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Cruise The Rhone
As interest in food and wine themed cruises grow, the Rhone River in the south of France between Lyon and Avignon or Arles, is probably one of your best options. From the Rhône Glacier in Valais, Switzerland, meeting the Saône at Lyon, the Rhône River winds its way into France. Its waters flow past some of the country’s most significant historic landmarks, some dating back to Roman times. The Rhône’s Provence region has long been an inspiration to artists due to the region being blanketed with lavender and sunflower fields which are in full bloom in summer. Above all, its vineyards and farms produce France’s famed Beaujolais wines and cuisine.
Many cruises also include the Saône River, which joins the Rhône in Lyon, France's gastronomic capital. A cruise that combines both rivers usually begins or ends on the Saône River about 80 miles north of Lyon in the city of Chalon-sur-Saône. For those who love fine food, beauty and riveting history, Rhône cruises are pure bliss.
Many cruises also include the Saône River, which joins the Rhône in Lyon, France's gastronomic capital. A cruise that combines both rivers usually begins or ends on the Saône River about 80 miles north of Lyon in the city of Chalon-sur-Saône. For those who love fine food, beauty and riveting history, Rhône cruises are pure bliss.
The 500-mile-long Rhone-Saone river, which meanders its way through Provence and the heart of French wine country before flowing into the Mediterranean near Marseilles, provides one of the world's most memorable cruise experiences. A cruise along this stretch of navigable waters will carry you past verdant vineyards, lush olive and orange groves, and fields of fragrant purple lavender.
Itineraries range from three- and five-night jaunts to seven, eight and nine night sailings, with a week onboard being the most usual option. A decent intro to the Rhone would be a simple seven-night round-trip cruise from Lyon, featuring the main Rhone river ports of Macon (shown below) in the heart of the wine country, Chalon-sur-Saone on the Sanoe, gateway to the historic wine capital of Beaune, and to Burgundy's beautiful medieval villages, Avignon, nicknamed the “City of Popes” because it was home to seven popes from 1309 to 1377 and Viviers, once a 5th-century Roman settlement and entrance to the spectacular Ardeche region.
Itineraries range from three- and five-night jaunts to seven, eight and nine night sailings, with a week onboard being the most usual option. A decent intro to the Rhone would be a simple seven-night round-trip cruise from Lyon, featuring the main Rhone river ports of Macon (shown below) in the heart of the wine country, Chalon-sur-Saone on the Sanoe, gateway to the historic wine capital of Beaune, and to Burgundy's beautiful medieval villages, Avignon, nicknamed the “City of Popes” because it was home to seven popes from 1309 to 1377 and Viviers, once a 5th-century Roman settlement and entrance to the spectacular Ardeche region.
Below are some of the highlights from each stop along the Rhone for you to enjoy while cruising the Rhone.
Lyon: Lyon is one large World Heritage Site, with a big renaissance old town, Roman ruins, historic industrial districts and the regal 19th-century Presqu’île quarter. The city was founded 2,000 years ago and built its fortune during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries on the silk trade started from rich merchant families from across France, Flanders, Germany and Italy that settled in the city. During the 16th century it was estimated that there were 180,000 looms in the Vieux Lyon district of the city.
Lyon boasts the largest fine art museum in France after the Louvre in Paris at the Musée des Beaux-Arts displaying a wealth of famous French and European artists on show such as Degas, van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, El Greco, Canaletto, Picasso, Max Ernst and Francis Bacon to name a few. There are 70 rooms in all, with paintings from the 1300s to the 1900s, sculpture and displays of both Egyptian and Oriental art. The Antiquities department alone has a trove of some 600 Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including reliefs, busts, statuettes and sarcophagi, as well as monumental gates recovered from the Medamud temple.
Still in use today as a performance venue every June and July is the 2000 year old Theater of Fourvière (shown below) during the Nuits de Fourvière drama festival. This monument is also high on the left bank of the Saône River and at its peak, it held 10,000 spectators. Today, only the middle and lower terraces of the cavea remain where the seating has been lost continuing far up the hillside.
Another interesting fact for Lyon is that it was home to the Lumière brothers, who are held as the fathers of the movie-making art (not Hollywood, imagine that). A descendant of Louis Lumière, who, working with his brother August, helped invent the cinematograph, the first motion picture camera and projector. Together, they made more than a thousand films, shown at the world’s first cinemas. The Villa Lumière, a lovely art nouveau mansion built by the brothers’ father in 1899 has been turned into a museum where you can view many of their movies and check out the ingenious creations that helped change entertainment forever.
