SPECIAL PROVENCE
RIVER CRUISE FEATURING
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING TOURS and TAXES (a $490 value)
On the Deluxe 4* Peter Deilmann Princess de Provence
October 10, 2009
$1545 per person DOUBLE or SINGLE
Enjoy a 7 night cruise trip aboard the deluxe Peter Deilmann Provence. The cruise itinerary is round trip Lyon with stops in Tournus, Chalon sur Saone, Macon, Trecoux, Arles, Avignon, Vienne. The per person rate, based on double occupancy is $1545 for the 7 night departure for October 10th. The rate includes an outside lower deck twin cabin, 5 sightseeing tours, all meals, port and fuel charges. An upper deck cabin is an additional $250 per person.
This is a special package and non-refundable. Medical insurance/coverage is highly recommended.
Assistance with air and pre or post hotels/tours is available.
Link to Princess de Provence Video and scenery
PROVENCE CRUISE ITINERARY
|
M = morning tour A = afternoon tour E = evening tour F = full day tour
#1 Only on departures from July to November.
#2 Only on departure dates from middle of May to end of September
#3 Re-embarkation in Lyon
Visit these historical cities:
Arles, France
Choose to retrace the steps of
Vincent van Gogh with a tour of the Provence countryside where many of his
famous works were painted. Or take the excursion to the Camargue, a nature
preserve in the Rhône delta where herds of white horses, black bulls and pink
flamingos can be spotted. The tour returns to Arles, where a treasure
trove of Roman antiquity (from 1 BC to 4 BC) resides and where you could visit
St. Trophime Cathedral and the Roman amphitheater. Arles is a good example of an
ancient city that adapted to modern Europe. The Roman and Romanesque
monuments of Arles are noted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Avignon, France
Known as the “City of
Popes,” this magnificent medieval walled city boasts a number of splendid
museums, churches and the stunning 14th-century Papal Palace that dominates the
city. Choose to explore the palace as well as the beautiful gardens of the
Rocher des Doms and the famous Saint-Benezet Bridge. Or you may choose to tour
the colorful Luberon and Vaucluse regions of Provence. The Historic Center
of Avignon is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the vivid hues of
the lavender fields, the rich reds of the sandstone cliffs, bright yellows of
the sunflowers and deep greens of the olive trees of this region.
Chalon-sur-Saône,
France
Here you may choose to take
the excursion to Beaune, in the Burgundy wine region. This well-preserved
medieval town, rich with opulent palaces, owes its prosperity to its world
renowned vineyards. Later, visit the architecturally stunning Hotel Dieu. It is
an expressive example of Flemish-Burgundian architecture of the Gothic period.
Lyon, France
Located at the confluence of the
Rhône and Saône Rivers, Lyon is the undisputed gastronomic capital of France.
Countless fine restaurants, excellent museums and beautiful Renaissance-era
homes grace this lovely city. Discover Fourviere Hill for a fantastic
view, the basilica “Notre Dame de Fourviere” and the silk quarter where
famous Lyonese silk scarves are made. Visit the nearby town of Pérouges with
its beautiful mansions and houses lining the picturesque alleys with cobblestone
paths.
Mâcon, France
Enjoy the beautiful views of
the Saône River while sampling local white Burgundy wine in Mâcon.
Discover the massive belfry tower and ruins of St. Peter Church, Cluny Abbey,
and St. Paul Church, built between 1088 and 1130. You could even visit the
prehistoric site of Solutre. Later, you could visit the palace of poet
Pierreclos for a tour and wine tasting.
Tournon, France
The imposing 16th-century
castle and Roman ruins that dot the countryside of Tournon are a photographer’s
dream. Marvel at the wonderful vineyard slopes and sample wonderful French
cuisine at a local café.
Tournus, France
This lovely town is
home to St. Philibert Church, one of the greatest of all
Romanesque churches in Burgundy. You might like to see the charming interior of
this imposing church. You could also visit the small town of Chapaize and the
Cormatin Castle to admire its opulent interior design.
Trévoux, France
From Trévoux, you can
travel to the Beaujolais wine country. Traveling through the land of “golden
stones,” named for the yellow-colored limestone of the local houses and
palaces, you’ll pass by some of the most beautiful wine-growing areas in
Europe. Later, you might sample world famous Beaujolais wines at one of the many
local vineyards. Or choose to visit the Cluny Abbey. Built in the 12th century
and nearly destroyed during the French Revolution, it was
one of the most significant abbeys of the Middle Ages.
Vienne, France
This lovely town has Roman
ruins, lush gardens and a beautiful cathedral. While you are there, you might
stroll to the Abbey of Saint Pierre or visit the Church of Saint-Savin sur
Gartempe which is noted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known as the “Romanesque
Sistine Chapel” and dates to the 11th to 12th centuries.
Viviers, France
From enchanting
Viviers, you may choose to take a scenic tour through Ardeche. Here, you will
see some of Southern France’s most impressive landscapes and natural wonders,
including the natural arc of Pont d’Arc that spans
the Ardeche River.
