*Themed Historical Tours of France and the UK… what a great idea — but why choose the Plantagenets?*

It’s a fair question, and one I’ve asked myself many times. Of all the dynasties, all the time periods, why this one? The truth is, the Plantagenets didn’t just shape history — they *lived* it with passion, ambition, triumph, and heartbreak. Their story reads like the most gripping novel, filled with powerful women, warring kings, impossible love, and castles that still stand to tell the tale.
For me, their world became more than just history — it became a journey. And now, it’s a journey I invite others to take with me.

A journey that began with a book... and became a life-changing adventure

Over twenty years ago, I pulled a book off my sister’s shelf that would quietly, profoundly change my life.

It was The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman — a sweeping, human portrait of Richard III that breathed life into a man I’d only ever known as a villain in passing. I wasn’t even interested in history at the time. Not really. But something about Penman’s storytelling pierced through. Her writing didn’t just describe the past — it transported me into it. I wasn’t reading about history. I was feeling it.

And that, as they say, was the beginning.

From there, I devoured everything I could get my hands on — When Christ and His Saints Slept, Devil’s Brood, Time and Chance — and before long, I was knee-deep in tales of the Anarchy and the early Plantagenet kings and queens. Matilda. Eleanor. Henry. Richard. Their world became my world.

Sharon wasn’t my only guide — I soon found kindred spirits in Elizabeth Chadwick, Anne O’Brien, and Bernard Cornwell, and eventually even braved the wilds of non-fiction. I became a sponge, soaking up every footnote and forgotten anecdote I could find. History, once dry and distant, had become a place I could enter.

From Reader to Traveller

In 2017, I finally made the long-awaited trip from Australia to Europe — seven glorious weeks with castles on the horizon and cobblestones beneath my feet. I started with a themed tour of Scotland and was utterly captivated by the immersive experience. Naturally, I started looking for the next adventure. I wanted a Plantagenet-themed tour in France. One that would take me into the heart of this dynasty I had come to love.

To my surprise, I couldn’t find one. Not a single one.

And that’s when the seed was planted — what if I created it myself?

I had no background in tourism. I spoke only the French I had learned at school, and I was not very good at it either. And I didn’t have a clue where to begin. But I had passion. A vision. And a dream I couldn’t shake.

So I rolled up my sleeves and began learning everything — from travel planning and research to French verbs, website building, and social media marketing. It was wild and overwhelming… and I loved every moment of it.

A scouting trip in 2022 confirmed what I already felt deep in my bones — I had to bring others to these places. Standing at Fontevraud Abbey, or gazing at the towers of Chinon, I could almost feel Eleanor's presence beside me. These weren’t just places on a map — they were pages of a living book I longed to share.

A Dream Realised

In September 2024, that dream finally became a reality. I led my very first Plantagenets in France tour… and it was everything I hoped for and more.

We walked through medieval villages and grand abbeys. We read from historical novels aloud as the landscape unfolded around us. We laughed over trivia games, stood quietly in awe in sacred spaces, and shared a connection that went far deeper than just sightseeing. For many, it wasn’t just a holiday — it was a kind of homecoming.

The inaugural tour was a resounding success with all 5-star reviews, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Now, I’m planning for 2025 and beyond — new dates, new ideas, and yes… even new tours.

Curious to see where this passion has led?
If you’ve ever felt the call of the past, if you’ve ever wanted to walk where history happened, I invite you to join me.

You can explore the tours I’ve created right here — each one crafted with care, connection, and a deep love of history. Whether you're ready to travel or just starting to dream, you're warmly invited to take a look.

Let’s wander through time together. Let’s stand where Eleanor ruled, where battles were fought, where Nicholaa de la Haye held her ground. Let’s bring the Middle Ages to life — not just in the pages of a novel, but on the ground beneath our feet.

History is waiting.

Max

Why I chose the Plantagenets?

Rouen Cathedral

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