Why I chose the Plantagenets?
Themed Historical Tours of France and the UK… what a great idea, but why would I choose the Plantagenets?
Read on further to discover why!
Over two decades ago, I picked up Sharon Kay Penman's "The Sunne in Splendour," and unbeknownst to me at the time, my life would be changed forever.
Penman's vivid portrayal of Richard III, a controversial figure who lived and died over 500 years ago, was astounding. She breathed life into history, totally reshaping my meagre perception of the past and its iconic characters. Despite not being interested in history at all up until this point, I began searching for more of her novels. This surprising journey through time continued with "When Christ and His Saints Slept," Penman's gripping tale of the Anarchy—a brutal civil war for the English crown between Matilda and Stephen. This tumultuous period lasted from 1138 to 1153, paving the way for the rise of the Plantagenets, a dynasty that would go on to rule for over 300 years. Becoming totally immersed in this historical realm, I yearned to know more. Each book I devoured deepened my fascination, and soon I became a sponge for every morsel of Plantagenet lore I could get my hands on. I did not stick with just Sharon’s books, authors like Elizabeth Chadwick, Anne O’Brien and Bernard Cornwell became my best friends, and before long I even found myself venturing into the realm of non-fiction, a genre I had previously had no interest in.
Fast forward to 2017, and I was so excited when my dream to visit the UK and Europe finally came true , the first experience of my seven-week trip was a themed tour of Scotland. The immersive adventure was incredible and sparked an idea: I wanted to find a themed tour of France focused on the Plantagenets. To my surprise, despite my searching, I could find no such tour. This realization planted the seed that would grow to become Plantagenet Discoveries.
My vision was the creation of a tour that would bring the Plantagenet era to life. Naively, I thought it would be easy. I mean, how hard could it be to guide a group through the historic sites of a country I'd never visited? The reality hit hard—I was clueless. But I wasn't deterred. Embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, I found myself diving into research, learning French, mastering website building, social media marketing, and tourism management.
A scouting trip in 2022 heightened my resolve and fascination as I explored the incredible places where I could truly feel the presence of the characters I've read about for so many years.
It is now July, 2024 and I am about to embark on my inaugural Plantagenets in France tour in just under two months, Plantagenet Discoveries is off and racing. Dates have been set for next year, with more dates and ideas for further tours on the horizon. Delve a little deeper into the fascinating itineraries here, and discover the enchantment of the Middle Ages.
Better still why not join me as I share my passion on an extraordinary journey through time? Together, we'll walk in the footsteps of history's most intriguing characters. You'll meet incredible people, witness breathtaking sites, and most importantly, have a lot of fun.
Let's make history come alive—together.
Max
Fontevraude Abbey photo © Plantagenet Discoveries
