Table Of Content
If you’re new to river cruising, read our post on why people love river cruising. They’re in stark contrast to the cheerful beach windkarts (or sand yachts) – basically tricycles attached to huge sails – awaiting present-day riders to whiz along the hard-packed sand. So, under bluebird skies and with summer-like temps (in October, no less!), we risk sunburn and find the riverside path to Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny. We push the e-boost on the bikes to the max, laughing as we ride faster than we’ve ever bicycled before – until hunger drives us back to the ship for a barbeque lunch on deck.
Night Cruise
Follow these iconic artists’ footsteps on a France river cruise with Viking. Conflans-Sainte-Honorine is a charming little city right on the banks of the river seine, but the real draw is nearby Auvers-sur-Oise,the burial place of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh lived and painted here before his death and is quote as saying the village of Auvers was “seriously beautiful”. I was never a big cruise person, but the river cruise in Europe is something quite different.
River Cruises Will Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day - Smithsonian Magazine
River Cruises Will Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
What’s included
Perhaps none are so extravagant as the Pont Alexandre III, a graceful span named for the Russian tsar who signed the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892. Downriver, the five-arched Pont d’Iéna is beloved for its scenic location linking the Eiffel Tower to the Trocadéro district. The Pont des Arts, set between the Louvre and the Institut de France, was famed for its thousands of padlocks, attached by couples to the railing grate as a sign of their devotion to each other. Hopefully, you will start or stop your cruise at night so you may get a chance to see the Eifel Tower and mini Statue of Liberty at night. Every ten minutes the Eifel Tower dazzles the city with sparkling lights.
Days Paris to Paris
Tonight, walk through the streets of Rouen with your Cruise Manager to see this charming medieval city in a different light. This is a wonderful way to appreciate the long musical heritage of the cathedral, whose choir and grand organ date back several hundred years. As you take in the sounds of traditional European music, look around to appreciate the mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and other architectural styles that comprise this building. Embark on a cruise where heritage and history are as rich as they are exciting. Discover the Alabaster coast, bathed by the greeny blue waters of the Channel, offering the most impressive landscapes of Normandy. Visit Rouen, a real museum city, a memorable experience with its beautiful half-timbered houses, cobbled streets and Gothic churches.
During the night our ship slips her mooring and, as you enjoy breakfast, the landscape passes by serenely and you quickly get used to this luxurious sightseeing experience. Rounding a sweeping bend so typical of the Seine, we reach the town of Mantes-la-Jolie with its imposing church – so large and architecturally impressive it could be a cathedral – while straight ahead is a medieval stone bridge. The central section of the bridge was destroyed during the Second World War and never repaired – it’s the first of many poignant reminders that this region of France has been a battleground for centuries. Vernon transports you back in history with streets of half-timbered houses, a countryside châteaux, and one of the few remaining old medieval mills.
Immerse yourself in the tactics, desperate courage, and horrendous human cost of the 1944 Allied invasion of France, the first step in the ultimately victorious land campaign against the Nazis. It began here, on these Norman beaches, each of which was assigned a code name by the Allies as they planned their attack. At Arromanches—code-named Gold Beach—you can view the remnants of one of the two Mulberry harbors deployed in the D-Day invasion. These were artificial harbors constructed to ease and speed the process of unloading Allied troops, vehicles, and equipment onto the Normandy beaches. Cheese is a product integral to French heritage and culture, with hundreds of beloved varieties distinct to the regions and towns they hail from.
After a day recalling such momentous events and the stories surrounding them, thoughts turn again to the culinary delights awaiting you in the refined comfort of the ship’s restaurant. Another highlight of the valley soon greets us – the ethereal ruins of Jumièges Abbey. Founded in the 7th century, it was consecrated in the presence of William the Conqueror and was an important political and religious centre until it was sacked in the 16th century. Rouen’s beautifully tangled alleyways are a revelation, lined with antique shops, tasteful boutiques and, of course, countless restaurants serving exceptional local cuisine emphasising the country’s outstanding gastronomic heritage. The Place du Vieux-Marché is one of the city’s most poignant spots; a large cross marks the point where the ‘Maid of Orléans’ Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for her beliefs.
And we visit the vast gardens laid out behind the palace of Vaux-le-Vicomte (on which Versailles was modeled) and the posh seaside resort of Deauville. Our river cruise on the Scenic Gem takes in many more sights and activities. His water garden is especially enchanting; the light dances on his celebrated lily pond, which inspired his series of masterpiece paintings on water lilies. The longer 10-night (rather than a 7-night) itinerary gives us more time to explore the Normandy region in a bit more depth.
Paris Cruise by Night
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate service animals on any river cruise for medical and legal reasons. Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.
After dinner, enjoy the laid-back tones of a guitarist singing traditional French melodies. Should you wish, why not arrange to visit the wheelhouse, the Captain is always delighted to explain to those interested how the highly sophisticated navigation and safety systems operate. Besieged many times during the turbulent history of northern France, Château Gaillard is now one of the most dramatic ruins in the region. Lastly, we arrived at the Omaha Beach location, famed for D-Day arrivals and many casualties. There was time to walk around, take pictures and videos, pay tribute to our loved ones and fallen soldiers, and reflect on the importance of this location. There are paid excursions available each day, something to consider depending on your interests.
If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply. Offers apply to new 2024 reservations only, excluding holiday river cruises.
Besides the gourmet cheese boards, spread of salads, and charcuterie, there were also glasses of wine and champagne. The staff blended well with their striped shirts, berets, and stylish threads that were so chic and “gay Paris.” This is one lively event. Our Viking Fjorgyn ship was docked in a thriving part of Paris where something was going on at all hours, though not loud and boisterous.
In Les Andelys, a charming old Norman village, were the ruins of King Richard the Lion Heart’s 12th-century fortress, Chateau Gaillard, perched atop a majestic hill. Rouen offered a picturesque cathedral painted more than 30 times by Claude Monet. Learn the story of how impressionist paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne and Degas forever changed the face of the art world and became a symbol of modern French life.
You are also welcome to stay in the city and frequent one of the city's many cosy cafés. Villages slip by, birds glide on thermals rising from the surrounding cliffs, it’s an ideal opportunity to join new friends for a chat. Squeeze in a spot of reading on the Sun Deck or simply recline, letting the gentle breezes lull you into a relaxing doze. Watch the talented artists capturing the captivating views along the waterfront, while the intricate maze of streets behind is also well worth discovering. The eaves of the tall half-timbered buildings almost touch, and on the streets below is an abundance of traditional shops selling antiques, books and fine foods. Honfleur’s most famous son is Eugene Boudin, one of the forerunners of Impressionism and a friend of Claude Monet, who also painted the harbour many times.
No comments:
Post a Comment