Grand France 2012

Paris to Côte d'Azur

Day 1 (Tue) Paris. Travel to Paris where you will be met and transferred to your cruise ship Avalon Creativity, for seven nights. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception.

Day 2 (Wed) Paris. During your included sightseeing tour of Paris, see magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to the Renaissance style architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, a structural miracle of its age. The city is well known for its colourful nightlife, including some of the world’s most famous cabaret shows.

Day 3 (Thu) Paris – Conflans. After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing morning on the Sky Deck as your ship glides gently down the River Seine, passing through suburban Paris. This afternoon, dock at Conflans where you can either join our guided excursion to Auvers-Sur-Oise, the quaint little town where Vincent Van Gogh lived and died, or visit Napoleon and Josephine’s Château de Malmaison just outside Paris. Requiring extensive renovations, this large country estate was purchased by Josephine Bonaparte in 1799 while Napoleon was fighting in Egypt. It was her aim to make it 'the most beautiful and curious garden in Europe, a model of good cultivation'.

Day 4 (Fri) Vernon. This morning, choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s house and stunning gardens at Giverny or a visit to Bizy Castle with its magnificent courtyard. There’s still time to stroll through this delightful city on your own before your ship departs for Rouen. Relax on board this afternoon or take your pick of a number of optional excursions on offer.

Day 5 (Sat) Rouen. Rouen is the capital of Upper Normandy and an important commercial city, perhaps best known for its connection to Joan of Arc, who lived, was imprisoned and was later burned at the stake in the marketplace of this town in 1431. Enjoy the guided walk through the medieval quarter with its half-timbered, glazed-tile houses and the Gros Horloge, an intricate Astronomical Clock dating back to the 16th century. The splendid gothic cathedral was once the tallest building in the world and the subject of a series of Claude Monet’s paintings. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own, or you can join an optional excursion to either the pretty coastal town of Honfleur or the busy port city of Le Havre with its contemporary architecture.

Day 6 (Sun) Rouen. Today, choose between an included excursion to the historic Normandy landing beaches, visiting some of the most poignant sights of World War II, or a ‘Taste of Normandy’ tour for a more in-depth look at this picturesque, mainly agricultural region. The most important produce include dairy, apples and grain. Camembert cheese is a speciality, as is Calvados, a strong apple brandy. Thoroughbred horses are also reared here.

Day 7 (Mon) Les Andelys. The most dramatic sight along the Seine is the imposing Château Gaillard at Les Andelys. Built by Richard the Lionheart in 1196, the château is truly a masterpiece of Middle Ages military architecture. Explore on your own and enjoy your last day in France in this delightful small town.

Day 8 (Tue) Paris - Beaune - Chalon-sur-Saône - Tournus. After breakfast, disembark Avalon Creativity and head south into Burgundy. Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Or area - which produces the region’s finest vintages - owes its wealth to the production, aging and selling of fine wines. Its most famous historical site, the Hôtel Dieu charity hospital, houses Van der Weyden’s painting of the Last Judgement and is one of France’s architectural highlights. Enjoy a tasting of Burgundy wines before continuing south to Chalon-sur-Saône, where you will board Avalon Scenery. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception as your ship departs for Tournus.

Day 9 (Wed) Tournus - Mâcon. A guided walk after breakfast today shows you the highlights of this delightful town, tucked away in the south-east corner of Burgundy. The town is one of the oldest and most important monastic centres in the region and is home to the superb Abbey of St Philibert, part of which dates back to the 10th century. Enjoy free time to stroll the quaint streets and to explore the arts and crafts shops nearby. After lunch, cruise to Mâcon, a city with a rich history that plays an important role in the wine trade. A choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available.

Day 10 (Thu) Beaujolais region - Lyon. Enjoy a leisurely morning cruising on the Rhône. Lyon is France’s second-largest city and its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43BC, the city’s prosperity dates back to the 16th century and is due to commercial and industrial activities. Roman ruins, many excellent museums and much Renaissance architecture delight the visitor. Survey the city from Fourvière Hill and explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways, Place des Terreaux, and the beautiful Place Bellecour. Beaujolais is the wine of the region and wine connoisseurs will know that the grapes must be hand picked. Tradition dictates that the 'Beaujolais Nouveau' is tasted for the first time on the third Thursday of November each year.

Day 11 (Fri) Lyon. A free day in this fascinating city to explore at leisure. Early risers might like to visit the local produce market. Your Cruise Director will have plenty of suggestions for things to do.

Day 12 (Sat) Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage - Viviers. The twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhône River and the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Tournon, with its imposing 16th century castle and Roman ruins, is one of France’s oldest medieval cities. Another charming town, Viviers, was developed around its Romanesque cathedral, and the old town has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman and medieval influences.

Day 13 (Sun) Avignon. The fortified city of Avignon is the capital of the Vaucluse region, the most picturesque part of Provence. Also referred to as the ‘City of Popes’, it was the centre of the Catholic Church in the 14th century and the city landscape is dominated by the grandiose Palace of the Popes. See the bridge, made famous by the popular song, and join one of the optional excursions to either Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Châteauneuf-du-Pape available this afternoon.

Day 14 (Mon) Arles - Camargue - Port St Louis. On the northern tip of the Camargue, Arles is the capital of Provence and was once known as the ‘Little Rome of Gaul’. See the church of St Trophime, ‘Les Alyscamps’, the remains of the Gallo-Roman burial road and visit the Roman Amphitheatre. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of Provence and spent a very productive year in Arles. The Foundation Vincent Van Gogh is a tribute to the artist. Depart Arles before dinner and enjoy tranquil scenes of the Camargue Regional Nature Park area as you sail to Port St Louis in the Rhône delta.

Day 15 (Tue) Port St Louis - Côte d’Azur. After breakfast, disembark your cruise ship and transfer by coach along the Côte d’Azur to the Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo. Also known as the French Riviera, the Côte d’Azur stretches along France’s Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the Italian border.

Day 16 (Wed) Côte d’Azur. Transfer to the airport or station for your journey to the UK.