Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/933831
FR ANCE'S FINEST 15 day cruise with 14 guided tours in 1 country Day 1 Paris, France Welcome to Paris, romance capital of the world. Transfer from the airport to your ship. After boarding, take free time to explore Paris, or join our "welcome walk" to stretch your legs and get oriented. (D) Day 2 Paris, France This morning, embark on a tour of this dazzling city and take in its most remarkable sights, including the iconic Eiffel Tower. Commence your cruise on the Seine this evening. (B, D) Day 3 Vernon, France Wake up in Vernon and take a short ride into the town of Giverny and visit the beautiful gardens and charming stone farmhouse of Claude Monet; see the water garden with the recognizable Japanese bridge and water lilies. Arrive in Vernon in the evening. (B, L, D) Day 4 Rouen, France You'll spend the afternoon in the medieval city of Rouen, with a walking tour through the Old Town; see the 14th-century courthouse where Joan of Arc was sentenced to death and the nearby Market Square where she was martyred. Dine aboard or at a sidewalk café. Your ship remains docked overnight. (B, L, D) Day 5 Normandy, France Today take a full-day tour to the historic beaches of Normandy. Drive past Gold Beach, Courseulles sur Mer and Juno Beach on your way to visit such World War II landmarks as Omaha Beach, the American Military Cemetery and Arromanches Debarkment D-Day Museum. Return to your ship for dinner and relax aboard, or take an evening stroll in Rouen. (B, L, D) Day 6 Les Andelys, France In Les Andelys visit the town's imposing castle, Château Gaillard, built in 1196 by Richard the Lionheart. After lunch, join a guided walk to this fatally flawed masterpiece of Middle Ages architecture before returning to your ship. (B, L, D) Day 7 Paris, France This morning, disembark for a visit to Chateau de Malmaison, where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final days in France. Or, join an optional tour to the luxurious Palace of Versailles, former home of Louis XIV. (B, L, D) Day 8 Paris, France This morning, disembark and enjoy a leisurely train ride from Paris through the countryside of east central France to Lyon to board your second ship, where a Welcome Dinner is served. (B, D) Day 9 Lyon, France Today you'll tour the city of Lyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin with a drive to the top of Fourvière Hill for amazing views of the city. Continue with a guided visit to the Basilica of Notre Dame and drive past the magnificent St. Jean Cathedral and the Palace of Justice. On a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon (Old Town), you'll have free time to shop for souvenirs or sample some of the fine local cuisine. (B, L, D) Day 10 Lyon, France After breakfast, take a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Beaujolais, where viticultural tradition runs deep. Learn about the art of winemaking in a small museum and enjoy a tasting in one of the Beaujolais's famous cellars. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. (B, L, D) Day 11 Vienne, France This morning enjoy a walking tour of Vienne, a beautiful town with an ancient Roman past. Visit the Temple of Augustus and Livia, the Roman amphitheatre and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Maurice. In the afternoon, enjoy the rolling vine-clad banks of the river, as you sail through its wide meanders to Tournon. After dinner, enjoy a stroll along the riverbanks under the plane trees. (B, L, D) Day 12 Tournon, France All aboard the Train de l'Ardèche this morning for a locomotive ride through the deep gorges of the Ardèche plateau, cut by the Doux River. You'll return to your ship and enjoy lunch aboard as we cruise to Viviers, an engaging little town in a mountainous setting. After dinner, join your Program Director for an evening stroll through Old Town with its medieval and Renaissance buildings. (B, L, D) Day 13 Avignon, France This morning, set out on a guided walk of Avignon, stroll through the historic centre, stop at the picturesque Pont d'Avignon and walk the Place de l'Horloge. Enjoy a guided tour at the Palace of the Popes. Afternoon at leisure or you can join the optional tour to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, visiting the vineyards and tasting the famous wine. (B, L, D) Day 14 Arles, France After breakfast take a walking tour of Arles with its diverse architectural highlights. Arles is also the site of some impressive Roman ruins, including Les Arènes, an arena that seats 20,000 and is still in use, as well as Romanesque monuments such as the Church of Saint-Trôphime, completed in the 15th century. Return aboard for lunch followed by an afternoon on your own to explore or shop for handcrafted gifts. (B, L, D) Day 15 Avignon, France After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the Marseille airport for your return flight. Or, extend your journey with three nights in the French Riviera (B) 128 For complete itinerary details and videos, visit vikingcruises.com.au