Burgundy & Provence Cruise on-board Avalon Waterways

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- 1 night hotel accommodation in Cote D'Azur
- 7 nights cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom on-board Avalon Poetry
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Paris
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily on-board
- Captain’s welcome & farewell receptions with sparkling wine & canapés
- Welcome & Farewell dinner
- Afternoon tea daily
- Complimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch & dinner are included daily on-board
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary

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Arrive in Cote D'Azur, France

Welcome to France! Located between the mountains & the deep-blue Mediterranean Sea, the Cote d'Azur is synonymous with prestige &  beauty-with its enchanting yachts, glamorous villas, & famous events. Time at leisure lets you get acquainted with this amazing place.

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Cote D'Azur - Arles (Embarkation)

This morning, enjoy free time to explore or join an optional excursion. In the early afternoon, transfer by motorcoach to Arles in the Provence region, where you'll board your river cruise vessel. Before dinner, meet your crew at a welcome reception, then sail toward the mouth of the Rhone for a taste of the tranquil vistas of Camargue National Park (daylight permitting).

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Arles

In Arles, capital of the Provence, join your Local Guide for a GUIDED CITY TOUR. See the church of St. Trophime, dating from the 12th century, & visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE. Still used today, the amphitheatre dates to the 1st century, & was constructed to hold over 20,000 spectators. Vincent Van Gogh was inspired by the special light of the Provence & spent a very productive year in Arles.

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Avignon

On your GUIDED TOUR you may choose to join an included visit of the PALACE OF THE POPES, built in the 14th century as the sovereign popes' residence. With a living space equivalent to four gothic cathedrals, it is the largest gothic fortress in the world. Alternatively, you may opt for only city sightseeing & more free time to explore on your own, or to join an optional outing to Pont du Gard or to the famed wine cellars of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

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Cruising - Viviers.

A leisurely morning on-board to relax & enjoy the passing scenery. After lunch, join your LOCAL GUIDE for a walk around the charming town of Viviers, which developed around its ROMANESQUE CATHEDRAL. The OLD TOWN has an appealing mix of Christian, Roman, & medieval influences.

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Tournon/Tain L'Hermitage - Vienne

The twin cities of Tournon & Tain l'Hermitage lie nestled among vineyards between the Rhone River & the granite slopes of the Hermitage. Enjoy a GUIDED WALK of Tournon, one of France's oldest medieval cities, with its imposing 16th-century castle & Roman ruins. Arriving in Vienne in the late afternoon, a GUIDED WALK shows you the charming little town surrounded by steep hills-one of the oldest towns in the region. Explore the town centre to see the Roman Theatre, which once held 13,000 spectators, & the Augustus & Livia Temple, built around 20 BC & converted into a church in the Middle Ages.

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Lyon

Lyon is France's third-largest city & its gastronomic capital. Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, the city's prosperity dates back to the 16th century & is due to commercial, industrial, & banking activities. Roman remains, many excellent museums, & much renaissance architecture delight visitors. You are joined by a LOCAL GUIDE as you survey the city from Fourviere Hill & explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its maze of medieval alleyways & Place des Terreaux, a popular area with lively cafes, monuments, & the famous fountain often depicted on postcards. Be sure to sample Beaujolais, the wine of the region.

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Cruising - St.Jean De Losne

A leisurely day today as your final day on-board. If you prefer to stay busy, a choice of optional excursions, including a visit to a wine cellar, is available. While cruising to St. Jean de Losne, enjoy an on-board CHEESE TASTING.

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St. Jean De Losne (Disembarkation) - Beaune - Dijon - Paris

After breakfast, head by motorcoach to Beaune, the unofficial capital of the Cote d'Or area & Burgundy's wine capital. Although life here centres around wine, Beaune offers much more with its ramparts, medieval houses, cobblestone streets, & historical monuments. Visit the HOTEL-DIEU charity hospital, built in 1443 & paid for by the chancellor of Burgundy after the Hundred Years' War left many of the town's population destitute. Today it houses Van der Weyden's painting of The Last Judgment & is one of France's architectural highlights. After lunch, continue to Dijon, where you board the TGV to Paris, the "City of Light."

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Paris

Known as one of the world's most romantic & lively cities, Paris is a delight for all your senses. Your included CITY SIGHTSEEING shows you magnificent must-see sights, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the unique Louvre Museum with its glass pyramid as a contrast to its ancient architecture, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe, & the Eiffel Tower. Alternatively, you may wish to join a GUIDED WALK through historic Ile St. Louis with its narrow one-way streets & Ile de la Cite, the centre of Paris where the medieval city was founded and home to NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL. In your free time, stroll down the Champs-Elysees with its lavish cafes, or perhaps visit the world-famous Louvre or Montmartre with its gleaming white Sacre Coeur Basilica & bevy of artists on Place du Tertre. Paris is also well known for its colourful nightlife that includes some of Paris' famous cabaret shows. All of this awaits your discovery!

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Paris

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.