14 Day French Escapade with Tauck – Paris to Monte Carlo

Southbound itinerary shown below, northbound itinerary available on request with same destinations and only slight changes to activities. Please ask your Travel Specialist for details.

Day 1: Bonjour, la belle France!

Your France river cruise holiday begins at InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel at 7:00 PM. A transfer from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Gare de Lyon Station, Charles de Gaulle Station and Gare du Nord to InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, in the heart of the city, is included. After your arrival just relax or head out to do some exploring on your own before joining everyone to meet your Tauck Directors and fellow voyagers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening at the exclusively chic Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées.

Lodging: InterContinental Paris Le Grand
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Paris sightseeing and a choice of museum

Your day begins with an orientation tour to help you get your bearings and consider all the ways that you can enjoy the “City of Light” at your leisure and as you please for the rest of the day. The remainder of the day is free. You will have a choice of museum visits as well, choosing to visit the Musée du Louvre, Musée National de l’Orangerie in the Tuileries Gardens, Musée Rodin, or the Musée d’Orsay housed in a former Belle Époque train station (may be subject to weekly closures). Or, set off to discover Paris as you please!

Lodging: InterContinental Paris Le Grand
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: A high-speed TGV train to Lyon… and your France river cruise begins!

A free morning in Paris gives you an opportunity to do those last few things that will make your time in Paris memorable. Say au revoir to one of the world’s great cities as you board the high-speed TGV train to Lyon, home to a bounty of wines produced by local vineyards, locally produced cheeses, spicy sausages, warm-from-the-oven baguettes… You’ll return to Lyon in a few days – but today, embark ms Swiss Emerald late afternoon for the start of your France river cruise along the Rhône. Join the group tonight for the captain’s welcome reception and dinner.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4: Food and wine in Chalon-sur-Saône and Mercurey

Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saône lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame – this is considered the birthplace of photography. You have local inventor Nicéphore Niépce, who produced several photographic firsts right here in the 1820s, to thank for the great photos of the town’s Romanesque churches and other monuments you’ll take during a walking tour. Then get your taste buds ready for a workout – first, to savour local culinary offerings on a guided tasting tour of some of Chalon-Sur-Saône’s noted food shops; then to sip some wonderful wines as you head off to Mercurey, the largest wine-producing area in the Côte Chalonnaise, to sample some of the notable reds and whites produced here in a tasting at one of the 30 local premier cru vineyards.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: A day well spent in the south of Burgundy

This morning, head out to explore the beautiful wine producing region of southern Burgundy, where history lies around every corner (this was a major crossroads during Roman times), and vineyards are everywhere. Picture in your mind what a typical French vineyard looks like… and then picture the most amazing landscape that surrounds you for miles and miles. Vineyards, gently rolling hills, orchards, red-tiled farmhouses, medieval cathedrals… and historic country estates like the 17th-century Château de Cormatin, which you’ll explore on a visit today. With its moat, drawbridge, turrets, gilded rooms and parklike grounds – including the mazes and fountains of its completely restored “pleasure garden” that’s now among the finest in France – this classic Burgundy château takes you back through the centuries. Return to the riverboat for lunch, and continue your cruise to Mâcon.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: A historic abbey, the equestrian life and a wine tasting

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, France experienced hundreds of years of unstable government; the only constant was the church. And so during the reign of Charlemagne (742 – 814), monastic influences inspired a great revival in art, education and culture. Today you’ll visit one of the great monasteries of the period when you tour the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny; founded in 910, it was at the centre of this major monastic reform movement and was also the largest Christian building in the world until the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. You’ll also visit Haras National de Cluny (France’s national equestrian centre), which dates back to the 19th century, to learn about its high-quality thoroughbred stallions. The history of wine production in this area dates back to the 14th century; visit a local château today, which delights with locally produced wines and a countryside setting. Have lunch off the ship today; reboard ms Swiss Emerald, and Tauck’s France river cruise heads to Lyon.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Spend the day in Lyon, culinary capital of France

Ahh, Lyon. If you’re a serious foodie, Lyon is the place for you! Regarded as the culinary capital of France, there are more restaurants here per capita than anywhere else in the country. But of course there is more to this 2,000 year-old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, than food. Begin your exploration with a panoramic view of Lyon from the district of Fouvière, set high on a hill. Check out the town’s winding passageways and the Cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, with its 19th-century astronomical clock. Your day also includes the stunning Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière – built in the 1870s, it features exquisite marble work, stained glass windows, colourful mosaics and gilt galore; and a tour of medieval Vieux Lyon. Continue cruising to Vienne this evening.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Roman Vienne and cruising the Rhône

