Jewels of France

This delightful journey begins in sunny Barcelona, where we marvel at Gaudi’s inventive architecture and sample “tapas” before embarking on a 7-day cruise amid the vineyards of southern France. As we cruise from Arles to Lyon, we enjoy wine tastings with local vintners, explore fantastic Roman ruins, and stroll through the cobbled streets of magnificent hill-perched towns dating from the Middle Ages. Departing southern France, we travel by high-speed TGV train from Lyon to Paris to embark on the next leg of our journey, a 7-day cruise on the Seine in northern France, including visits to Monet’s elegant garden at Giverny, the medieval cathedral city of Rouen, the D-Day beaches of Normandy, and the charming harbor towns of Normandy. Our odyssey ends in incomparable Paris, City of Light.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Depart USA / Canada / Barcelona, Spain

Arrive in Barcelona and enjoy a full-day tour including the city’s medieval center and the famed architectural works of Antonio Gaudí. As an alternative, we can choose the “tapas and boqueria” excursion. Day 4 is free for independent exploration.

Days 4-8
Arles, France / Embark / Avignon / Les Baux / Viviers

On Day 4, we embark on the Rhone River in the ancient town of Arles in southern France’s Provence. Our visits include the hilltop village of Les Baux, or perhaps St. Remy, where Van Gogh painted some of his most well-known paintings. Historic Avignon, with its magnificent Gothic Papal Palace, the Roman aqueduct known as the Pont du Gard, and the lovely Provencal town of Uzes are also on our explorations.

Days 9-12
Tournon / Trevoux / Lyon / Disembark / Paris

After visiting magnificent Grignan, surrounded by lavender fields, we explore Tain L’Hermitage, Tournon’s “twin” town located across the Rhone. Amid the chateaux and vineyards of the Beaujolais wine region, we visit the medieval hilltop village of Oingt as well as the winery and home of a local vintner. After our panoramic tour of Lyon, we disembark on Day 12, take the TGV train to Paris, and embark.

Days 13-16
Vernon / Rouen / Normandy Beaches / Honfleur

Cruising along the Seine, we visit the provincial town of Vernon, Monet’s gardens at Giverny, and Rouen, historic capital of Normandy. We walk through Rouen’s Old Town to the imposing Notre Dame Cathedral, depicted in numerous paintings by Monet, and visit the square where Joan of Arc was martyred. We offer excursions to Normandy’s famed D-Day beaches, the Pays d’Auge, home to traditional Norman towns such as Beuvron-en-Auge with its timber-framed houses, and the historic port of Honfleur.

Days 17-21
Les Andelys / Auvers-sur-Oise / Paris / Disembark

A scenic cruise brings us to Les Andelys, located on a bend in the Seine. We tour the ruins of Chateau-Gaillard, stronghold of Richard the Lionhearted, visit Chateau Malmaison, home to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his Empress Josephine, and Auvers-sur-Oise, famous for the number of Impressionist painters who lived there in the 19th century. We disembark in Paris on Day 19 and visit the Musee d’Orsay. After a free day on Day 20, depart on Day 21.

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