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Paradise Connections
Your fun is our business
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Cruise Central and
Southern France aboard Napoléon, the luxury river cruiser and explore
the Vallée du Rhone, Saône, and Provence
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- NAPOLÉON -
Cruising
the Central &
Southern Regions of France
(Vallée du Rhone - Saône - Provence)
- STANDARD ITINERARY -
Arles to Tain
l’Hermitage
(River Rhone
through Provence)
Sunday, Day 1 - Paris
to Avignon
Your
departure from Paris on the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) to Avignon
will be met in the afternoon at the Avignon train station by the
Napoléon guide. After gathering your baggage you will be driven by
mini-van to Vallabrègues for your cruise on the Napoléon.
A
champagne reception welcomes you and gives you a chance to greet the
crew while your luggage is brought aboard. A late afternoon cruise from
Vallabrègues to Arles will be your first taste of Rhône River cruising.
Once moored in Arles and if time permits your guide will take you on a
tour of Arles, best known in modern times because Van Gogh spent much
of 1888 and 89 painting here and at St. Rémy. If not, there is always
tomorrow. Dinner will be served at 20:00. (The time for meals on board
can be altered to
suit the passengers’ wishes).
Monday, Day 2 - Cruise
to Avignon. Visit Les Baux, St. Rémy
Shortly
after today’s bread and croissants have been retrieved from the local
bakery the Napoléon will set off for the cruise to Avignon. Today, you
will visit Les Baux and St. Rémy and then rejoin the Napoléon for lunch
in Vallabrègues. The afternoon cruise to Avignon is not to be missed.
Avignon, the home of the popes from 1309-77, is magnificent in its
grandeur as one cruises past Le Pont St. Bénézet (Le Pont d’Avignon) to
the evening’s mooring at the quay, facing the gate to the walled city.
So, if you are up to a morning stroll it should be an early one. This
is a good time to check out the boat’s amenities, the library of books,
music and videos in the salon, the keyboard if you are musically
inclined, or relax and catch up on the news in the International Herald
Tribune and, by all means, lounge on the top deck and watch the passing
scenery of the Rhône Valley.
Tuesday, Day 3 –
Cruise to St. Etiennes des Sorts. Visit Avignon.
The
day begins early for those who wish to accompany the chef to Avignon’s
market for breakfast, a great opportunity to sample the produce of the
vendors before the market is really open for business. Following this,
a walking tour of the walled city, a guided tour of the Palace of the
Popes and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Back down the ramparts to the
Napoléon where another scrumptious lunch awaits you. The boat will
leave Avignon and cruise to Duc d’Albe, a mooring from which you will
visit Château de la Nerthe for a tasting of the wines of the
Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe. Return to the boat in a happy mood for the
continuation of the day’s cruise to St. Etienne des Sorts.
Wednesday, Day 4 –
Cruise to Viviers. Visit Orange and Pont du Gard.
This
morning‘s excursion may include a visit to Bagnols/Cèze (if the Avignon
market was not visited). The Napoléon will cruise to the lock at
Bollène at which point the passengers will disembark for the tour of
Orange, an important Roman city dating back to 100 BC. The historical
town contains two of the finest Roman monuments in Europe. The Théâtre
Antique d’Orange is renowned worldwide as a site for cultural events
such as Les Chorégies d’Orange, a festival of opera, drama
and
ballet. We offer special opera cruises during the festival in this
remarkable open-air arena. The Arc de Triomphe celebrates Julius
Caesar’s conquest of the Gauls and victory over the Greek fleet. Lunch
back on board. Time permitting you will also visit the Pont du Gard,
part of the aqueduct that transported spring water from Uzès to the
Romans in Nîmes. Cruise to tonight’s mooring at Viviers, a charming
medieval town currently undergoing a renovation. Challenge the crew to
a game of Pétanque before dinner.
Thursday, Day 5 -
Cruise to La Voulte. Visit Château de Grignan.
The
van will be ready early to take you to visit the Château de Grignan
where the daughter of Mde. de Sévigné resided. The separation of mother
and daughter was the motivation for the famous letters of Mde. de
Sévigné. A late lunch on board the boat while cruising to La Voulte and
an afternoon visit to a local truffle farm.
Friday, Day 6 - Cruise
to Tain l’Hermitage/Tournon. Dégustation.
The
river valley during this part of the cruise has a completely different
perspective, flanked by the vineyards of the Côte du Rhône. Mooring in
Tain/Tournon you will be escorted to a local vineyard for your last
dégustation. Meanwhile the chef is preparing a farewell feast. How
about a final game of pétanque to get you in the right mood for your
farewell dinner.
Saturday, Day 7 -
Disembark Napoléon. Transfer to Valence and Paris.
Passengers
disembark the Napoléon after breakfast and are transferred to the train
station in Valence for the return to Paris on the TGV.
Note:
This is a sample itinerary and subject to change.
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