MONET IN GIVERNY Monet arranged the compositions of his garden


landscapes often by rearranging his garden. It was, after all, his outdoor studio. And if you want to know what it was like to be there at the creation, you can. Visit the legendary garden at Giverny and experience his water lilies firsthand, then observe them on canvas, larger than life at the Musée de l’Orangerie, when you get to Paris.


that produces goat cheese and exquisite chocolate. Continue on 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.  HISTORIC NORMANDY BEACHES The day begins with a tour of the Normandy beaches where the D-Day landings occurred on June 6, 1944. See Omaha Beach and Point-du-Hoc, where American troops scaled sheer cliffs with ropes and fire ladders to reach enemy artillery batteries, and visit the American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer, on a bluff overlooking the beach; the tranquil setting and its history will not fail to move you. Visit the museum at Arromanches, where the remains of an artificial harbor used in the invasion still lie offshore, and 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.  A DAY OF CHOICE... You have two choices today for sightseeing. 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 Cathedrale Notre-Dame (an inspiration for painters and writers), the Astronomical Clock, Château Rouen, the Saint Joan Tower, and the Musée des Beaux Arts, featuring painters who once populated the local cafés. Alternatively, choose a visit to Gothic abbeys along “La Route des Fruits” 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. History, art and fine dining are part of the Rouen experience... so join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive – dinner with music at a local 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 Lionheart, 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 fortress 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


Stroll the romantic, restored medieval streets of Rouen


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