summer, the Roman amphitheatre and
picture-perfect cafés of the former and
the magnificent Palace of the Popes of the
latter can be enjoyed without the hordes
of crowds. Nowhere on Earth is as
glamorous as the next destination,
Monte Carlo.
The city of the tiny principality of
Monaco, it attracts high rollers to its
historic casino, sleek private yachts
and supercars galore. Grace Kelly and
her husband, Monaco's ruler Prince
Rainier III, are buried in the cathedral
and Viking offers a Privileged Access tour
of the 800-year-old Prince's Palace.
Many guests will head to nearby Nice,
the city that inspired impressionist Henri
Matisse, but I would suggest you consider
an excursion to two wonderful Monaco
horizon. France's oldest city, crowned by
the handsome Notre-Dame de la Garde
basilica, is a maritime delight and a
couple of hours wandering its waterfront
will not be forgotten. This could be your
chance, though, for a wine tasting and
Viking's typically immersive offering is
sampling Bandol vintages in a charming
11th-century hill village.
A huge advantage of this cruise is that
there are departures throughout the year,
which makes a visit to Arles or Avignon
from Marseille tempting. Outside
port of Sète is an enchanting place set
between the sea and a large lagoon, the
two connected by picturesque canals.
The options here are tremendous and the
trips to the ancient university town of
Montpellier or medieval, walled
Carcassonne have much appeal.
For something different, consider
a 4x4 safari across the Camargue,
the wild delta of the Rhône,
roamed by beautiful white horses,
some of which are used by
traditionally-hatted cowboys to herd
bulls.
Alternatively, the chance to try French
delicacies with paired wines on a gentle
cruise on the tree-lined, UNESCO-listed
Canal du Midi could well be my first
choice. Marseille looms next on the
With a dazzling choice of activities on
offer, Viking's eight-day itinerary offers
a splendid opportunity to indulge
12
VIKING
