Flavoursome France
SAVOUR THE SOUTH ON AN INDULGENT RIVER CRUISE
LONG, lazy lunches, mellow wines, gorgeous landscapes, a magical light and an indefinable air of romance — southern France knows how to do the good life and the Rhone has long been at the heart of its bon
viveur lifestyle.
Flowing from the vineyards and chateaux of Burgundy, through Provencal farmland, down to the dreamy Camargue delta, the Rhone carves its way through some of the country’s most scenic landscapes.
As if competing with nature’s glories, the towns and villages along the banks are good-lookers, too — from Pope-hosting Avignon to Arles, where Van Gogh painted the stunning Starry Night Over The Rhone.
Throw in fragrant lavender fields and vivid sunflowers, vineyard tours and a warm, Mediterranean sun that smiles down for up to 300 days a year — and you’d be hard-pushed to find a more intoxicating and indulgent place to cruise.
A FOODIE ITINERARY
A PORT-HOPPING itinerary that’s designed with foodies in mind is an ideal way to plunder the delights of this mouth-watering region, worthy of a place on your bucket list.
For example, Flavours Of Burgundy And Provence is a new eight-day, taste-centric cruise on the Emerald Liberte Star Ship, a contemporary vessel that mirrors the effortless sophistication and beauty of the French countryside, offering cuttingedge amenities, authentic dining and a world-class level of service.
It starts (or ends) in Lyon, the ‘gastronomic capital of the world’, where it’s worth mooching through cobbled streets to hunt out one of the bouchon restaurants, which serve up a warm welcome with old-fashioned dishes coupled with perfect local wines.
The flavoursome treats then come thick and fast. Guests can meet a truffle farmer and sample the hazelnut-like aroma and delicate flavour of these earthy luxuries in Tournus, before trying some of France’s favourite cheeses back on board.
Learn about the famous Beaujolais grape, with tastings on a wine estate at Belleville-sur-Saone.
And some of the world’s finest artisanal chocolates are waiting to be savoured at Valrhona Cite du Chocolat, in the wine-producing commune of Tain l’Hermitage. Or hike through vineyards on an Emerald ACTIVE tour.
Avignon brings fresh gourmet explorations, plus a chance to see the exquisite medieval Palais des Papes.
Back on board ship, there’s an authentic Provencal dinner hosted by renowned chef Fabien Morreale — a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.
And there’s more — winemaking secrets in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and a trawl of high-end speciality products at Les Halles de Lyon. Or you can tour this great city by bike.
With outstanding cuisine on Emerald Liberte, this scrumptious itinerary amounts to an incredible feast for the senses, packed with culinary delights, and much besides.
SENSATIONAL SIGHTS
ANOTHER great Rhone itinerary, slightly more focused on the sights, is Sensations Of Lyon And Provence (eight days). Gastronomic treats again abound on board — in the form of insightful wine lectures, cheese and olive tastings and that incredible Provencal dinner.
As you sail between Lyon and Arles, you’ll be lavished with included guided excursions, and active options, such as guided vineyard hikes and cycle tours, and a canoeing excursion in Avignon.
Highlights include the Hospices de Beaune, originally a hospital for the poor and now home to one of Burgundy’s most popular wine auctions. Explorations of Lyon, Tournon and Avignon lie ahead. And a guided tour of Viviers reveals narrow alleys, flamboyant facades, painted houses, a bishop’s palace and a tiny cathedral.
Colourful Arles, with its memorable Roman amphitheatre, is where your cruise reaches its conclusion, but not before a chance to raise a glass of fine wine to toast a truly inspiring and enriching journey, filled from start to finish with beautiful places and a strong sense of French joie de vivre.