TREASURES OF BURGUNDY & PROVENCE RIVER CRUISE

After arriving in Lyon, embark your ship in the afternoon and make yourself comfortable in your cabin and explore your home for the coming week.

In the evening, a Welcome Cocktail awaits you aboard, followed by a delicious Welcome Dinner.

In the morning, your ship arrives in Mâcon, in southern Burgundy. The town and the Burgundy region are famous as the home of some of the finest and most expensive wines in the world.

You can enjoy a morning tour through peaceful vineyards and be enchanted by the Mediterranean charm of the Beaujolais and Mâconnais wine regions. A highlight of this excursion is a visit to the Hameau Dubœuf Wine Museum, where you will gain a fascinating insight into the history and production of the famous Burgundy wines. You conclude the tour with a wine tasting before returning to your ship for lunch.

In the afternoon, there is an excursion to Cluny Abbey, which was founded in 910AD and was once home to over 10,000 monks at its height!

This evening, enjoy a sumptuous dinner on board as you sail for Chalon-sur-Saône

Today you continue exploring the Burgundy wine region in Chalon-sur-Saône. Here you will find half-timbered houses overlooking a square teeming with art galleries and specialty shops. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Burgundy wine route on the morning tour, with your bus stopping in Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy. Here,  see the beautiful Hôtel-Dieu to enjoy a wine tasting at one of Beaune’s famous cellars before returning to your ship for lunch.

This afternoon, you have the choice to unwind and admire the scenery as the ship continues along the Saône or alternatively, join the afternoon excursion. Visit the medieval towns of Brançion and Cormatin. Among other things on the excursion, you will be able to admire the Château de Cormatin which undoubtedly houses one of the most lavish castle interiors in Burgundy. You return to your ship in the late afternoon in Tournus. 

Enjoy dinner as we head back downstream to Lyon overnight.

Today we return to Lyon, France's second city. Known for its architectural beauty and also its gastronomic excellence, Lyon has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located at the confluence of the two mighty rivers Rhône and Saône, the oldest part of the town in a small narrow stretch of land in the centre. 

Its most famous landmarks include the hilltop Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviêre and the charming Renaissance Vieux-Lyon old town area along the banks of the Saône.

This morning, you can explore these unmissable sights on a guided tour, or at your own pace. Alternativley, discover Lyon's gastronomic side on a visit to Lyon's gourmet market hall by Paul Bocuse. Y

At midday, the cruise ship leaves Lyon and glides past picturesque countryside vistas, heading south towards the Mediterranean.

After breakfast, you can spend the day exploring the Provencal city of Avignon and discover its momentous history. In the morning, you can join a guided walking tour of Avignon, the seat of Catholic Popes from 1309 to 1377 and admire the Papal Palace, one of the world’s most fascinating examples of Gothic architecture. Another must-see is the Pont d’Avignon, a ruined 12th- century bridge that once spanned the Rhône and immortalized in the famous song.

After lunch onboard, if you wish to see more of this unique historic area, why not join the afternoon excursion to the Pont du Gard. A Roman aqueduct built in the first century AD, it is a masterpiece of engineering! On the excursion you will also visit the town of Uzes with its many medieval towers.

In the evening, enjoy a well deserved rest and a delicious dinner while your cruise ship remains in Avignon overnight.

Your ship leaves Avignon early in the morning, making its way south to Arles.

After breakfast, follow in the footsteps of the past in Arles, either on your own or on our guided city tour with a visit to the historic Roman arena. Alternatively, there is an excursion to Tarascon, which lies exactly between Avignon and Arles and nestles picturesquely on the left bank of the Rhône - and has done so for around 2,000 years

After lunch, you can discover more of Arles' artistic side. The Provençal town once captured the imagination of the brilliant impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh, amongst others. You can learn more about the rich history of Arles during the optional morning tour and take a break at the café that served as the model for one of van Gogh’s famous works, ‘Café Terrace at Night’. You may feel that walking through the town might induce a sense of déjà-vu since many of the settings may be familiar from some of van Gogh’s best-known pieces.

The alternative afternoon excursion is to the tranquility of nature of the Camargue Nature Park. Home to the renowned Camargue bulls and white Camargue horses, the unique wetland area is a sight to discover. You will also pay a visit to the historic coastal village of Saintes Maries de la Mer before returning to the ship.

In the evening, whilst at dinner your ship will continue on its way to Châteauneuf-du-Rhône where the boat will overnight.

Today, you can choose to spend a tranquil day on board or disembark for a final excursion to the Ardèche Gorge. Another natural wonder of this area of southern France, the ‘Grand Canyon of Europe’ offeres spectacular limestone cliffs towering over the meandering river below before re-joining the ship in time for lunch in the charming small town of Le Pouzin.

In the afternoon, your ship will make its way back upstream along the beautiful waterways of Provence towards Lyon.

In the evening, celebrate your unforgettable cruise experience at the Captain’s Gala Dinner.

This morning after breakfast in Lyon, it is time to say goodbye to the lovely Amadeus Provence for your trip home or on to other adventures in France and beyond!