Viking River Cruises, France's Finest from Avignon, October 8, 2023

Cruising from: Avignon, France;

Departure Date: 8 October, 2023;

Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises;

Cruise Ship: Viking Longship Buri;

Duration: 15 days;

Ports of Call: Avignon, Arles, Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Lyon, Lyon, Lyon, Paris, La Roche-Guyon, Rouen, Beaches of Normandy, Les Andelys, Le Pecq, Paris;

Day 0 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 1 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 2 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 3 Viviers, France

Viviers is located in the southern-central part of the Ardeche department, a few kilometres south of Montelimar. Cathedral of Saint-Vincent is the centre of the old town. In the heart of the old town there is also a particularly impressive 16th century renaissance building called the House of the Chevaliers, with a great deal of fine carving and ornamentation on the facade. Behind the old town there is a far reaching view across the roofs of the town and across the Rhone river to the distant mountains, as well as a large statue of the madonna standing on the hill above the town

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 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 6 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 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.

Day 8 Paris, France

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. Paris is especially known for its museums and architectural landmarks, monument-lined boulevards, classical bistros, multimedia galleries, creative wine bars, design shops and tech start-ups. It is an international capital of high fashion since the 19th century, particularly in the domain of haute couture, clothing hand-made to order for private clients. Paris is an art for itself.

Day 9 La Roche-Guyon, France

La Roche-Guyon, France. Cruising Seine. France river cruise.

Day 10 Rouen, France

Rouen is a city on the River Seine in the north of France. Rouen is a vibrant city defined by beautiful architecture, creative minds and a storied past. Art lovers will enjoy a visit to the Musee des Beaux-Arts, which holds the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France. A unique building in the town's Old Market Square is the Chirch and its interior is lined with stunning stained glass windows. Outside is a statue of Joan of Arc, said to be stationed in the very spot where her life ended.

Day 11 Beaches of Normandy, France

Beaches of Normandy, France. Cruising Seine. France river cruise.

Day 12 Les Andelys, France

Les Andelys is a commune in the Eure department in Normandy in northern France. Les Andelys is nestled in a meander of the Seine, between limestone slopes and valley, constituting one of the most beautiful sites of the northern half of France.The main sights are the grandiose Hospice Saint-Jacques built to receive pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella in Spain and the Gothic Saint-Sauveur church.

Day 13 Le Pecq, France

Le Pecq is a commune located in the western suburbs of Paris in the Yvelines department in the Ile-de-France region in north-central France. It is the only city, with Paris and Rouen, to be built on both banks of the river. Le Pecq has many facets, depending on which bank you're standing on: the district of Mexique, which for 19th-century travellers was the terminus of the first railway line, or Saint-Wandrille which looks like a Tuscan village

Day 14 Paris, France

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. Paris is especially known for its museums and architectural landmarks, monument-lined boulevards, classical bistros, multimedia galleries, creative wine bars, design shops and tech start-ups. It is an international capital of high fashion since the 19th century, particularly in the domain of haute couture, clothing hand-made to order for private clients. Paris is an art for itself.