Tauck Value Includes:
• Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
• All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,275 Value!
• Exploration of the Rhône and Saône wine country with vineyard visits and wine tastings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Tain-l’Hermitage and Mercurey
• Excursion to the Camargue region including a cowboy demonstration, dinner and Provençal entertainment
• Visits to historic Cluny Abbey and France’s renowned Haras Nationale equestrian center
Feast your senses throughout your cruise... from the colorful, historic Hôtel-Dieu at the Hospices de Beaune... to a slice of life in rural La Camargue
Angels… strolling the medieval streets of Old Town Nice… or within lively Rue de France. After lunch on your own, continue to Arles, where you’ll embark ms Swiss Emerald and enjoy the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD
4. ARLES / RURAL LIFE IN THE CAMARGUE Ancient Arles was there long before the Romans found it... but you can still see a lot of what they left behind as you explore the city this morning, including the Roman arena from the 1st century BC – still being used for bullfights and plays. Look beyond Arles’ medieval streets and walls to see why the surrounding landscapes were such an inspiration to Vincent van Gogh; the quality of the light is amazing! An excursion to the Camargue region includes a visit to a working farm, where you’ll attend a private demonstration by local cowboys, see the famous Spanish black bulls they raise, dine on traditional Provençal fare and enjoy local lore. Cruise to Avignon tonight. Meals BLD
5. AVIGNON / CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Lovely Avignon might still be something of a backwater had it not been for the popes who moved the papacy here when things got “uncomfortable” in Rome some 700 years ago. Although the pontiffs reigned here for less than a century, their fortress-like Palais des Papes, which you’ll visit during today’s sightseeing, is still the centerpiece of this walled medieval city. The popes of Avignon all shared a fondness for wine, produced in this region for over 2,600 years; sample the locally grown Châteauneuf-du-Pape (which translates to “new castle of the Popes”) on an afternoon wine-tasting excursion. Meals BLD
90
• Choice of art museum visits in Paris • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
• 32 meals (13 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners); select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges
6. VIVIERS / CRUISING THE RHÔNE In the Middle Ages, the town of Viviers on the banks of the Rhône had two distinct parts which reflected the equally distinct social divide of the time. Artisans and tradespersons lived on the river plain, while the bishop and his upwardly mobile friends lorded over them from the hilltop above. Explore this well-preserved walled city, with its unusual castle-like cathedral, on a walking tour; its authenticity will delight you. Spend the rest of the day cruising the Rhône aboard ms Swiss Emerald, bound for Tournon-sur-Rhône; onboard activities include a demonstration of the Provençal game of pétanque (weather permitting) and a tasting of fine French gourmet chocolate... yum! Meals BLD
7. TOURNON / TAIN-L’HERMITAGE As you awaken in Tournon-sur-Rhône and embark on a walking tour, look up – you can’t miss the huge castle atop a rock high above the river, or the stone bridge across the Rhône that at one time was the largest of its kind in the world. Just across the river, Tain-l’Hermitage is known for its excellent Côte du Rhône wines, which you’ll sample during a tasting at a local vineyard. Sail on to Vienne tonight, arriving in time to take an evening stroll. Meals BLD
8. HISTORIC VIENNE / CRUISING THE SAÔNE The Romans seem to have been everywhere in this region way back when, including Vienne (which they called “Vienna” in their day). Keep an eye peeled for the temple and the theater they left behind, among the many historic sites you’ll see on a walking tour and some free time. Re-board ms Swiss Emerald to continue your cruise today along the Rhône, past Lyon and into the Saône River, arriving overnight in Chalon-sur-Saône. Meals BLD
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