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING TOURS IN PACKAGE PRICE:
LYON TO LYON
CHALONE SUR SAONE
TOUR OF BEAUNE
After a coach tour through the Burgundy wine region, you will reach Beaune, the most famous and most visited town in Burgundy. Beaune owes its prosperity not only to its location in the center of the enchanting and famous vineyards, but also to the Dukes of Burgundy who resided here until the 14th century before they settled in Dijon. The medieval center of Beaune and the city wall are still well preserved. On the tour of the town, you will see the affluence resulting from trading in the precious Burgundy wines. Everywhere, there are town palaces from the late Middle Ages, the Renaissances and the Baroque periods. However, the architectural highlight is the Hôtel
Dieu, an expressive example of Flemish-Burgundian architecture of the Gothic period from the 15th century. It was established by the Burgundian Chancellor,
Rolin, in 1443 and later used as a hospital for the poor until 1971. Today, it houses a nursing center for seniors. You will be astonished by the architectural contrast between the sober outer facade and the elegance of the inner courtyard of this magnificent building, which is famous for its many colored glazed tile roof crowned with turrets and oriels.
Excursion lasts about 4 hours.
TREVOUX
BEAUJOLAIS COUNTRY OF THE PIERRES DOREES
The tour begins on a winding road, which crosses the land of the 'Golden
Stones', a name derived from the yellow color of the limestone houses and
palaces. This is one of the most beautiful wine growing areas in Europe. The
wine produced in this southern region is known as 'Beaujolais'. The route to
Anse leads past the vineyards above the Saone valley. Along the way, there is a
panoramic view of vineyards, hills and tiny valleys where pretty villages nestle
around their church spires. In Oingt, a fortified town dating back to the Middle
Ages, you will walk along the old city lane while enjoying the view of the
mountains of Beaujolais and the valley of the Azergue. Travelling past Sou
Palace at the end of a small valley, you will reach the towns of Cogny and
Denice. During the course of the excursion, you will visit a winery to taste the
Beaujolais wine.
The excursion lasts about 3 hours.
TOURNON
THE MASTROU
A bus will bring you from the pier to the train station in Tournon. The Vivarais railway was constructed between 1886 and 1891 to connect the Ardèche with the Haute Loire. After the connection was shut down in 1968, enthusiasts of old steam trains took over the operation again in 1969. On board a train from the past century, pulled by a steam engine or a railcar, you will experience the breathtaking view of the landscape of the Ardèche region. You will travel past orchards and vineyards on the steep slopes of the
Doux. At Douce-Plage, you will cross the Doux on a splendid stone bridge constructed in 1583. With its 51 meter arches it was the largest in the world at that time. The train will continue to climb along the deep gorges and steep rocks. Finally, you will reach Colombier-les-Vieux where the train takes on 3,000 liters of water. The weight of the water assists the train in pulling the remaining cars over the steep hill. You will take this time to enjoy a short break with a glass of ‘Kir’ (white wine with a splash of crème de cassis) and some typical French snacks, which will be served before you continue on your journey to Boucieu le
Roi. Here, you will leave the train and join the bus for your return to Tournon. Note: The steam engine only operates between mid May and mid September. After the main season, a more modern engine will pull the train. The train is equipped with simple wooden benches. The ship’s staff is accompanying the excursion. Local guides are not available.
Excursion lasts about 3 hours.
ARLES
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF VINCENT VAN GOGH
Vincent van Gogh settled in Arles in 1888 and began his exploration of this region, which inspired much of his art. You will follow his footsteps through the typical Provence countryside to St. Remy where you will visit the monastery St. Paul de
Mausole. It was here, that many of van Gogh’s famous works were painted. Afterwards, you will take a scenic tour of the
Alpilles, often called the ‘heart of the Provence’. During your trip through ‘Hell Valley’ you can enjoy the view onto the mostly treeless mountaintops. Erosion gave the white stone bizarre shapes. A visit to the small town of Les Baux de Provence will end your excursion.
Excursion lasts about 3.5 hours.
VIENNE
SIGHTSEEING TOUR LYON
You will drive to Fourvière
Hill, selected by the Roman legion in 43 BC as the location for the town. From
here, enjoy a fantastic view over Lyon situated at the confluence of the Saône
and the Rhône rivers. You will visit the 19th century Basilica ‘Notre Dame de
Fourvière’ which inside is richly decorated with mosaics and paintings. At
the foot of Fourvière Hill on the right bank of the Saône, you will find the
old section of Lyon (Vieux Lyon) with its districts of St. Jean, St. Paul and
St. Georges. Its beautiful houses of the Gothic, Renaissance, and late 16th
century periods are splendid examples of the glorious epoch of Lyon during its
transformation into one of the most important centres for banking, fabric
manufacturing and silk weaving. During a half-hour guided walk through the
district of St. Jean you can discover amongst others the ‘traboules’
(covered walkways) that lends this quarter its unique charm. The narrow covered
walkways are mostly situated behind the entrance doors to the inner courts. They
were used to safely store and transport silk. The coach will drive along the
beautiful canal and bring you back to the Princess de Provence.
The excursion lasts about 3 hours.
Double Click on pictures to view larger image