And of course, Lyon has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country. For centuries has been lauded for the high-quality of its produce and the prestige of its cuisine so of course any food lover will want to visit Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a legendary food market, named after one of France’s culinary giants, in this capital of France's cuisine, so you can rest assured of the quality of goodies inside. Like most French food markets, it is best to shop in the mornings before the stalls close down for lunch.
There is much more to experience and explore in Lyon, so arrive early (or stay afterwards) before hopping on a ship to let your cruise begin.
Lyon: Lyon is one large World Heritage Site, with a big renaissance old town, Roman ruins, historic industrial districts and the regal 19th-century Presqu’île quarter. The city was founded 2,000 years ago and built its fortune during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries on the silk trade started from rich merchant families from across France, Flanders, Germany and Italy that settled in the city. During the 16th century it was estimated that there were 180,000 looms in the Vieux Lyon district of the city.
Lyon boasts the largest fine art museum in France after the Louvre in Paris at the Musée des Beaux-Arts displaying a wealth of famous French and European artists on show such as Degas, van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, El Greco, Canaletto, Picasso, Max Ernst and Francis Bacon to name a few. There are 70 rooms in all, with paintings from the 1300s to the 1900s, sculpture and displays of both Egyptian and Oriental art. The Antiquities department alone has a trove of some 600 Ancient Egyptian artefacts, including reliefs, busts, statuettes and sarcophagi, as well as monumental gates recovered from the Medamud temple.
Still in use today as a performance venue every June and July is the 2000 year old Theater of Fourvière (shown below) during the Nuits de Fourvière drama festival. This monument is also high on the left bank of the Saône River and at its peak, it held 10,000 spectators. Today, only the middle and lower terraces of the cavea remain where the seating has been lost continuing far up the hillside.
Another interesting fact for Lyon is that it was home to the Lumière brothers, who are held as the fathers of the movie-making art (not Hollywood, imagine that). A descendant of Louis Lumière, who, working with his brother August, helped invent the cinematograph, the first motion picture camera and projector. Together, they made more than a thousand films, shown at the world’s first cinemas. The Villa Lumière, a lovely art nouveau mansion built by the brothers’ father in 1899 has been turned into a museum where you can view many of their movies and check out the ingenious creations that helped change entertainment forever.
And of course, Lyon has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country. For centuries has been lauded for the high-quality of its produce and the prestige of its cuisine so of course any food lover will want to visit Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a legendary food market, named after one of France’s culinary giants, in this capital of France's cuisine, so you can rest assured of the quality of goodies inside. Like most French food markets, it is best to shop in the mornings before the stalls close down for lunch.
There is much more to experience and explore in Lyon, so arrive early (or stay afterwards) before hopping on a ship to let your cruise begin.
Vienne: Located along the left bank of the Rhône, just south of Lyon, is the city of Vienne overflowing with Roman history which is not an overstatement either, as even the parks in Vienne are dotted with thrilling little bits of history from the ancient Roman city of “Vienna”, be it Roman columns or paving, walls or milestones. However the most prominent attraction is the Temple of Augustus and Livia, (seen below) dating from the 1st Century BC, completely intact and standing at the heart of Vienne. This stunning 1st-Century BC temple is one of the two best examples of a Roman edifice of this kind in France with its columns, entablature and capitals still in fine condition considering their age. One can observe it on Place du Palais Charles de Gaulle, where Roman Vienna’s forum used to be.
Vienne also boasts the vast 1st Century AD Théâtre Antique, one of the largest theatres in Roman Gaul; and the Garden of Cybele with its Gallo-Roman archaeological remains, among others. The many listed buildings, including the Romanesque Saint-André-le-Bas Church with its superb cloisters decorated with carved capitals, and the Romanesque Gothic Saint-Maurice Cathedral, built from the 12th to 16th centuries, which has a breathtaking western facade with three Flamboyant-style carved portals depicting the holy history can be discovered by strolling through the old, narrow lanes of Vienne. The Cathedral also displays luminous and harmonious interior features of a long nave with three side aisles, Romanesque capitals and, Flemish tapestries portraying the life and martyrdom of St Maurice displayed around the choir. As you can see, this town is filled with quite a lot of Roman heritage.
The Museum of Fine Art and Archaeology, housed in the old 19th-century corn exchange on Place de Miremont, contains collections of Gallo-Roman objects, French earthenware, and paintings dating from the 14th to the 20th centuries.
Also, not to be missed: climbing to the top of Mount Pipet where a chapel and statue of the Virgin Mary stand and there's a fantastic view over the city rooftops, Rhône Valley and, in the distance, Pilat mountain range!
