This splendid river cruise holiday features France’s scenery, history, and culture on the Seine, Saône, and Rhône Rivers. See the sites of heroic battles of World War II, hear fascinating presentations by a history expert on board your ship, and see the site of the V-1 bomber launch. Visit memorial sites of US, British, and Canadian soldiers in Normandy, the Museum of Les Invalides in Paris, and First World War battle sites and memorials of Vimy Ridge and Beaumont-Hamel. Stand on the beaches of Normandy where the allies fought to liberate Europe and the world.
Embark in Paris and cruise on the Seine River to the picturesque Normandy region. Dock at Vernon and choose between a guided visit of Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny or remarkable Bizy Castle. Continue to Les Andelys—home of Château Gaillard, built by England’s King Richard the Lionheart in 1196. Then, on to Caudebec, to choose from an included excursion to the heroic landing beaches of Normandy or a “Taste of Normandy” tour. Visit Joan of Arc’s historic Rouen; and in Conflans, choose between a guided excursion to Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise or Napoleon and Josephine’s elegant Château de Malmaison. Return to Paris for a guided walk through the historic sights, or to see landmarks like the Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, and Eiffel Tower. Disembark and transfer to Beaune to visit the Hôtel-Dieu. In St. Jean de Losne, board your second Avalon Suite Ship and sail on to Mâcon, the twin cities of Tournon and Tain l’Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon, and Arles, as well as France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon.
Disembark your river cruise ship in Port-Saint-Louis and transfer to Nice where you join your Monograms package for two more nights in France. Here, you’ll walk through the Old Town and the Promenade des Anglais, Nice’s most famous boulevard. In your free time, perhaps take an excursion to Monaco, St. Tropez, or Cannes—known for its famous film festival. Then, fly to Barcelona, where you’ll enjoy guided sightseeing, including Passeig de Gràcia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, an inside visit of Sagrada Familia Basilica and relaxing free time—all part of your Monograms holiday package in Spain. At your service is an expert Monograms Local Host who is available to you throughout your stay in Nice and Barcelona. Your French river cruise, with a visit to the spectacular Côte d’Azur, is even better with a trip to colourful Barcelona!
