Avalon Waterways, Burgundy & Provence (Southbound) from St. Jean-de-Losne, September 5, 2023

Cruising from: St. Jean de Losne, France;

Departure Date: 5 September, 2023;

Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways;

Cruise Ship: Poetry II;

Duration: 8 days;

Ports of Call: St. Jean de Losne, Macon, Lyon, Lyon, Tournon, Avignon, Arles, Port St. Louis;

Day 0 St. Jean de Losne, France

Saint-Jean-de-Losne is a small french village located east center of France. Saint-Jean-de-Losne, at the crossroads of waterways,is a former mecca of riverboats. In the Musee de la Batellerie, visitors will learn all about these traditions. The main sight is Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, a brick edifice characteristic of the Saone valley.

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 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 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 Tournon, France

Tournon-sur-Rhone is an attractive village in the Ardeche department, on the edge of the river Rhone . With its castle and monuments, the views and Eden Park, Tournon-sur-Rhone is a very pleasant place to visit. The most interesting buildings is Tournon's castle museum which sits on a rock overlooking the town and the river.

Day 5 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 6 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 7 Port St. Louis, France

Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhone is a french city located south east of France. The seaside resort of Port Saint Louis is active all year long. In the summer, it's Napoleon Beach that attracts large numbers to benefit from its 10 kilometers of fine sand between the mouth of the Rhone and the Gulf of Fos de Mer. This beach allows the discovery of ponds, numerous birds including pink flamingos. The different beaches of Port Saint Louis are also reputed for windsurfing or kitesurfing, especially when le mistral blows!