Live the good life in gorgeous Provence
Sail south on the Rhone into the gastronomic heart of France
FRANCE has perfected the good life — and nowhere more so than in the sun-drenched south, where the Rhone wends through the vineyards and lavender-scented hills of Provence.
A river cruise here is an idyllic way to experience everything that is quintessentially French.
Step ashore to join locals playing boules or haggling at market stalls piled high with luscious produce.
Chance across local festivals and folk music as you explore beautiful old settlements, where a vibrant cafe culture spills out from brasseries and bars on to the cobbled streets.
And all around, lush vineyards stretch to the horizon, inviting you to visit and savour some of the world’s best wines.
With 300 days of sunshine each year, you’d be hard-pushed to find a more intoxicating place to cruise.
The 2019, eight-day Sensations of Lyon and Provence itinerary, from Emerald Waterways, is a true feast for the senses packed with culinary delights and beautiful sights. And it’s not all about pastoral pleasures.
City break adventures along the way include explorations in food lovers’ paradise Lyon, Roman Arles and Avignon, home to a papal palace. And there’s Beaune, Chalon-sur-Saone, Tournon and Viviers to discover, too.
Your next-generation river ship is the fabulous new Emerald Liberte, which offers its own authentic take on France’s bon viveur lifestyle. The cuisine on board is superb, using fresh, local and seasonal produce served in a choice of elegant venues.
There are insightful wine lectures, cheese and olive tastings, and an incredible Provencal dinner created and hosted on board in Avignon by esteemed chef Fabien Morreale that’s sure to give you memories to cherish.
Fabien was a popular finalist in the French cooking programme Top Chef, and has put together a modern, colourful and flavoursome menu showcasing the best Provencal produce.
ONE of the first places you’ll visit is Lyon. Foodies can tuck into Michelinstarred meals or try traditional dishes in a bouchon restaurant here in France’s gastronomic capital, acclaimed as a hub for great ingredients.
Sightseers will also want to tick off the shimmering white Notre Dame de Fourviere basilica, illuminated inside by impressive stained glass.
Roman remains include two theatres and an amphitheatre. And the part-pedestrianised old town is home to the largest collection of Renaissance architecture in Europe, as well as quaint shops, bistros and bars.
AVIGNON has sheltered nine popes, so the exquisite, 14th-century Palais-des-Papes is a must-see here.
The grand Romanesque cathedral is almost as striking, as are the remaining four arches of the famous Pont d’Avignon bridge, once the only place between Lyon and the Med where you could cross the Rhone.
AND Van Gogh produced some 200 paintings in Arles, inspired by the vivid light and colour. Here you’ll see incredible Roman creations including a famous Unesco-listed amphitheatre, which dates back to the 1st century BC and is still used today.
Your guide will help you imagine the lively atmosphere of the Roman sporting events it once hosted. Not forgetting the huge Roman theatre and more wonders underground.
With its medieval streets, Arles provides a beautiful conclusion to a superb waterborne journey through France’s most rewarding region — the intoxicating south.