Amadeus River Cruises, Treasures of Burgundy and Provence: Rhone & Saone, October 5, 2023

Cruising from: Lyon, France;

Departure Date: 5 October, 2023;

Cruise Line: Amadeus River Cruises;

Cruise Ship: MS Amadeus Provence;

Duration: 8 days;

Ports of Call: Lyon, Macon, Chalon-sur-Saone, Lyon, Avignon, Arles, Ardeche Gorge, Lyon;

Day 0 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 1 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 2 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 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 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 5 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 6 Ardeche Gorge, France

The Gorges de l'Ardeche, located in the French department Ardeche, is made up of a series of gorges in the river and locally known as the "European Grand Canyon". Notable sights along the canyon include the Pont d'Arc at the beginning of the canyon, a natural arch 60 m wide and 54 m high. Much of the canyon is inaccessible except by water, and canoeing and kayaking are popular sports on the river. Wildlife lovers may see eagles and other birds of prey, green lizards, or even some of the wild goats that now roam freely through the scrubland near the lip of the gorge.

Day 7 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.