle. The other visit is to the House of Veuve Amiot. Since 1884, this company produces a very renowned and prestigious Saumur wine that helped establish not only its own name and fame, but also those of wines from the entire region.

It is a superior sparkling wine or “ méthode champenoise ” (the name Champagne is reserved only for wines actually originating in that particular region). The visit will allow you to get acquainted with the different phases and particularities in the production of wine, e.g. adulteration, assemblage, aging, the draining of the marc, pressing etc. Since this is the evening of Friday the 13th and Halloween is quite close, tonight’s dinner will be a fancy-dress dinner party. In order to expel all evil spirits of this ill reputed day, please bring your most spectacular disguises, extravagant dress or outrageous attire to boost our festive and carnival atmosphere !

Saturday 14 October, the programme ends with a collective breakfast at the Domaine de la Blairie and hereafter you’ll be free to start your weekend. In accordance with your own views, you can stay a little longer in the Loire countryside or start your homeward journey, whichever you prefer..

The costs: 565 Euros per person in a double room / 675 Euros per person in a single room) include: all nights at both hotels, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners (except Wednesday evening), entry fees and/or visits, attractions during these 8 days of the programme, namely :