Burgundy & Provence

It’s hard to believe, looking at the charming cafés and entertaining street performers in the Clock Tower Square, that this lively scene owes its existence to a 15th-century siege. This area was the heart of medieval Avignon (and the site of the original Roman town), crowded with cottages and narrow streets—until a pope had it all demolished in order to give his troops a clearer field of fire. That is Avignon in a nutshell: It was the city of the popes. The Avignon popes built the ramparts that still surround the Old Town and the huge, nearly impregnable fortress that dominates the UNESCO-designated district; in fact, the city did not officially become part of France until 1791. Stand below the high, thick walls to get a sense of just how daunting these fortifications were, then prepare to climb many steps as you tour the Palace of the Popes itself—it’s worth it!

Paddle the waters of the Gardon River, spotting wildlife and taking in the natural landscapes of southern France as you go. Plan to get wet on this scenic journey to a marvel of Roman architecture: the Pont du Gard. This tri-level aqueduct bridge was constructed in the 1st century AD to supply water to the city of Nîmes. Considered a feat of engineering in its time, the Pont du Gard remains significant today for how well the three tiers of limestone arches have stood the test of time. Admire the towering, UNESCO-designated Roman structure from a unique perspective aboard your kayak.

Only available on sailings that belong to the Generations Program.

In the middle of the first century, Roman engineers responded to Nîmes’s need for water to fill its baths, fountains, and pools by building a 30-mile-long aqueduct from Uzès to Nîmes—which required transporting Uzès springwater over the River Gardon. A thousand workers quarried 50,000 tons of soft golden limestone and used it to construct—without mortar—the magnificent tri-level bridge that still spans the river. An expert guide will explain the techniques used to build this engineering marvel, which has withstood 2,000 years of floods and storms that swept away much newer bridges. You can see notations those ancient Romans made in the stones as they cut and fitted them into place when you view the bridge itself, and you can learn about the entire project at the museum. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is as beautiful as it is fascinating.

Nestled on opposite sides of the river in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône, the twin cities of Tournon and Tain-l’Hermitage are an ideal destination for connoisseurs of fine wine.

Cross the pretty flower-decked Marc Seguin suspension bridge to Tain-l’Hermitage to visit local wine cellars, where you’ll taste the region’s famous Côtes du Rhône, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage wines. These wines are produced from the Syrah grapes that grow on the steep slopes lining the river. After your wine tasting, you’ll have time to browse through the shops; the Valrhona chocolate factory is always a popular stop.

Are you ready to explore the steepest vineyards on the Rhône? The vines producing the world-famous Hermitage wines grow on precipitous slopes above the river, so steep that terracing is essential. Hike along the paths that parallel the rough courses of stone through the vineyards, each one situated to catch the afternoon sun. After you’ve seen how the grapes—primarily Syrah—are grown, taste the fruit that has been transformed by the vintners’ craft into legendary wine.

Calling all chocolate lovers! Sink your teeth into a world of chocolate with one of France’s most iconic chocolate makers, Valrhona. Fun fact: the brand’s name comes from the very region through which we are sailing—the Vallée du Rhône (Rhone Valley). First founded in 1922, Valrhona has been perfecting the art of chocolate making for over 100 years! Our sweet experience today will take place at their discovery center, the Cité du Chocolat, where Valrhona shares their passion for chocolate with all generations. Led by one of their expert chocolatiers, you will create your very own selection of treats in a chocolate workshop. The best part—sampling your work of course!

Only available on sailings that belong to the Generations Program.

You'll fall in love with Lyon today as you take in the view from the top of Fourvière Hill, where a magnificent cathedral rises above the city. Take in the view below, noting the splendid façades of Renaissance houses. You'll get a sense of how the city developed, growing from Roman roots to encompass the peninsula and the eastern bank of the Rhône, before you ride through the streets to the riverbanks and discover les traboules, the city's old passageways in Lyon's historic quarter.

You may want to stroll along the quays back to the ship or opt for lunch in one of the traditional bouchons. They serve hearty meat-based dishes, but quenelles—luscious dumplings—and a seasoned cream cheese called cervelle de canut are longtime local favorites too.

Lyon’s history is entwined with silk, which dominated the city’s economy for centuries—at one time, almost a third of the city’s population were silk weavers. Jump on a tram and head into the historic Saint-Jean Quarter, part of the UNESCO-honored Old Town, where we’ll visit a shop keeping Lyon’s long tradition of weaving alive. Observe up-close as expert weavers thread strands of silk and gold into gorgeous patterns, designed to adorn couturiers and castle walls—the shop has even been commissioned to join the Versailles restoration project! The creation of such beautiful fabrics by hand is an incredibly strenuous task—in the past, a weaver could spend as much as 30 years of their life to decorate a single palace room. If it weren’t for this workshop in Lyon, the tradition may have been long forgotten, replaced completely by modern techniques.

Next, we’ll walk through the historic quarter to some of the traboules, the old passageways that snake between and through buildings, secret shortcuts that silk weavers took to keep their delicate fabrics out of the rain.

This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports Global Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences support sustainable tourism, offering our guests opportunities to directly impact the communities we explore in a positive way.

Get out and about with a bike ride along the river. Lyon boasts a thriving bike-rental scene, which tells you just how popular this mode of transportation is—you will definitely have two-wheeled company as you pedal along the banks of the Rhône on a sunny day. Your route takes you over the new Raymond Barre Bridge, past the spectacular new Museum of Confluences (so named because it sits at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône) and along the peninsula, a strip of land with the Saône on one side and the Rhône on the other. Here, houseboats tie up along the banks, swans float on the water, and locals take advantage of the lovely park like setting. You’ll also have a great view of the Old Town on the other side of the river. This outing gives you a little taste of what it is like to live in Lyon, as well as a little exercise.

Take in the beautiful and ancient city of Lyon on a panoramic drive through the city. You’ll catch breathtaking views at Lyon’s highest point, Fourvière Hill, and head deeper into the city to see how it developed from a Roman capital to a laid-back French hub of architecture, cuisine, and art.

Next, we’ll hop off the coach and explore the oldest part of the city on foot, strolling past the façades of Renaissance houses and hidden passageways called traboules. In one of these Renaissance buildings, you will find the Musée Cinéma et Miniature (the Cinema and Miniature Museum). If you like movies, you won’t want to miss this museum! Head inside to discover a collection of more than 1,000 authentic film objects, including costumes and props from films including Star Wars, James Bond, Jurassic Park, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alternatively, opt to explore the top floor of the museum, where the world’s largest collection of hyper-realistic miniature scenes awaits.

Only available on sailings that belong to the Generations Program.