Like Lyon, the city also hosts a major music event, the Vienne Jazz Festival, in the prestigious surroundings of the Roman theatre every first two weeks in July. A must for all jazz fans.
And also like Lyon (after all, we are in France's cuisine region), Vienne has the second largest market in France that operates in the Vienne city centre every Saturday morning. Having a host of local produce and specialities with over 5 km of stands, it's a gourmet's paradise!
Vienne also boasts the vast 1st Century AD Théâtre Antique, one of the largest theatres in Roman Gaul; and the Garden of Cybele with its Gallo-Roman archaeological remains, among others. The many listed buildings, including the Romanesque Saint-André-le-Bas Church with its superb cloisters decorated with carved capitals, and the Romanesque Gothic Saint-Maurice Cathedral, built from the 12th to 16th centuries, which has a breathtaking western facade with three Flamboyant-style carved portals depicting the holy history can be discovered by strolling through the old, narrow lanes of Vienne. The Cathedral also displays luminous and harmonious interior features of a long nave with three side aisles, Romanesque capitals and, Flemish tapestries portraying the life and martyrdom of St Maurice displayed around the choir. As you can see, this town is filled with quite a lot of Roman heritage.
The Museum of Fine Art and Archaeology, housed in the old 19th-century corn exchange on Place de Miremont, contains collections of Gallo-Roman objects, French earthenware, and paintings dating from the 14th to the 20th centuries.
Also, not to be missed: climbing to the top of Mount Pipet where a chapel and statue of the Virgin Mary stand and there's a fantastic view over the city rooftops, Rhône Valley and, in the distance, Pilat mountain range!
Like Lyon, the city also hosts a major music event, the Vienne Jazz Festival, in the prestigious surroundings of the Roman theatre every first two weeks in July. A must for all jazz fans.
And also like Lyon (after all, we are in France's cuisine region), Vienne has the second largest market in France that operates in the Vienne city centre every Saturday morning. Having a host of local produce and specialities with over 5 km of stands, it's a gourmet's paradise!
Tournon: Next up is the town of Tournon, standing guard high above the Rhône, across from Tain-l'Hermitage, Tournon-sur-Rhône is a beautiful and grandiose village with its castle, its monuments, terraced vineyards and spectacular panoramas. The Tournon Castle-Museum (seen below), built on a granite rock and dominating the village is the former dwelling of the Lords of Tournon and now listed as a Historic Monument. You are able to explore its furnished rooms and important collections, which date from the Middle Ages to modern times as well as tracing the history of the Counts of Tournon. At its feet, a maze of cobblestone streets holds in store for you historic buildings and other monuments.
One of the most beautiful castles in the Ardèche region of the Rhone, the Tournon Castle was built over seven centuries. The old Saint Just castle was built in the 10th century and can still be seen on the right of the main courtyard. In the 14th century, the northwest wing was built and in the 16th century, a flurry of construction with new living quarters added, including the big Renaissance building that today holds, behinds it big studded door, the museum of the history of Tournon-sur-Rhône.
One would not expect some things when visiting Tournon particlarly and interestingly, Tournon has the oldest high school in France, the Lycée Gabriel Faure, founded in 1536. Also, the Tourist Office of Tournon can be found in the imposing Hôtel du Marquis de la Tourette. And for foodies, Tournon was the birthplace of the very flavoursome Picodon goat's cheeses. Across the river, in Tain l'Hermitage, you can visit the Cité du Chocolat and historic Valrhôna chocolate factory.
One of the most beautiful castles in the Ardèche region of the Rhone, the Tournon Castle was built over seven centuries. The old Saint Just castle was built in the 10th century and can still be seen on the right of the main courtyard. In the 14th century, the northwest wing was built and in the 16th century, a flurry of construction with new living quarters added, including the big Renaissance building that today holds, behinds it big studded door, the museum of the history of Tournon-sur-Rhône.
One would not expect some things when visiting Tournon particlarly and interestingly, Tournon has the oldest high school in France, the Lycée Gabriel Faure, founded in 1536. Also, the Tourist Office of Tournon can be found in the imposing Hôtel du Marquis de la Tourette. And for foodies, Tournon was the birthplace of the very flavoursome Picodon goat's cheeses. Across the river, in Tain l'Hermitage, you can visit the Cité du Chocolat and historic Valrhôna chocolate factory.
