An introduction to river cruises along the Rhone
Posted by admin | Posted in Europe | Posted on 30-06-2011
The river Rhone presents an excellent route through France for the discerning traveller. The increasingly popular river cruises offered by operators like Avalon cruises – which commonly travel either up the Rhone from the Côte d’Azur to Paris, or alternatively start in Paris – are a great way to sample the sights and sounds of life on the banks of one of France’s major rivers. Perhaps most importantly, river cruises along the Rhone are a great way to sample some of the best wine and food regions in the country. Here are some of the highlights you can encounter with on river cruises along the Rhone.
The city of Arles in the south of France features several important remains from the Roman Empire. These include an impressive amphitheatre, Roman theatre, and necropolis, as well as numerous remains of Roman fortification scattered throughout the city. In (relatively) more recent history, the cathedral of Saint-Trophime was constructed, between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, and is today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Just up the river is the place that was the refuge for the Papacy forced to flee Rome in the 14th Century, the city of Avignon. Le Palais des Papes, or the Palace of the Popes, is the largest Gothic edifice in the world, and presents the opportunity for some striking holiday snaps. The medieval ramparts of Avignon have also been fantastically well preserved, as has the much of the historic centre of the old city. The Rocher des Doms sits right on the banks of the Rhone, a well maintained botanical garden that offers great views of the Rhone valley.
Lyon is France’s third city, and a renowned gastronomic centre of excellence, as well as being home to a wealth of historical points of interest. Lyon is a city best explored though a walking tour, and through guided sightseeing you can ensure that you take on some of the architectural highlights before you settle down to the serious business of consuming some gourmet comestibles! Every meal can be standout event in Lyon, as city so serious about food that it hosts the premier world cooking competition, the Bocuse d’Or.
River cruises on the Rhone generally involve a leisurely passage along the river by day, with stops made in the evening. This mode of travel provides a constantly moving scenery which is both pleasing to the eye, and an education in the way life on the banks still revolves, in large part, around the energy of the river.
