One of our favorite ways to help our travel clients explore the beauty and bounty of France is via a river cruise. Nimble ships sail down remarkable rivers like the Rhone and Saone in the southwest and the Garonne and Gironde near Bordeaux in the east, past verdant vineyards, centuries-old castles, and picturesque riverside villages.
Of course, if there’s one river in France you’ve heard of before, it’s most likely the Seine—the sensuous river that famously divides Paris in two. Seine river cruises typically start in France’s glittering capital city, but then you escape the city sights and dive into a part of France that’s a bit more off the beaten path. Here are just some of the highlights of a Seine river cruise that sails you through Northern France:
Monet’s home in Giverny:
No Seine river cruise would be complete without a stop at the Impressionist master’s abode. Monet obsessed over his gardens, and the lush plantings of climbing roses and beds of colorful annuals do indeed look painterly. Don’t miss a stroll through his Japanese gardens, where he painted some of his most iconic works capturing his water lilies and Japanese garden bridge.
The Cathedral at Rouen:
Rouen, home to Joan of Arc, is a charming medieval city filled with beautifully preserved half-timbered homes and cobblestone streets. But the city’s crown jewel is the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a flamboyant Gothic masterpiece. Constructed in the 12th century, the cathedral’s asymmetrical facade contains a dizzying array of towers, spires, and sculpted figures. Even if you’ve never been to Rouen before, you may recognize the cathedral upon your approach—Monet painted it again and again over the span of a decade, catching the cathedral in different light at different times of day.
A historical excursion into Normandy:
The Seine River doesn’t flow right through Normandy, but most river cruises offer an optional excursion for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the battlefields of World War II. A short drive takes you into the heart of Norman countryside and, soon, to the site of D-Day on the coast. For history buffs, the chance to visit Omaha Beach and other critical WWII sites is a sobering highlight of a Seine River cruise.
A river cruise along the Seine is one of the shorter routes in France, often just 7 or 8 nights long. This gives you the perfect opportunity to extend your vacation with a custom land-based itinerary—spend another week strolling the streets of Paris, diving deeper into the countryside and castles of Normandy, or visiting another spellbinding region in France!
Ready to set sail on your own river cruise through France? We would love to plan it for you—connect with Heirloom Journeys on a complimentary consultation call to get started.
