PROVENCE RIVER CRUISE
Peaceful and picturesque, the inland waterways of Provence and the Camargue are the most enchanting way to savour the cultural inheritance and culinary traditions of southern France. Our cruise aboard the majestic Phénicien – renowned across the Rhône for its refined ambience and superior cuisine – will call at small Provençal villages and great centres of civilisation as we head towards Avignon, the immaculately preserved 14th century capital of Christendom.
We join the Phénicien in the former Crusader stronghold of Aigues Mortes, beyond whose ancient fortifications lies the semi-mystical Camargue, where land, lake and lagoon merge into the Mediterranean. Embraced by the two arms of the Rhône, the Camargue is remarkable for the diversity of its flora and fauna, notably the pink flamingo. We will make a private visit to a traditional ranch, where the delta’s gardians – local herdsmen – still ride the region’s distinct Camargue horses and raise fighting bulls.
The Roman antiquities of the former provincia of Gallia Narbonensis now await discovery: the triple-tiered Pont du Gard is a technological and aesthetic chef d’oeuvre, whilst Arles, with its vast Flavian amphitheatre and Augustan theatre, was grand enough to be considered a Gallic Rome. The city walls of Arles – once home to van Gogh – also give shelter to the Cathédrale St Trophîme, where the 12th century portal is one of the crowning achievements of the Romanesque style.
Further highlights of our cruise include the fortified village of Les Baux de Provence, the Benedictine monastery of Notre Dame de Montmajour and Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction, France’s most extensive Carthusian monastery.
We disembark the Phénicien in the shadow of the celebrated 12th century Pont d’Avignon, where we will discover the “court of splendour and magnificence” of the Avignon popes. As well as visiting the lavishly decorated Palais des Papes, an outstanding example of Gothic artistry, we will tour the Petit Palais, home to a fine collection of Italian paintings.
Le Phénicien:
Serene, light and spacious, the 130-ft long Phénicien combines the charm of a canal boat with the splendour of a river cruiser. The Phénicien’s teak sun-deck, furnished with leather benches and director chairs, is the perfect spot to sip a drink or two and watch the Provençal countryside unfold. The upper deck also boasts an expansive open-plan lounge, dining area and bar, all lined with panoramic windows and decorated in typical Provençal style.
The Phénicien accommodates a maximum of 16 participants in eight passenger cabins on the lower deck, each with a porthole window and en suite facilities; five cabins have double beds and three have twin beds. The Phénicien is air-conditioned throughout.
On board cuisine:
Thierry, the Phénicien chef, devises all the menus using fresh, local ingredients, and guests are invited to watch as he prepares the evening meal on board. The quality of the Phénicien’s wines matches the quality of the cuisine: we will taste more than 20 whites, reds and rosés, each specially selected from the finest vineyards in the Rhône Valley, Provence and Languedoc.
This cruise will be led by Malcolm Oxley, MA (Oxon), an expert in art history, a subject to which he brings a historian’s wider perspective.
Itinerary
Day 1Depart St Pancras 0857 on Eurostar for Lille then by TGV to Avignon, arriving 1710. Transfer by coach to Aigues Mortes, where we embark Phénicien for six nights. Evening: welcome reception and overnight at Aigues Mortes.
Day 2Aigues Mortes (Tour Constance, walk around ramparts) then excursion through Camargue (wetlands, pastures, dunes and salt flats) with private visit to working ranch (Camargue horses and bulls), St Gilles (Romanesque church and sculptures). Cruise to typical village of Gallician for overnight.
Day 3Morning cruise along Petit Rhône to Arles: walking tour including Les Arènes (first century BC amphitheatre), Roman theatre, St Trophîme (Romanesque church with famous Last Judgement carving). Overnight at Arles.
Day 4Morning cruise past the dramatic castle of Tarascon and through lock of Beaucaire to Vallabrègues. Afternoon: excursion fortified village of Les Baux de Provence followed by fortified Benedictine monastery Notre Dame de Montmajour. Overnight at charming small port of Vallabrègues.
Day 5Morning cruise to Villeneuve lès Avignon for Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction (France’s largest Carthusian monastery). Afternoon: excursion to Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct with outstanding museum). Overnight at Villeneuve lès Avignon.
Day 6Morning: Villeneuve lès Avignon (Tour Philippe le Bel, Fort St André) followed by municipal museum of Pierre de Luxembourg (16th and 17th Provençal painting). Afternoon: cruise to Avignon for 14th century Palais des Papes and Petit Palais (outstanding art collection). Farewell dinner on board.
Day 7Disembark Phénicien. Depart Avignon on TGV to Lille then by Eurostar to St Pancras, arriving 1436.
Cost includes: return travel, accommodation in a twin or double bedded cabin, full board whilst on Phénicien (including complimentary bar), wine tasting, shore excursions & admissions, crew gratuities.
Not included: travel insurance, single cabin supplement on request.
