The Meandering Seine (port-to-port cruise)

Departure by coach with your guide. First stop at Deauville, the most glamour coastal French city, symbol of elegance, prestige and sophistication. Enjoy a stroll along the famous floorboards that were built in 1923 along the beach, allowing women to enjoy the seaside without spoiling their dresses. Discover the casino (exterior view). Continuation by coach for the delightful setting of the Breuil castle. Located in a lush green setting at the center of the Pays d'Auge, this castle is one of the most beautiful examples of the architectural heritage of this region. Today, the Breuil castle is also home to a prestigious distillery where you will get the chance to discover the various steps to making Calvados before tasting it*. Return to the boat in Honfleur by coach.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.
• *Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.

You will leave the boat by coach to travel to the home of Claude Monet. He lived in his Giverny home between 1830 and 1926. His passion for gardening and colors led him to conceive his flowers garden as a true art piece. He even said: "It took a while for me to understand my waterlilies... I grew them without thinking of painting them... A landscape doesn't sink in in one day... And all of a sudden the enchantments of my pond struck me. I took my palette. Since then, I've never had any other model." You can still feel the atmosphere that once reigned in the master of Impressionnism's house when visiting it. You will discover the pink facade while penetrating the garden. Inside, the artist's particular taste for warm tones will strike you, from the intensity of the blue he chose for his kitchen as well as his small living room, to the the yellow walls and furniture in the dining room, where you will also be able to see his private collection of Japanese prints. We'll be back on board in Vernon late afternoon.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• According to the weather, you may visit the American Museum of Giverny which exhibits Monet's paintings (extra charge of 4€).
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.

We'll meet up with our guide and set off on our walking tour. Honfleur, the cradle of Impressionism, is located at the mouth of the Seine as it flows into the English Channel. Untouched by the passage of time, this small port has kept the landmarks of its rich past, making it today one of the most visited towns in France. We'll begin our tour at the Vieux Bassin, one of the most charming sites in the city. The narrow houses squeezed against each other are quite a unique sight. Next, we'll see Saint Catherine's Church, the largest wooden church in France. It was listed as a historical monument in 1879 and has been the subject of scrupulous research by many archaeologists and historians. Our tour will finish with a visit to Saint Léonard Church. Destroyed during the Hundred Years War, it was rebuilt at the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries-only to be partially burned down again during the Wars of Religion. We'll return to our ship on foot.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• For some cruises, this excursion can occur at night after dinner depending on the schedules of the Honfleur port.
• In case the boat cannot moor in Honfleur because of navigation technical reasons, this excursion will be done by coach. Extra fee to pay on board : 10€.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Departure by coach with a guide to discover the mythical sites of the capital. Since its foundation as Lutèce on the Ile de la Cité, two thousand years of history have seen ecclesiastics, sovereigns and heads of state leave their mark on the city, building churches, erecting monuments and palaces, creating prestigious museums and outlining sumptuous perspectives. Its distinguished couturiers, perfumers and jewelers have strongly built up Paris's reputation for taste and elegance. A city of festivities, theaters and famous cabarets, Paris also glows from the sparkle and shine of its well-known revues. On this tour, accompanied by your guide, take in the highlights of the capital, including the Latin Quarter, St Germain, the Opéra Garnier, the Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Invalides, the Trocadéro and of course the famous Eiffel Tower. Return to the boat at Quai de Grenelle.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

We'll set out from the Quai de Grenelle for a stroll along the banks of the Seine. The banks of the Seine were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1991. Come with us and discover the splendid sites and surprising points of view on each side of the river. You'll also learn about the complex relationship Parisians have had with their waterways since the Middle Ages. Throughout the centuries, the Seine has been used for transportation, commercial activities, energy production using floating windmills, cleaning animal skins, washing laundry, waste water dumping, and even drinking water up to the 19th century!
All levels of walkers are welcome to join us and hear about the river's fascinating history. You can stay for one, two or even three hours with us, leaving the group when you want. You'll have a bus/subway ticket that you can use to return to the ship at any moment. Just ask your guide to point you in the right direction.

PLEASE NOTE

• Please note: You will have to return to the ship on your own using the combined transport tickets that are included in your cruise. The guide will not escort you on this return trip.
• Times are approximate.
• The order of the visits can change.
• Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.

We'll leave on foot for a guided tour of Rouen. The historic center of the city and its famous cathedral are only a 5-minute walk from the ship. Stretched along the Seine, Rouen is Normandy's cultural, historical, and gastronomical capital. The exceptionally complex Notre-Dame Cathedral is renowned for the juxtaposition of all the Gothic periods - especially on the facade, which Monet painted time and again, reflecting its glory in different lights. Destroyed during the Viking invasions in 841 and, partially, in 1944, by allied bombardments, the cathedral continues to be a perpetually evolving structure. We'll then head to the market place where Joan of Arc was burned alive for heresy in 1431. The Gros-Horloge, or Great Clock, is one of the most emblematic monuments in the city. The Gothic belfry has housed the communal bells and clock of the city since its construction at the end of the 14th century. Finally, we'll visit the Saint Joan of Arc Church. Located on the Old Market Place, this large monument's construction ended in 1979 and was built both in honor of the Saint as well as the heroine celebrated by the French on the second Sunday in May. We'll return to our ship on foot at the end of the afternoon.

PLEASE NOTE

• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• This excursion will occur in the morning or in the afternoon depending on the schedules of the Honfleur port.
• The order of the visits may change.
• Times are approximate.

We’ll leave by coach for a visit to the splendid Vaux-le-Vicomte Château. Nicolas Fouquet transformed the small castle he purchased in 1641 into the masterpiece it is today. To achieve this dream, he brought together architect Louis Le Vau, painter Charles Le Brun, and landscaper André Le Notre. The result is an unparalleled work of harmony and beauty.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.

Join us on a guided tour of Fontainebleau for a look at its historic château, gorgeous town squares, lavish theater, and magnificent church. This tour reveals the secrets and anecdotes of times gone by. We’ll then visit the castle and its vast estate, the veritable stomping grounds for French sovereigns for over eight centuries. The gardens themselves are a work of art that evokes that glory of royal France. After our tour, we will return on board the ship.

PLEASE NOTE

• The order of the visits can change.
• Times are approximate.
• Good walking shoes are recommended.
• Only on pre-booking.