Art and History along the Rhône (port-to-port cruise)

Passengers are welcome to board our ship in Lyon at 6:00 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we'll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Dinner tonight will be followed by an evening of entertainment.

Morning – Included excursion: Guided tour of Lyon and tasting at Les Halles Paul Bocuse(1). Panoramic tour of the city up to the heights of the Basilica of Fourvière, offering a breathtaking view over Lyon and its districts. Then, head to Old Lyon, with its historic houses and the famous “bouchons” lining the narrow streets. Discover the traboules, traditional passageways that once allowed direct access from the buildings to the Saône. Visit Les Halles Paul Bocuse, spread across 13,500 m² on three floors, an unmissable crossroads for gourmets where nearly 50 passionate merchants display their culinary talents. Tasting of a Lyonnais snack: sausage and cheese, accompanied by a glass of wine.Return on board and departure for navigation towards Mâcon. The cruise follows the meandering Saône, starting in the heart of the capital of Gaul, where the river is an integral part of Lyon’s magnificent panorama. Its influence has been decisive in the city’s evolution, especially in the old quarters. The river then winds through the valley and plains, dotted with villages, beautiful residences, and numerous castles. Arrival in the late evening. Overnight stop.

Morning – Included excursion: Guided tour of Mâcon in the footsteps of Lamartine. With its Roman tile roofs and colorful façades that give it a touch of a southern town, Mâcon invites you to stroll. Rich in imposing and diverse architecture, you will discover old houses and private mansions. Birthplace of Alphonse de Lamartine, it is by following his traces that you will uncover the charms of Old Mâcon.Overnight sailing towards Vienne.

Included excursion: Vienne through the ages. The richness and diversity of its heritage have earned Vienne the title of “City of Art and History.” From the Gallo-Roman period to the industrial era, the city’s remains blend with a vibrant cultural life. This guided tour will take you to the main historical monuments of Vienne: the Temple of Augustus and Livia, an emblematic monument that testifies to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. Its architectural beauty and refined sculptures evoke the power of the emperors and the importance of religion in the daily life of the Viennese. Saint Maurice Cathedral stands out with its majestic cloister, while the ancient theatre, a vestige of a bygone era, still resonates with echoes of the plays and performances once staged there.Afternoon: Sailing along the Rhône towards Avignon. The Rhône Valley reveals the magnificent Pilat Regional Natural Park, a mid-mountain range stretching over 700 km², with varied landscapes alternating between fir and beech forests, pastures, vineyard-covered hillsides, and orchards. This preserved area shelters a rich fauna and flora. You will also pass by the towns of Condrieu, Vérin, Chavanay… located along the famous wine route of the Rhône Valley.Evening: Entertainment on board. Overnight sailing.

Early morning arrival in Avignon.Morning – Included excursion: Avignon and the City of the Popes. From its glorious past as the capital of Christendom, the city has preserved an exceptional heritage. From the Palais des Papes to the Saint-Bénézet Bridge and the ramparts, the Papal city proudly displays its charms at the gates of Provence. The Palais des Papes, an imposing fortress and sumptuous palace, symbolizes the power of Christendom in the Middle Ages. It hosted seven pontiffs in the 14th century. During the visit to the rooms of the largest Gothic palace in the world, the tour retraces the life of the pontiffs, their political and religious power. You will admire the grand ceremonial halls, chapels, and private apartments of the Popes.Return on board for lunch and continue sailing towards Arles, which you will reach in the early afternoon.Afternoon – Included excursion: Guided tour of Arles in the footsteps of Van Gogh. This former Roman city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has the highest number of Roman monuments after Rome, including the Roman amphitheater, the ancient theatre, the Roman Baths of Constantine, and the Alyscamps, which mark the start of the Arles route, one of the three paths to Santiago de Compostela. It is also the place that inspired Van Gogh, where he created around 300 drawings and paintings. Our visit will follow his footsteps through the locations where he set up his easel, including the Place du Forum, the Rhône quay, Place Lamartine, and many more.Evening: Provençal evening with a folkloric show on board.

Morning – Included excursion: Les Baux-de-Provence and the Carrières de Lumières. Departure by coach to Les Baux-de-Provence, one of the most beautiful villages in France. You will discover the many listed monuments of this small town, carefully restored, such as the Château des Baux (exteriors), Saint Vincent Church (exteriors), and more.At the foot of Les Baux, in a mysterious place called the Val d’Enfer, are the Carrières de Lumières. These former limestone quarries, used in the construction of the village, have inspired numerous artists: Dante found the ideal setting for the plot of his Divine Comedy, Gounod created his opera Mireille there, and Jean Cocteau filmed Le Testament d’Orphée. Today, they host an annual immersive digital exhibition dedicated to a major figure in the history of art.During the excursion, the ship will sail towards Avignon where you will rejoin it. Return on board.Afternoon: Sailing towards Viviers. As a natural waterway, the Rhône has served since antiquity as a link between the interior of the country and the Mediterranean world. Arrival in the evening at Viviers.Included excursion: Viviers. A medieval town classified as a protected sector, historically the capital of Vivarais, Viviers proudly watches over the Rhône gorge. A former episcopal city, it is distinguished by Saint Vincent Cathedral, a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture. Its narrow cobbled streets, stone houses, and ancient remains testify to its glorious past.

Early morning – Cruise towards Tournon. Along the way, you will see Montélimar, the nougat capital, Valence in the heart of the Drôme, symbolizing the gateway to southern France, and Tain l’Hermitage, where you can enjoy the panorama over the terraced vineyards. Arrival in Tournon in the early afternoon.Included excursion: Visit to the Palais Idéal of the Postman Cheval. Unique in the world, the Palais Idéal has inspired artists for more than a century. It is a palace unlike any other. A palace that no one can live in, yet it attracts numerous visitors every year. Its architecture is so extraordinary that it seems to have come straight out of a work of fiction. The “Palais Idéal” was entirely born from the imagination of a man who spent thirty years of his life turning it into reality. Ferdinand Cheval was a postman, and during his daily rounds on foot, he collected stones which he used to build walls, pinnacles, and gargoyles in his garden for 33 years. Discover this unusual and extraordinary creation.Return on board for the gala evening. Overnight sailing towards Lyon.

Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.