MONET IN GIVERNY Monet arranged the compositions of his garden
landscapes often by rearranging his garden. It was, after all, his garden, his outdoor studio. And if you want to know what it was like to be there at the creation, you can, in a visit to his house at Giverny. Witness his water lilies firsthand, then observe them on canvas, larger than life, at the Musée de l’Orangerie, when you get to Paris.
Monet, and visit a chèvrerie, a farm that produces goat cheese and exquisite chocolate. Or take a day trip to Honfleur, an old picturesque trading port where 17th-century houses line the harbor and cobblestone backstreets beckon… a favorite haunt of Impressionist painters. Meals BLD
5. NORMANDY BEACHES / CHÂTEAU VISIT Your choice today: Leave the ship for a tour of the beaches where the D-Day landings occurred on June 6, 1944 (2014 marks the 70th anniversary). Discover the museum at Arromanches, where the remains of an artificial harbor used in the invasion still lie offshore; see Omaha Beach and Point-du-Hoc, where American troops scaled sheer cliffs to reach enemy artillery batteries, and visit the American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer; the tranquil setting and its history will not fail to move you. Alternatively, choose a visit to Gothic abbeys on the “Abbey Road,” with a stop at Château du Breuil, a distiller of calvados since the 16th century; the château is officially a national monument in a region of France that is passionate about its cider and apple brandy, and you’ll learn why at a private tasting. Return to the ship for leisure time and tea as the riverboat sets sail for Rouen. Arrive after dinner, and go for a nightcap at a local pub. Meals BLD
6. ROUEN... JOAN OF ARC AND MORE Embark on a guided walking tour of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was tried and burned at the stake in 1431 (and her ashes consigned to the Seine). Once the prosperous medieval capital of Normandy, Rouen still bristles with spires and entices with Gothic churches, half-timbered houses, and picturesque cobblestone lanes made for strolling. Here you’ll see the Notre Dame Cathedral that inspired painters and writers, the Astronomical Clock, the Château Rouen, the Saint Joan Tower, and the Musée des Beaux Arts, featuring painters who once populated the local cafés. History, art and fine dining are part of the Rouen experience... so join us this evening for a dinner with music at a medieval château. Meals BLD
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7. THE FORTRESS OF COEUR-DE-LION Your riverboat arrives at Les Andelys, named for two fishing villages at a scenic bend in the river where the imposing ruins of Château Gaillard rise on a cliff. The castle was built in 1198 by Richard the Lionhearted, Duke of Normandy, to defend against an invasion from the King of France. A marvel of engineering, the fortress was constructed in only a year, using thousands of workers; it was thought to be impervious, but the king attacked anyway, and Richard’s “one year daughter” fell after a siege in 1204. The ruins in their picturesque setting overlooking the Seine are still there to inspire, as they have generations of painters like Nicolas Poussin, as you explore the grounds on a guided visit. Next, ramble in the classic French village below, with its medieval lanes, colorful half-timbered houses and gardens; visit
Explore medieval Rouen, a city out of time with an astronomical clock.
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