Table Of Content
The remarkable Château Gaillard guards the apex of the river bend and was built by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th-century to defend Rouen from the French. Our group had a separate dining area with a tasty plated meal, wine, and dessert. I had seen the roped-off area during museum free time and commented on how fancy and nice it looked. We cruised by several places that were perfect for sightseeing from our small Viking Fjorgyn verandas. Besides Paris, we visited the towns of La Roche-Guyon, Vernon, Rouen (with overnights), Normandy beaches, Les Pecq, and Les Andelys along the Seine River. Visit the historic château where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final days in France.
That’s a wrap for our Scenic Cruises review on the Scenic Gem!
Enjoy the quintessentially half-timbered streets of Vernon before we continue on to our final destination, one of the world’s most iconic and romantic cities, Paris. Passing the legendary Jumiege Abbey, we moor in the pretty village of Caudebec with time after dinner for an evening stroll in this most typical of French villages. Then to Bayeux, spared significant war damage, it retains its wealth of splendid buildings as well as the legendary and stunning tapestry for which it is so famed. We also see some of the many thought-provoking monuments and places along the Normandy coast and reflect on the remarkable story of the D-Day landings on our visit to Gold Beach and the remnants of Mulberry Harbour.
Honfleur
This afternoon we drive to Arromanches, where you will have free time for lunch. Then enjoy a visit to a museum dedicated to the ‘longest day’ where you can still see remnants of the two Mulberry harbours constructed for the landing craft. On arrival, transfer by coach to your cruise ship moored on the River Seine in the heart of the city. The friendly crew will welcome you on board, helping you settle into your spacious and exquisitely furnished accommodation – you’ll immediately feel at home.
Château de La Roche-Guyon
Amongst the most famous is Camembert, an AOC-designated product from an eponymous town in the Normandy region. Visit a sustainably-minded, family farm today to see how it's made and taste a variety of their delicious Camemberts. To wash it down, sip on another classic product from Normandy, apple cider. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended.
Over its 120-year history the nightclub has attracted princes, painters, bankers, musicians and many ordinary patrons. Sit back and enjoy your dinner and Champagne while the glamorous girls and larger-than-life spectacle delight you. Matisse, Picasso, Rimbaud, and Sartre, as well as American expatriate writers Hemingway and Fitzgerald, are just a few of the notables who made this district home. Fun fact, Notre Dame is officially the center of France; facing its main entrance is Kilometer Zero, the location from which distances in France (including those of the French national highways) are traditionally measured. Travel back in time to June 6, 1944, when the Allied forces launched their D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Over the centuries it grew into a proper palace, housing a string of lords who gave the château its name—"La Roche-Guyon" translates to "the Rock of Guy," Guy being a typical name for these noblemen. In the morning, choose between a scenic hike or a visit to the hilltop Château de La Roche-Guyon, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens and offers sweeping views over the Seine. You'll have the opportunity to take in the French countryside on your way there with an invigorating bike ride, or opt to arrive by coach instead. Dock in the heart of Paris, admiring views of the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from your ship. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen’s Gothic architecture.
Nothing compares to the charm of its neighborhoods, the grandeur of its awe-inspiring architecture and monuments, or the cosmopolitan elegance of its boulevards. Delve into the delights this magnificent city has to offer, from the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Élysées to the quaint neighborhood cafés beloved by locals. Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service.
River lines will mark D-Day anniversary with special cruises - Travel Weekly
River lines will mark D-Day anniversary with special cruises.
Posted: Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Full-day tours to the landing beaches are offered on this Scenic Gem cruise. In the French town of Fecamp, Scenic has organized a special dinner ashore at the Benedictine Palace for guests sailing on the Scenic Gem cruise ship. Several river cruise lines offer Seine River cruises from Paris to Normandy, usually seven-night cruises. We have arrived in Paris and this morning we take a sightseeing tour of this amazing capital, one of the world’s most iconic cities. We'll see many of the outstanding monuments Paris has to offer - including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro, the Musee D'Orsay and much more before returning to the ship for lunch.
RIVERBOAT CRUISING
Easily the most famous of those towers is the one rising above Notre Dame Cathedral, which briefly made it the tallest building in the world. Begun some 800 years ago, the cathedral acquired a multitude of spires and styles as it was expanded and renovated in different eras. Stand on the opposite side of the square, under the apartment Monet used as a studio, for a view of the cathedral as the impressionist master saw it. And of course, your guide will make sure to point out the bronze cross marking the most famous death in the city—the place where the English burned Joan of Arc at the stake. We awake in Rouen, Normandy’s capital, one of Europe’s finest medieval cities and scene of many momentous events over the centuries. Briefly becoming the world’s tallest building when the soaring spire was added in the 19th century, the cathedral is also notable for the recumbent statue reputedly containing the heart of Richard the Lionheart.
The country roads between Vernon and Giverny offer easy—and pretty—biking. Hop aboard your bike and pedal about three miles to the village where the artist lived for decades. You’ll pass the church and cemetery where Monet is buried and the Hotel Baudy, where his painter friends often stayed, and arrive at the artist’s home and garden for a tour.
The artist himself called his garden his ‘most beautiful masterpiece’, and it’s certainly one of the world’s most photographed and painted, ideally viewed in the delicate morning light. In the Japanese-inspired water garden, shaded by great weeping willows and surrounded by bamboo, rhododendrons and azaleas, is the lily pond where he painted his extraordinary Les Nymphéas (Water Lilies) series. There’s ample time to wander here, absorbing the tranquil atmosphere while marvelling at the light bouncing off foliage of every hue and the magical reflections dancing off the water. Experience your river ship cruising in and out of charming ports of France from your private balcony on the Soprano Deck. When it’s time for meals, head to our large, open-seating dining room—conveniently located on the same level as you.
Massages are available for a fee in a private room off of the Fitness center. The water on board the ship is potable and complimentary bottled water is placed in your cabin each day. Prepare to be pampered during an evening of finery and fun at a grand 16th-century Renaissance château set on a park-like estate in the Normandy countryside not far from the Seine. Built in 1530 atop the foundation of a fortified 13th-century castle, the Château du Taillis boasts a 300-year medley of architectural styles that reflect the tastes and times of its owners.
