The picturesque
rooftops of Viviers
in the Ardèche
region of France
inspired the artist's swirls. Van Gogh aside, Arles is defined by its
magnificent Roman ruins, including the 20,000-seat arena, Les
Arène d'Arles.
Once the heart of the Christian world, Avignon sprawls on
the banks of the Rhône, encircled by medieval walls. e
Gothic Palace of the Popes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is
breathtaking in its sheer scale. e famous Pont d'Avignon, juts
out into the river below the Palace. e Popes, during their reign,
were partial to a tipple and powerful reds have been produced
nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape, their summer home, for around
700 years.
Gathering strength, the river flows further south until it splits
into a series of channels crossing the Camargue, a region of
sun-bleached marshes home to a unique ecology. Pink flamingos
feed in the salty water, wild, white horses roam, and black bulls
are raised by modern-day cowboys. It is in this mysterious
setting, a long way from the glamour of the coastline stretching
away to the east, that the Rhône meets its final destination, the
Mediterranean Sea.
GETTING THERE: The 8-day Lyon & Provence
voyage from Avignon to Lyon or vice versa,
starts from $3,895pp in Standard
stateroom.
SEINE
RHÔNE
RHÔNE
Tournon
Viviers
Lyon
Vienne
Avignon
Paris
Nice
Dijon
Geneva
C r ui s e
If yo u a d d th e Pari s e x te n sio n ,
tran s fe r f ro m Pari s v ia train .
O ve r night in Po r t
Arles
FRANCE
Aix-en-Provence
SWITZERLAND
PRICE &
BUILD
viking.com
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