Day 1: Wednesday May 22nd

Boarding and installation
Departure of the boat for Arles
Lock: Blessed Stone of 11,80m
Presentation of the Crew
Welcome Cocktail Tracking
Dinner - Navigation Night
gastronomy over the Rhône

Provence during the Rhône

This cruise of Croisieurope will allow us to visit a beautiful part of France, Provence, in all peace of mind along the Rhone, crossing breathtaking landscapes and the impressive and numerous locks.

Departure by TGV from Brussels Midi for about 3h30 of journey.
An ecological and quiet way to get to Lyon.
Boarding on the Rhone Princess is scheduled around 16 pm and the station of Part Dieu at the Quai there is about 4 km that we will do by taxi (15 €).
Onboard preparations are coming to an end.
It is in the comfortable living room that we settle, a drink in hand, the bar is already open.
And then, quickly the crew is at the disposal of the passengers for the installation in the cabins.
Under the watchful eye of the steward, all the staff are active in order to facilitate access to the cabins.
The boat leaves for Arles.
During this first part of navigation that will last all night, the presentation of the crew will let us know those who will make our trip an unforgettable success.
A welcome cocktail immediately puts us in the mood and is followed by a dinner that suggests that the following will live up to our greed.

Day 2: Thursday May 23rd

Lunch 07:30 - 09:00
Morning of navigation
Arrival of the boat in Arle
12:00 pm: Lunch
14h00: Departure by bus for
the Camargue excursion
19:00: Dinner
Crew Show
Night stop in Arles

Arles - The Camargue

Morning cruise through the landscapes of southern France: Valencia, dominated by the cathedral Saint Apollinaire and Montelimar renowned for its nougats. Arrive in Arles.
En route by bus for an exceptional meeting, in Camargue, for the visit of a manade.
Welcomed by the master of the house, perched on his horse, a small white stallion typical of the region, he installs us in the carriages that lead us to the meadow where bulls intended for arenas live in freedom.
They are characterized by their lyre-shaped horns.
We are told that in the region the game of bulls is different from those of Spain.
Here no killing.
The challenge is for the participants, dressed in white, to remove the decorations on the horns and thus score points.

Saintes Maries de la mer

We take the path this time to the Saintes Maries of the sea while admiring the elegant flamingos who walk quietly in the salt marshes.

In Saintes Marie gypsies gather because in a few days they will attend the procession of their idol: Sara the black (Sara Kali in reference to the Indian origin of gypsies!).

We admired her in the church covered with coats whose pilgrims decked her out.
A legend makes her the servant of the Maries honored in Provence.

A very special market will allow visitors to buy whatever they may need to live in their caravans.

Let's not forget, on the Place Mireille, the famous statue of Mireille whose poet Mistral invented the name.

Day 3: Friday May 24th

04h00: Departure of the boat - Avignon
breakfast: 07:00 to 08:30
Arrival of the boat in Avignon
07h45: Departure by coach for Gordes
Lunch: 13h00: Departure of the boat - Viviers
Dinner19:00:
Afternoon of navigation
Arrival of the boat at Viviers
20h45: Departure for Viviers

Cistercian abbey of the 12th century, Sénanque

Our day trip takes us to Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages in France. But before strolling in the village a stop allows us to browse the 12th century Cistercian Abbey of Sénanque.
Nestled at the bottom of the valley this imposing building is still occupied by a community of monks and allows everyone to make a retreat in peace in the middle of an intact nature if not the cultivated parts.
It should be noted that the monks of course had to spend a lot of time on prayer but also on household chores and the culture that allowed them to live on their own land.
The visit of the part open to the public, with a guide, will go through the abbey church and many rooms that served as a dormitory, a cooker (with an impressive fireplace that burned a standing trunk!) And a chapter room.
The latter is still used for meetings of current residents.

Cordes

After a climb, quite steep, we reach the forecourt of the church and the castle of Cordes.
Craftsmen, souvenir shops and some bistro terraces have settled in this charming village.
The small cobbled streets wind between the dry stone houses.
Many points of view allow the visitors to discover the panorama on the natural park of Luberon.
After this relatively tiring day, the bravest will admire the smallest cathedral in France, in the pretty town of Viviers perched on a rocky peak.
Unfortunately for this place full of history it is practically deserted by its inhabitants.

