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Provence & Spain Cruise Itinerary
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Tuesday
Board your overnight flight to Paris, France.
Wednesday
Arrive in Paris and take the balance of the day to relax or explore the "City of Lights".
Thursday
See the most famous sights of Paris on this morning's tour: Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the reknowned Louvre Museum,
the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day
is yours to explore the many museums, galleries and other attractions that the city has to offer.
Friday
Enjoy a full free day to explore the most romantic city in the world. Stroll through the Jardin de Tuilleries, gaze at
impressionist masterpieces at Musée D'Orsay, or visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair.
Paris at night sparkles with possibilities for every taste.
Saturday
Savor your last morning in Paris, then board the TGV train, where you'll be transported at top speed (up to 186 mph) in
smooth, quiet comfort to Lyon where the ship awaits you. Gather this evening on board for cocktails and a Welcome Dinner.
Sunday
Lyon not only marks the meeting of the Sôane and Rhône Rivers, but is also the gastronomic capital of France.
Its rich ancient history includes Roman ruins and early Christian sites. This morning's tour includes a stunning panoramic
view of the entire city from the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere. You'll also explore the Renaissance charm of Vieux
Lyon (Old Lyon) with its cobble stone streets. Return to the ship for lunch, and relax as you sail on north along the
Saône River to the small town of Trevoux. Enjoy free time this evening to explore the town on your own.
Monday
This morning's tour will take you behind the village walls of Trevoux and through Beaujolais, the Pay D'Or, or "land of the
golden stones" so named for the ochre limestone of its homes and castles. Enjoy a visit with a local wine maker along this
wine road or route du vin, where you'll taste the world reknowned Beaujolais Nouveau before returning the ship. From there
you'll cruise south from the Saône to the Rhône River and on to Vienne. This evening stroll along the sidewalk
cafes of this rural walking town.
Tuesday
Situated between the wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne, like Lyon has a significant Roman history, which is
highlighted by its marvelously preserved ruins and remains. During this morning's walking tour you will see the 1st-century
Roman Temple of Augustus, and the medieval churches of St. Andre-Le-Bas and Abbey St. Pierre, before cruising on to Tournon
and Tain L'Hermitage.
These twin towns face each other across the Rhône River and are linked by a 19th-century
suspension bridge. The fertile soil and ideal climate of the region has made Tain L'Hermitage the premier producer of the
Côte du Rhône wines. Enjoy free time this afternoon to visit the 16th-century castle which is now a town hall, or
visit the chocolate shop for a taste of the confections once produced in Tournon's famous factory. After dinner on board you
will enjoy a wine tasting.
Wednesday
On this morning's adventure, you will travel via steam train from the vineyards of the valley to the woods of Ardêche
along the Doux River. Deemed "Monuments Historiques", these 19th-century locomotives are virtual time capsules. Enjoy lunch
back onboard the ship as you cruise to Châteauneuf-du-Pape this afternoon.
Thursday
Origin of its world famous namesake wine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or "new castle of the Pope," is also home to the remains
of the fortress which gives the village its name. On this morning's walking tour, see the remains of this 14th-century palace
which was built as a summer residence for Popes during their exile to Avignon, as well as the many squares and beautiful
fountains that this medieval village has to offer.
Enjoy a wine tasting before returning to the ship where you'll cruise to
nearby Avignon over lunch. Your afternoon tour of the "City of Popes" will take you through the narrow streets and elegant
squares to the Papal Palace, which served as fortress, church, and residence to the Popes that once governed the Christian
world.
Friday
Arrive early this morning in Arles, a Mediterranean city situated at the mouth of the Rhône delta. Bathe in the
Provençal morning light as you imagine how Vincent Van Gogh worked to capture the richness of every hue on this
morning's walking tour. While Van Gogh's homes are no longer standing, you may glimpse the locales and vistas that
inspired "Starry Night" or "Terrace de café le Soir" as you pass Constantine's Baths, the Romanesque catherdral, and
the Roman Amphitheater, which is still in use today.
This afternoon you'll take an excursion via motorcoach to the villages of St. Remy and les Baux. During your tour of St.
Remy, birthplace of Nostradamus, and also where Van Gogh retired to the asylum St. Paul de Mausolée, you will enjoy
the rich floral colors and amazing views from this village perched on the hill.
Saturday
This morning after breakfast, transfer to Barcelona, capital of the Spanish region of Catalonia. Along the way, you'll pass
through the Camargue on the southern coast and trace the ancient trade route linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas.
As you approach the Pyrenees, you'll stop in the medieval city of Carcassonne, which is surrounded by a double ring of
walls. The village is a world UNESCO heritage site, complete with 52 towers that stretches for more than two miles around
this strategic import city. Here, you will have free time for lunch and some exploring on your own.
Sunday
Your full day in Barcelona begins with a driving tour to the top of Montjuic Hill where you'll catch glorious views of the
city below, as you see Palau Nacional (the National Palace), the Olympic Complex. Next, you'll tour Placa Catalonia, and Las
Ramblas, the promenade and center of Barcelona life. Later you'll see the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família,
designed by artist and architect Antonio Gaudí and still unfinished to this day, and take a walking tour of the Barrio
Gotico (Gothic Quarter), King's Square, and Tinell, the Royal Palace.
Monday
Your last full day in Barcelona is yours to enjoy. You might choose an optional tour of Gaudí's Parc Güell, where
you'll see some of his most captivating sculptures and architectural structures, return on your own to the markets of Las
Ramblas or visit one of the many museums. This evening, enjoy an optional dinner show featuring Flamenco dancers, or strike
out on your own, perhaps across the port for seafood in Barceloneta.
Tuesday
Your splendid vacation comes to an end as you transfer to the airport in Barcelona for your homebound flight.
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