Day 1 - Lyon / Embarkation
Board the deluxe MV Princesse de Provence, awaiting your arrival in the heart of Lyon. This evening, an elegant dinner will be served as you journey gently toward Chalon. Meals D
Day 2 - Tournus / Chalon-sur-Saone
Your ship docks this morning in Tournus, a lovely town with fine medieval and Renaissance architecture. Your escorted touring begins with the Abbey Church of Saint-Philibert, one of the finest standing Romanesque structures in France. Then continue through the rolling hills of south Burgundy to visit the 11th century Church of St. Martin and the Renaissance Cormatin Castle. After lunch onboard, your ship arrives in Chalon-sur-Saone for an excursion to Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy's famed wine region. This lovely medieval town was home to the Dukes of Burgundy and its wealth from trading in renowned Burgundy wines is evident in the splendid Renaissance and Baroque town palaces that you will see. This evening, the captain hosts a welcome reception before a dinner of fine French cuisine. Meals B,L,D
Day 3 - Macon / Trevoux
Arrive in Macon, and explore this lovely town on your own. After lunch onboard, you alight in Trevoux for an excursion through the Beaujolais countryside, known for its picturesque 'golden stone' villages and vineyard covered hills. Along the way, you'll visit a local estate for a sampling of fine Beaujolais wine. Meals B,L,D
Day 4 - Tournon
After breakfast, board an old steam train for an exciting journey to the gorges of the Ardeche region. You'll travel in 19th century rail carriages through magnificent scenery and across a medieval stone bridge. Climbing through the 1,000 foot gorges is a thrilling ride, and the train will even stop to take on additional water to produce the steam power necessary to clear the highest hill (Note: The steam train operates between mid May and mid September. At other times, a modern engine will pull the train). Meals B,L,D
Day 5 - Arles
Awake this morning to the rich light and sun-drenched colors of the Provencal landscapes that have inspired the canvases of van Gogh and Cézanne. Docked in the center of Arles, it's a delight to step off the ship and explore the Roman monuments and medieval cloisters of this remarkable Provencal town. After lunch onboard, you'll travel through the lovely lavender-scented countryside, following in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh. You'll visit the monastery of St.-Paul-de-Mausole in St. Remy where van Gogh painted many of his most famous works, and journey into the heart of Provence to the charming town of Les Baux. Meals B,L,D
Day 6 - Avignon
In the 14th century, Avignon was the seat of the papacy, and the imposing Palace of the Popes played a key role in Christian Europe. Your walking tour of this perfectly preserved city includes the Palace and the outlook at Rocher des Doms for breathtaking views over the Rhone valley and the famous Bridge of Avignon. Following lunch, you can explore Avignon's cobbled streets, sidewalk cafes and boutiques at your own pace. Meals B,L,D
Day 7 - Vienne and Lyon
Enjoy a refreshing morning onboard as you cruise to Vienne. Next, travel to charming Lyon, capital of Roman Gaul and a city of resplendent architecture. You'll enjoy splendid views of Lyon from Fourviere Hill before visiting the 19th century Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere, richly decorated with mosaics and paintings. In the Old Town district of St. Jean, you'll find beautiful houses of the Gothic and Renaissance periods and stroll through the charming 'traboules', covered walkways from the 16th century built to protect fine silks as they were transported from weavers to merchants. You'll return to the ship this evening for the Captain's Farewell Dinner. Meals B,L,D
Day 8 - Lyon
Disembark the ship after breakfast. Meals B |
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