It seems that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhône, and Vienne (which they called “Vienna” in their day) was no exception. During your time on a walking tour here this morning, look for the theatre and temple they left behind, as well as other sights straight out of history. You’ll also travel to Mont Pipet for extensive views of the surrounding countryside. Some free time, then a return to ms Swiss Emerald for a cruise to Viviers – and a barbecue dinner on the Sun Deck, weather permitting.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Vibrant Viviers and the pleasures of cruising

In the Middle Ages, the town of Viviers on the banks of the Rhône had two distinct parts which reflected the equally distinct social divide of the time. “Common folk,” artisans and trades persons lived in the Lower City on the river plain, while the bishop and his circle lorded over them from the hilltop Upper City. Go back a thousand years as you explore this well-preserved medieval city, crowned by the Cathedral of St. Vincent. Largely built in the 14th century, the cathedral boasts flamboyant late-Gothic elements that were added in the 16th century and carved choir stalls and lovely tapestries from the 18th century. Weather permitting, join the locals for a friendly game of pétanque, played in village squares throughout France, before an afternoon cruising towards Avignon. If the weather is good, enjoy shipboard commentary on the Sun Deck during this afternoon’s cruise and join the group for a tasting of French chocolate hosted by the riverboat chef. After dinner, relax to the tunes of Tauck’s guest accordionist.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Avignon and the Palais des Papes, then on to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a wine tasting

The fortified medieval city of Avignon was probably a much more peaceful place before Rome became “inconvenient” for the popes who moved the papacy here about 700 years ago. Although they stayed for less than a century, they kept busy during those years… as you’ll see at the impressive Palais des Papes that they built for themselves during this morning’s sightseeing. As well versed in Latin as they all were, they surely understood what “in vino veritas” means, and they all shared a fondness for wine – and the “truth” it brings – which was very convenient, because wine has been grown in the area for over 2,600 years. Taste locally produced wine named for the “new castle of the popes,” the world-renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on a wine-tasting excursion this afternoon.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Arles and a trip to a working farm in the Camargue

It may seem strange to encounter Roman ruins in Provence but Arles was, after all, once a Roman city; while the gladiators are gone, the arena they left behind – just one of the town’s many Roman remnants – still hosts performances and bullfights today. Explore Arles’ medieval streets and city walls and be sure to look out across the surrounding countryside to what van Gogh found so enchanting. After lunch, it’s off to La Camargue, France’s “wild west,” where cowboys tend to herds of bulls destined for bullfighting rings in Spain. Visit a working farm to see what these cowhands and their charges do during a demonstration – not something usually experienced on a France river cruise – followed by lunch and traditional Provençal entertainment. Join everyone this evening for the Captain’s farewell dinner.

Lodging: Aboard the Riverboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: France river cruise ends in Arles – on to Nice and Monte-Carlo

The France river cruise portion of your journey ends as you disembark ms Swiss Emerald in Arles, and bid farewell to the Captain and crew. As much as you may find yourself missing the friends you made among them during your time aboard the riverboat, you still have Nice and Monte-Carlo to look forward to! It won’t be hard to understand why Nice is a popular playground for jet setters from around the world as you explore this lovely city on a walking tour, followed by some free time to discover what’s so nice about Nice as you please. Travel on to marvellous Monaco and the Fairmont Monte Carlo, your home for the next two nights. Guests who occupied suites in category 7 during the France river cruise will enjoy sea-view accommodations at this world-famous hotel.

Lodging: Fairmont Monte Carlo
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13: A day in the magic of Monte-Carlo and a roof-top farewell dinner

Mega-yachts from around the world bobbing in the bay… the rich, the famous, the jet setters… a casino world-renowned for its glamour… a real-life royal fairy-tale romance… it’s all part of Monte-Carlo’s magic spell. Get the lay of the land during an orientation tour this morning and then spend the rest of the day exploring as you please. What a wonderful place it is to conclude your France river cruise holiday with a farewell dinner tonight at your premium hotel in the heart of it all.

Lodging: Fairmont Monte Carlo
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 14: Homeward bound

Your France river cruise adventure ends in Monte-Carlo. A transfer from Fairmont Monte Carlo to the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, Nice Ville Train Station and Nice Riquier Train Station is included. Fly home anytime, but be sure to allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Itinerary Changes – Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice. South and north itineraries are similar; please enquire with your Travel Specialist for details. Museums and attractions may be subject to closure due to state, local or religious holidays.