French Art and History Along the Rhône River

Included in tour package:<ul><li>M&acirc;con</li><li>A Guided Tour of the Medieval City of P&eacute;rouges</li><li>Lyon and Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse</li><li>The Palais Id&eacute;al du Facteur Cheval</li><li>Les Baux-de-Provence and the Quarries of Light</li><li>Arles</li><li>Aix-en-Provence</li></ul>

We&rsquo;ll leave by coach for Aix-en-Provence. At the foot of Mount Sainte-Victoire and surrounded by impeccably preserved countryside dotted with Proven&ccedil;al fortified towns, lies Aix-en-Provence. Mount Sainte-Victoire itself is a symbol of the bucolic landscapes so many artists have used as inspiration. Aix-en-Provence was founded by the Romans in 123 BC and is considered the historical capital of the region. Aix today shows off its rich architectural heritage through the superbly restored and maintained bourgeois homes, small squares bursting with flowers, private mansions, and ancient fountains. Paul C&eacute;zanne, whom many consider the father of modern art, was born here. We&rsquo;ll follow the footpath marked with &ldquo;C&rdquo; from the home where he was born to his final resting place. This tour takes you to the highlights of his childhood as well as the caf&eacute;s where he found inspiration among his friends and fellow artists. At the end of our stroll, we&rsquo;ll enjoy a tasting of the city&rsquo;s most famous delight, the Calissons.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Aix-en-Provence and the Wonders of Paul C&eacute;zanne

We&rsquo;ll leave on foot for a guided tour of Arles following the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh. Arles is an ancient Roman city whose ruins are second only to Rome and include the Antique Theater, Amphitheater, Thermes of Constantine, and the Alyscamps. Arles is also an important stop along the Way of St. James. Vincent Van Gogh came to Arles to escape the gray winter in Paris and the indifference he felt within the artistic milieu there. He arrived in Arles on February 20, 1888, and immediately began to produce his most prolific number of works in his career: more than 300 paintings and drawings within an 18-month period. Van Gogh crisscrossed the city and its surroundings to paint the landscapes, people, and scenes as he interpreted them. Everything around him served as inspiration for his canvases. Our tour will retrace his steps to the different sites where he set up his easel, such as the Place du Forum, the Quai du Rh&ocirc;ne, and Place Lamartine. Panels at each stop compare his painting and the actual scene as it appears today. After some free time on your own, we&rsquo;ll return to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Following the Footsteps of Van Gogh in Arles

We&rsquo;ll leave Belleville by coach for the medieval city of P&eacute;rouges, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. P&eacute;rouges sits atop a small hill that overlooks the Ain River in the distance. The cobblestone streets and medieval homes were built over six centuries ago and truly feel like something straight out of a classic novel. The Place du Tilleul, home to a linden tree that is over 220 years old, is the quintessential spot to take in the village&rsquo;s timeless charm. Tasting of local products. We&rsquo;ll return on board in Tr&eacute;voux.PLEASE NOTE<ul><li>The order of the visits can change.</li><li>Times are approximate.</li></ul>

A Guided Tour of the Medieval City of P&eacute;rouges

We&rsquo;ll head out on an excursion to the Palais Id&eacute;al du Facteur Cheval, a monument built by a postman from 1879 to 1912. No other building like it exists in the world, which is why it attracts the curiosity of visitors from all over. Cheval&rsquo;s challenge began in 1879 when he tripped over a stone. He took the stone home with him to examine its structure closer. The next day he went back to the same spot and found more sandstones that had been sculpted by nature. For the next 33 years, he picked up stones during his daily rounds and brought them home to add to his palace. In addition to building the structure with his own hands, Ferdinand Cheval personalized the palace with poetic texts describing his feat. After our excursion, we&rsquo;ll return on board the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

The Palais Id&eacute;al du Facteur Cheval

Join us on a guided tour of Lyon. We&rsquo;ll cross through the city and go up Fourvi&egrave;re Hill to the white basilica, the best place to take in the view. Then we&rsquo;ll head over to Vieux Lyon to have a look at its historical homes and the &quot;bouchon&quot; restaurants that are found throughout the district. Learn about the discrete and strategic doorways leading to shortcuts, known as traboules, that go from street to street. Don&rsquo;t miss the tasting of fine food at Paul Bocuse&rsquo;s Les Halles de Lyon, a huge, three-story, indoor market where close to 50 shops offer the finest gourmet food&mdash;a veritable feast for the eyes and palates. We&rsquo;ll enjoy a snack of local sausage and cheese, topped off with a lovely glass of wine.* Enjoy some free time before returning to the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>Please wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.</li>
	<li>You must be properly dressed to enter the basilica.</li>
	<li>Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse are closed on Sundays and Mondays. In this instance, arrangements will be made so as to maintain the tasting of local products.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>*Alcohol can be dangerous to your health. Please drink in moderation.</li>
</ul>

Lyon and Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse

Alphonse de Lamartine was born in M&acirc;con in 1790. He was an author, poet, and statesman who had a profound impact on France during the 19th century. We&rsquo;ll set out to trace his footsteps by following the bronze &ldquo;Plume Trail&rdquo; that will take us through the charming downtown streets to the city&rsquo;s most important, historical monuments, which include the statue of Alphonse de Lamartine on the banks of the river, the Wooden House, Ursuline Museum, M&acirc;con Cathedral, and Saint Peter&rsquo;s Church. Enjoy some free time before returning to the ship. We&rsquo;ll return on board on foot.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Following the Footsteps of Alphonse de Lamartine in M&acirc;con

We&#39;ll travel by coach to one of the most beautiful villages in France, Les Baux-de-Provence, located on a plateau in the heart of the Alpilles mountain range.&nbsp; The village overlooks the exceptional scenery leading to Arles, the Camargue, and the Alpilles Regional Nature Park. Les Baux is one of the must-see sites when visiting Provence. The village became well known after World War II when Raymond Thuillier opened the gastronomic restaurant &ldquo;Oustau de Baumani&egrave;re,&rdquo; which welcomed celebrities and famous politicians at the time. The entire village was placed under the protection of the French Ministry of Culture and Environment in 1966. Since then, it has become the ultimate tourist destination and has been listed as one of France&rsquo;s most beautiful villages.

At the foot of the village lies the Val d&rsquo;Enfer, a valley formed by erosion. Within the valley is an old limestone quarry that was used to build the village and was the inspiration or backdrop for many works, including Dante&rsquo;s poem The Divine Comedy and Jean Cocteau&rsquo;s Testament of Orpheus. Today, it serves as the scene for a giant multimedia show where music and colors bring to life the amazing works of Picasso, Klimt, and Van Gogh. After our excursion, we&rsquo;ll return on board the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

<ul>
	<li>The order of the visits can change.</li>
	<li>Times are approximate.</li>
</ul>

Les Baux-de-Provence and the Quarries of Light

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CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

Included in tour package: Mâcon A Guided Tour of the Medieval City of Pérouges Lyon and Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse The Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval Les Baux-de-Provence and the Quarries of Light Arles Aix-en-Provence

CLASSIC EXCURSIONS PACKAGE

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French Art and History Along the Rhône River

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