Avignon: Avignon, a city in southeastern France’s Provence region, is set on the Rhône River. In the 14th century Avignon was the most important city in Europe as, from 1309 to 1377, it was the seat of the Catholic popes. It remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791. This legacy can be seen in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace - seen below), the largest gothic building in the world, in the city center. You really can’t comprehend the scale of this 14th-century Papal Palace until you see it in real life. It is the marquee attraction in Avignon’s World Heritage site and one of France’s most famous and valuable historical buildings.
One neat attraction of Avignon is the Île de la Barthelasse. At 700 hectares the Île de la Barthelasse is one of Europe’s largest river islands and is connected to the city by the Pont Daladier, although you might find it more fitting to catch the free ferry across the Rhône. The island is mostly composed of peaceful orchards with only a few clusters of houses because a few times every century there’s a catastrophic flood destroying the structures.
The famous bridge, the Pont Saint-Bénézet, dating back to the 12th century and an impressive medieval bridge is a sight that must not be missed during a visit to Avignon. Originally there were 22 arches, of which four remain today. Now it only reaches half-way across the Rhône as it collapsed in the 17th century from a catastrophic flood carrying off most of the arches. The intimate Chapel of Saint Nicholas, which once contained the body of Saint Bénézet himself, is located on the bridge itself.
Avignon’s main square is the Place de l’Horloge where you’ll find the city hall and opera house. In the summer nearly half of Place de l’Horloge is taken up by rows of seating for the line of restaurants that spans the entire length of the square. The ideal time to be here is in July when public performances for the off theatre festival takes place under the square’s trees. Additionally, the Festival d’Avignon is one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world where this calm little town transforms into an animated celebration of music, dance and drama during July.
Like similar towns throughout France and Europe, Avignon has many museum to explore and enjoy. One, the Musée du Petit Palais is part of the same ensemble as the Palais des Papes and is a smaller renaissance palace on the north side of the square housing 327 paintings and 600 sculptures by Italian and French artists from the gothic and renaissance periods. The palace has barely changed since the start of the 1500s, when the future Pope Julius II revamped the building and added his coat of arms to the south facade, still visible above the entrance.
At the Les Halles d’Avignon, this enormous covered market right in the centre of the town provides a massive variety of fresh and authentic Provencal food. Visitors can wander at their leisure through the dozens of genuine French stalls, letting the sights and smells fill their sense and of course, make them hungry to taste these culinary delights as the market welcomes prominent local chefs to its designated exhibition space.
One neat attraction of Avignon is the Île de la Barthelasse. At 700 hectares the Île de la Barthelasse is one of Europe’s largest river islands and is connected to the city by the Pont Daladier, although you might find it more fitting to catch the free ferry across the Rhône. The island is mostly composed of peaceful orchards with only a few clusters of houses because a few times every century there’s a catastrophic flood destroying the structures.
The famous bridge, the Pont Saint-Bénézet, dating back to the 12th century and an impressive medieval bridge is a sight that must not be missed during a visit to Avignon. Originally there were 22 arches, of which four remain today. Now it only reaches half-way across the Rhône as it collapsed in the 17th century from a catastrophic flood carrying off most of the arches. The intimate Chapel of Saint Nicholas, which once contained the body of Saint Bénézet himself, is located on the bridge itself.
Avignon’s main square is the Place de l’Horloge where you’ll find the city hall and opera house. In the summer nearly half of Place de l’Horloge is taken up by rows of seating for the line of restaurants that spans the entire length of the square. The ideal time to be here is in July when public performances for the off theatre festival takes place under the square’s trees. Additionally, the Festival d’Avignon is one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world where this calm little town transforms into an animated celebration of music, dance and drama during July.
Like similar towns throughout France and Europe, Avignon has many museum to explore and enjoy. One, the Musée du Petit Palais is part of the same ensemble as the Palais des Papes and is a smaller renaissance palace on the north side of the square housing 327 paintings and 600 sculptures by Italian and French artists from the gothic and renaissance periods. The palace has barely changed since the start of the 1500s, when the future Pope Julius II revamped the building and added his coat of arms to the south facade, still visible above the entrance.
At the Les Halles d’Avignon, this enormous covered market right in the centre of the town provides a massive variety of fresh and authentic Provencal food. Visitors can wander at their leisure through the dozens of genuine French stalls, letting the sights and smells fill their sense and of course, make them hungry to taste these culinary delights as the market welcomes prominent local chefs to its designated exhibition space.
Although the Rhone River cruises are much shorter than that of the Rhine and Danube Rivers, it is packed with as much history and exciting places to explore as it larger cousins. Make sure to put this river on your bucket list of must see and do for your next vacation.
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