Treasures of Burgundy and Provence: Rhône & Saône

Embark this afternoon and make yourself comfortable in your cabin, which will be your luxurious home for the coming week. In the evening, join fellow travelers for a Welcome Cocktail and delectable Welcome Dinner.

In the morning, your ship arrives in Mâcon, located in southern Burgundy. With a history stretching back more than 2,000 years, Mâcon is an architectural treasure trove and a gateway to the vineyards of the Côte Mâconnais. This historic wine region produces some of the finest and most expensive wines in the world. Enjoy a guided tour and admire the peaceful vineyards of the Beaujolais and Mâconnais wine regions. A highlight is the visit to the “Hameau Duboeuf“ wine museum, featuring the history and production of Burgundy wines, and a wine tasting.

After lunch on board, join the afternoon excursion to Cluny Abbey, which was founded in 910 and was home to over 10,000 monks at its height, or visit Château de Pierreclos with its romantic wine cellars and vineyard. Enjoy dinner on board in the evening.

Continue exploring the Burgundy wine region in Chalon-sur-Saône, where half-timbered houses overlook a square teeming with art galleries and specialty shops. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Burgundy wine route on the morning tour. Your bus will stop in Beaune, where you will see the beautiful Hôtel-Dieu and enjoy a wine tasting at one of Beaune’s famous cellars. After lunch on board, unwind and admire the scenery as the vessel continues along the Saône or, alternatively, join the afternoon excursion, which departs from Chalon-sur-Saône overland for the medieval towns of Brançion and Cormatin. The Château de Cormatin is a beautiful castle with magnificent French gardens. It was built in the 17th Century with the aim to impress. Rejoin your vessel in time for dinner on board.

Today your AMADEUS vessel returns to Lyon, which is known not only for its architectural beauty but also for its gastronomic excellence. On the guided tour, discover this UNESCO World Heritage site with its most famous landmarks including the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the charming Renaissance Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), or join the excursion to the covered food market of Paul Bocuse and sample the local delicacies. At midday, the ship leaves Lyon.

Spend the day exploring the Provençal city of Avignon and discovering its momentous history. In the morning, take part in a guided walking tour of Avignon, the seat of the Catholic popes from 1309 to 1377. Admire the grand Palace of the Popes, one of the world’s most fascinating examples of Gothic architecture and the Pont d’Avignon. After lunch, join the excursion to the hilltop town of Uzès and to the Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct and great masterpiece of engineering. In the evening, dinner is followed by entertainment by a local music band. We depart for Arles this evening.

Old Arles is a delight to wander in and explore, no wonder it once captured the imagination of the brilliant Impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh. Learn more about its rich history during the morning tour. Inside the Roman amphitheater, get a good impression of what being a spectator of gladiator fights was like at the end of the first century. This afternoon, recharge in the tranquility of unspoilt scenery by joining the excursion to the natural beauty of the Camargue’s salt marshes, home to the renowned Camargue bulls and wild white horses. This nature preserve is also one of the few European habitats which supports the greater flamingo. After a full day in Arles, your vessel will continue cruising the Rhône River.

You can choose to spend a day on board or join a morning guided tour the Ardèche Gorge, another natural wonder of this area. Visit the “Grand Canyon of Europe,“ where spectacular limestone cliffs tower over the meandering river below. France is a leading producer of black truffles, so the alternative is an exploration of the world of truffles with a visit and tasting to a local truffle farm. Rejoin the vessel in Le Pouzin in time for lunch.

This afternoon, relax on board as your ship makes its way back up the waterways of the Provence. This evening, celebrate your cruise experience at the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

After breakfast, your AMADEUS crew bids you “adieu” and we hope to see you again soon!