AmaWaterways, Essence of Burgundy & Provence from Arles, October 12, 2023

Cruising from: Arles, France;

Departure Date: 12 October, 2023;

Cruise Line: AmaWaterways;

Cruise Ship: AmaCello;

Duration: 7 days;

Ports of Call: Arles, Avignon, Valence, Lyon, Macon, Tournus, Chalon-Sur-Saone, Chalon-Sur-Saone;

Day 0 Arles, France

Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence. A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune. The city has a long history, and was of considerable importance in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles in 1888-1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there.

Day 1 Avignon, France

Avignon is a commune in south-eastern France in the department of Vaucluse on the left bank of the Rhone river. Located in the heart of Provence, Avignon has everything needed to enchant you with its art de vivre and rich architectural heritage: chapels, churches, buildings from the Middle Ages, and eighteenth and nineteenth century hotels particuliers. Avignon is now best known for its annual arts festival, the largest in France, which spans several weeks in July. The rest of the year, its rampart-ringed old town, medieval bridge, leafy squares and super restaurants are the main attractions.

Day 2 Valence, France

Valence, capital of Drome is a charming city in the Rhone Valley. With its many cafe terraces, pleasant pedestrian squares, shopping streets and listed monuments, this is an attractive city. Valence is a green city with many parks. Right in the city centre, the Jouvet Park covers 7 hectares and is home to over 700 trees, some of which are listed as remarkable specimens. Valence's delicious speciality is the Suisse, shortbread man, flavoured with candied orange peel and orange blossom.

Day 3 Lyon, France

Lyon, also spelled Lyons, capital of both the Rhone departement and the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, east-central France, set on a hilly site at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers. It is the third largest city in France. It's no wonder Lyon is a popular area for travelers, with its dynamic university, first-class shopping, antique markets, vibrant theatre and music festivals, and a range of interesting museums, such as the International Puppet Museum and the Museum of Miniatures and Film Sets. As the gastronomic capital of France, it is a city with a huge selection of good restaurants.

Day 4 Macon, France

Macon is a charming mid-sized city in east-central France. Like many French towns, Macon has no shortage of ancient churches and cathedrals that are worth a visit. The stand out of the bunch is the Old Cathedral of Saint-Vincent. The region's glazed roofs and timber framed buildings are replaced by the flat-fronted pastel houses of the south. Wine-lovers won't be short of inspiration for days out with a big directory of wineries close by. Macon is where a lot of Burgundy's best chardonnays come from.

Day 5 Tournus, France

Tournus is a french city located east center of France. With an attractive and vibrant centre, Tournus is a pleasant town to explore - especially the medieval centre, with its narrow alleys, old stone houses, artsy shops and restaurants. There are also a couple of monuments of particular importance to see, like the 10th century benedictine Abbey of Saint-Philibert de Tournus. There are several other notable sites in Tournus, including Museum of the Bicycle, which has a fascinating collection of bikes dating back to the early 19th century - before pedals had been invented.

Day 6 Chalon-Sur-Saone, France

Chalon-sur-Saon is a commune in the Saone-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte in eastern France. It is located on the Saone river. Main sights are St. Vincent's Cathedral on the Place Saint-Vincent, which has some elements dating from the eighth century and a neo-gothic nineteenth century facade. The city square also has a number of cafes and a busy market on Fridays and Sundays.

Day 7 Chalon-Sur-Saone, France

Chalon-sur-Saon is a commune in the Saone-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comte in eastern France. It is located on the Saone river. Main sights are St. Vincent's Cathedral on the Place Saint-Vincent, which has some elements dating from the eighth century and a neo-gothic nineteenth century facade. The city square also has a number of cafes and a busy market on Fridays and Sundays.