Viking Cruises

Contact your local Viking travel advisor, call us on 138 747 (AU), 0800 447 913 (NZ) or visit viking.com | 35 Guests can opt to join the Delights of Provence excursion, a sensory journey into the heart of rural life. A visit to a family‑run olive oil mill reveals the rhythms of the countryside, where generations have cultivated groves under the Mediterranean sun. Surrounded by silvery leaves and the hum of cicadas, travellers learn traditional cold‑pressing techniques that preserve the oil's purity and flavour. The tasting that follows is a celebration of simplicity: fragrant oils drizzled over rustic bread, paired with briny tapenade and sun‑dried tomatoes. Each bite tells a story of terroir and tradition. The mill owners share anecdotes of harvest seasons, local festivals and the pride they take in preserving age‑old methods. Guests leave not only with a deeper appreciation for Provençal flavours but also with a sense of connection to the land and its people. AVIGNON: "CITY OF POPES" The final destination is Avignon, whose medieval walls and soaring palace towers rise majestically above the river. The guided tour explores the Palace of the Popes, a grand complex that once served as both fortress and spiritual seat. In 1309, after conflict between the papacy and the French crown, the Vatican relocated to Avignon. Six French popes ruled here until 1376, cultivating the vineyards that would later produce Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape. A short walk along the river leads to the Pont d'Avignon, the 12th‑century bridge immortalised in song and preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally stretching nearly 3,000 feet with 22 arches, it was once the only bridge crossing the Rhône before floods and wars reduced it to four graceful spans. Standing upon it, travellers feel the weight of history and the enduring romance of Southern France. PALAIS DES PAPES IN AVIGNON, FRANCE

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