Day 4: Saturday May 25th

Breakfast 7:00 - 08:30
08h00: Departure by coach for the Gorges de l'Ardèche
Departure of the boat towards La Voulte
Arrival of the boat at La Voulte; return of passengers
13:00: Lunch
13h30: Departure of the boat towards Tain l'Hermitage
Afternoon of navigation
Arrival of the boat at Tain l'Hermitage
Departure on foot for the excursion of the Cité du Chocolat
Dinner 19:30 Gala Cocktail
Night stopover in Tain l'Hermitage

Tain l'Hermitage The gorges of the Ardèche

This morning, departure for a discovery course of the gorges of the Ardèche.
For those who have never set foot there the show is extraordinary
The guided coach tour takes us to this territory, which has many treasures.
The gorges dug by the turbulent waters form a veritable canyon that stretches for almost 30 kilometers between steep valleys, dense vegetation and breathtaking limestone formations.
We stop near the Pont d'Arc.
This grandiose natural arch is 34 meters high.
The water has created a course, full of meanders that are the joy of canyoning.
In this season the canoe traffic is still peaceful, but we can imagine that in summer, with the heat (45 ° we are told!) Adepts are certainly much more likely to seek the freshness of the country.
During the visit, stop on the heights of a belvedere, we benefit from a spectacular view on the gorges.
Back on board at La Voulte.

Arrival in Tain l'Hermitage, aptly named "cité du chocolat".

We start on foot from the boat for some 500 m to the well-known establishment of the famous Valrhona chocolates.
We will discover how to taste, in the square of the senses, the different flavors with the subtlety of the scents and flavors similar to the great wines.
After this very educational lesson we will be invited to taste and also buy the many kinds of these delicious chocolates made by the house.

The day ends with the gala evening

Everyone is on his thirty-one to participate in this dinner, which, for those who have already cruised with Croisieurope, crown the expertise of the Chef with a menu worthy of a large table. Guaranteed show!

Day 5: Sunday May 26th

06h30: Departure of the boat - Vienna
Breakfast 07h30 - 09H00
Morning of navigation
Lunch :
Arrival of the boat in Vienna
15h00: Departure of the boat towards Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or
Arrival of the boat
19h30: Departure on foot for the gastronomic dinner at Paul Bocuse Abbey
Stopover at nightCollonges-au-Mont-d'Or Today day of sailing to Vienna.
We will have the pleasure of enjoying the landscapes and the lock passages to follow then the emblematic monuments of the city of Lyon: the museum of Confluences, the basilica of Fourvière, Old Lyon, etc ...

The highlight of this day will undoubtedly be our arrival by the Saône at Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or
for the gourmet dinner at
the Abbey of Collonges de
Paul Bocuse,
true temple of French gastronomy.

The show begins as soon as you push the doors of this fabulous establishment. A cocktail, small fours to satiety on our arrival that already appetite us.
Paul Bocuse was undoubtedly the three-star chef and one of the greatest in France.
Every year again, even after his death, a "Bocuse d'Or" is given to the deserving cook.
But we are moving away from our evening
It's time to find our table.
The show begins.
A red curtain opens before us and we discover the room, richly decorated, with a splendid limonaire made in 1900 and restored by Marc Fournier, a friend of Paul Bocuse, who devoted two years of hard work.
The organ, distilling vigorous notes, heralds an extraordinary evening

The menu is composed as follows: Homemade fresh foie gras and brioche toast, lobster casserole with vegetables, Le Granité of Beaujolais vine growers, veal medallion, Smitane sauce, Saint-Marcellin from "Mère Richard" and fresh goat churn, followed by Delights and Gourmandises and Petits fours et Chocolats.
Everything was accompanied by wines at discretion: The White Ladies of the South - Henri Bour and Luvéron - Michel Chapoutier.
Let's not forget that the desserts were brought by a brigade of boys who ran down the stairs to music to complete this event to the delight of the guests.

A most successful evening.

Day 6: Monday May 27th

06h30: Departure of the boat - Lyon
Breakfast 7:30 to 9:00
Arrival of the boat in Lyon
Free morning in the city of Lyon
12:00 pm: Lunch:
14h00: Departure by coach forLyon
19:00: Dinner
Night stopover in Lyon

Lyon

Departure in the morning towards Lyon. Free morning on board or stroll through the streets of the city.

In the afternoon, guided tour and wine tasting and specialties of fresh sausages and goats, at Les Halles de l'Hôtel Dieu.
Here many traders present their culinary skills as well as salty and sweet specialties.
Panoramic tour of the city to the heights of the Basilica of Fourviere, ideal point of view on Lyon and its neighborhoods.
Then, towards the old Lyon, along its historic houses and the famous "traffic jams" that punctuate the streets.
The "corks" are restaurants that offer customers dishes based on offal and pork.

There is still a house specialized in silks.

This industry was part of the know-how of the city in the sixteenth century.
The production was made from silk threads and four generations of "Brochier silks" have succeeded on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse.
The printing techniques on silk in Lyon and the board are still used to print scarves and ties.
Discovery of traboules.
These are traditional passages that allowed direct access to buildings in the Saone.

the very colorful and sypathic performance of a client who was able to enchant us and followed later by local artists with French songs.
That's good end this last night aboard the Rhone Princess.

Day 7: Tuesday May 28th
Breakfast

It is with regret that we leave the boat and its crew who have made our stay an indelible memory.

Thank you Croisieurope for this beautiful organization