NAPOLEON
TAIN
L’HERMITAGE TO CHALON
SUR SAONE
PROVENCE & RHONE VALLEY
The
day to day itinerary described below is a sample of a typical cruise on the
Napoléon. However, on any one cruise, the moorings may change, there may be
fewer or more excursions, the places visited may vary depending on the season
and the passenger preferences.
Sunday - Paris
Your
departure from Paris on the TGV
After gathering your baggage you will be
driven by mini-van to the Napoléon.
A champagne reception welcomes you and gives
you a chance to greet the crew while your luggage is brought aboard.
You
are then taken to Mr Ferraton's local
vineyard for your first wine tasting.
Monday - Cruise
to Condrieu.
Visit Vienne.
Cruising the Vallée du Rhône is a delightful
experience; the magnificent vineyards of the
Côtes Rôtie and the Côtes du Rhône seem to descend right into the river.
After lunch, we
visit the ancient city of
Vienne
with its many Roman remains including an amphitheatre
and aqueduct and the outstanding temple of Augusta and Livia.
Tuesday
- Cruise to Lyon.
Visit Lyon.
Enjoy the morning's
cruise to
Lyon
. Today you have lunch in the centre of
Lyon
before
exploring
France
's second city. Dominating the city is the splendidly ornate Basilica of
Notre Dame de Fourvière.
Lyon
's shopping facilities are renowned for its quality,
including many chic boutiques and a market hall
devoted entirely to antiques.
Wednesday
- Cruise to
Montmerle.
Visit
Beaujolais.
Leave the city of
Lyon
behind you as we cross from the River Rhône onto the River Saône,
a new pace develops as the Saône is a smaller and quieter river than the Rhône.
After
lunch we moor in Montmerle where you take a drive into
Beaujolais
where you have an
opportunity to taste the famous wine. Later, we make a stop at an escargots
farm where
you can sample this local delicacy.
Thursday -
Cruise to
Macon. Visit
Cluny
and Cormatin.
This morning we cruise to Mâcon, a thriving market town bordering the Mâconnais
wine
region. After lunch, we visit the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny. The abbey church
is a
masterpiece of Romanesque art whose influence spread throughout the western
Christian
world. Then on to Château de Cormatin, a 17th century renaissance-style château
with
elegant formal gardens..
Friday - Cruise to
Chalon
-sur-Saone. Visit
Beaune.
Your final cruise takes you into Chalon-sur-Saône, a beautiful
town with a fine
pedestrian centre. After lunch you visit Beaune, capital of the wine region of
Burgundy
,
and visit the famous Hôtel Dieu, Hospice de Beaune and then enjoy some free
time for
shopping. Back on board the chef is preparing a feast for your farewell dinner.
Saturday
- Disembark Napoléon. Transfer to Paris.
Passengers disembark the
Napoléon after breakfast and are transferred to the train station in Dijon for the return to Paris on the TGV.
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