Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights in Paris for Wine Lovers (Southbound)
Enjoy two overnights in Paris before your cruise with a guided tour of its famous landmarks, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre Museum. Board your Avalon Suite Ship® on the Saône in St Jean de Losne, and cruise to Mâcon for an excursion to a Chardonnay wine cellar. Visit Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital and a showcase of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Take a culinary walk and enjoy free time to explore the city and sample Beaujolais, the famous wine of the region. Beautifully nestled among vineyards is Tournon, a medieval treasure of Roman ruins and a fascinating 16th-century castle. Enjoy a wine-and-chocolate tasting or a walk in the vineyards. Continue your river cruise on the Rhône River to Avignon and see the 14th-century Palace of the Popes—the largest Gothic fortress in the world—and take a guided tour to Châteauneuf du Pape. Sail to Arles—an inspiration for Van Gogh and home of a 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre, which hosts plays and concerts to this day. May we suggest a glass of wine in the Van Gogh café? A perfect ending to a French vacation—from the “City of Light” to the vineyards of Burgundy and Provence!