This fantastic cruise vacation showcases France’s breathtaking scenery, amazing history, and exciting variety. Your adventure begins on the stunning Côte d’Azur, then travel to Arles to board your ship and sail north up the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers. Along the way, explore Arles, Avignon, delightful Viviers, medieval Tournon, charming Vienne, France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon, as well as Mâcon, Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saône, and fascinating Beaune. In Paris, embark your second cruise ship begin your journey along the Seine River into the picturesque Normandy region. In Vernon choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or magnificent Bizy Castle.. guided On to Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen, where you choose between an included excursion to Normandy’s historic landing beaches or an interesting “Taste of Normandy.” Continue to Les Andelys, home of dramatic Château Gaillard. Next up: your choice of excursions to either Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s elegant Château de Malmaison Return to Paris for guided sightseeing taking in the most famous sights of this magnificent city. A fitting conclusion of your magnifique cruise vacation.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Côte d’Azur, France. Welcome to France! Time at leisure to get acquainted with your new surroundings.
Day #2 Côte d’Azur–Arles (Embarkation). This morning, enjoy free time before transferring by motorcoach to Arles in the Provence region, where you’ll board the Avalon Scenery. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception. (B,D)
Day #3 Arles-Camargue. On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of the Provence and was once known as the “Little Rome of Gaul.” See the church of St. Trophime; “Les Alyscamps,” the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road; and visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The “Foundation Vincent Van Gogh” is a tribute to the artist. In the early evening, depart Arles and sail toward Port St. Louis on the mouth of the Rhône, a unique opportunity to experience the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park. (B,L,D)
Day #4 Camargue-Avignon. In the early morning hours, the Avalon Scenery sails to Avignon, where you arrive during breakfast time. A guided tour of Avignon, capital of the Vaucluse region, includes an inside visit of the grandiose PALACE OF THE POPES. The afternoon is free for you to either explore Avignon on your own, relax on board your ship, or to join an optional outing to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. (B,L,D)
Day #5 Cruising–Viviers. A leisurely morning on board to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as you glide gently by. The charming town of Viviers was developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL, and the OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, and medieval influences. (B,L,D)
Day #6 Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage–Vienne. The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the River Rhône and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th-century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. This afternoon, enjoy Vienne, another charming little town surrounded by steep hills. (B,L,D)
Day #7 Lyon. Lyon is France’s second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial, industrial and banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, and much renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from Fourvière Hill; explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways; Place des Terreaux, and beautiful Place Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the “Beaujolais Nouveau” is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of November each year. (B,L,
Day #8 Mâcon–Tournus–Chalon-sur-Saône. Wake up this morning on the River Saône in Mâcon, a city that plays an important part in the wine trade. There’s some free time for exploring after breakfast, then enjoy a short cruise to Tournus. Here, the cloister of St. Philibert or the Burgundy Museum’s folklore collection, located in an old family mansion, are worth a visit. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. Before dinner, arrive in Chalon-sur-Saône. (B,L,D)
Day #9 Chalon-sur-Saône (Disembarkation)–Beaune–Paris (Embarkation). After breakfast, say goodbye to your crew on the Avalon Scenery and head for Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area, which produces the Burgundy region’s finest vintages. Its most famous historical site, the Hôtel-Dieu charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France’s architectural highlights. After lunch, continue north past the forest of Fontainebleau to Paris, the “City of Light,” where you board the Avalon Creativity docked on the River Seine. This evening, meet your crew at a welcome reception. During dinner, your ship glides smoothly out of Paris. (B,D)
Day #10 Vernon. This morning during breakfast arrive in Vernon and later choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at GIVERNY or a visit of BIZY CASTLE with its magnificent courtyard. There’s plenty of time to discover delightful Vernon on your own this afternoon or simply relax on board. (B,L,D)
Day #11 Vernon - Rouen. During the night the Avalon Creativity leaves for Rouen, the capital of Upper Normandy. This important commercial city is perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned, and burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses, and take your pictures of the Gros Horloge, an intricate Astronomical Clock dating back to the 16th century. The splendid gothic CATHEDRAL was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own, or you can join an optional excursion to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur. (B,L,D)
Day #12 Rouen. Make your choice today of an included excursion to the historic NORMANDY LANDING BEACHES—with poignant sites such as Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc monument, and the American Cemetery—or a “TASTE OF NORMANDY” for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important products are dairy, apples, and grain. Camembert cheese is a specialty, as is Calvados, a strong apple brandy. Thoroughbred horses are also reared here. This evening enjoy a Normandy dinner featuring specialties of the region, as you depart Rouen and head for Les Andelys. (B,L,D )
Day #13 Les Andelys - Conflans. During the night your ship arrives in Les Andelys. Here one of most dramatic sights along the Seine is imposing Château Gaillard, built by England’s King Richard the Lionheart in 1196, and truly a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Explore this delightful small town or visit the CHÂTEAU with a Local Expert before departing for Conflans. (B,L,D)
Day #14 Conflans - Paris. After breakfast, the choice is yours: either join our guided excursion to AUVERS-SUR-OISE, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or to Napoleon and Josephine’s CHÂTEAU de MALMAISON just outside Paris. Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it “the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation.” This evening arrive in Paris.(B,L,D)
Day #15 Paris. Paris’ famous sights are living history. This morning's included city sightseeing shows you magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colorful nightlife. An optional outing to one of the world’s most famous cabaret shows, the Moulin Rouge, might make the perfect finale to your Seine cruise vacation. (B,L,D)
Day #16 Paris (Disembarkation). Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)