This cruise was actually two back-to-back cruises. We started in Paris on Viking Kari and the round trip took in places such as Rouen and a visit to the Normandy beaches. Following that we transferred to Viking Delling waiting for us in Lyon and visited Vienne, Arles and Avignon. We’ve travelled with Viking on many previous occasions, both ships were familiar and immediately felt like home. The bright and comfortable Scandinavian style interiors, excellent service and great food continues to be largely consistent across the brand.
Post Olympic Paris
Having been to Paris a few times before we decided to forgo the included tour to undertake a self-guided tour along the Seine. As always, the Paris Metro was a cheap and efficient way to make it to our starting point at Gare des Austerlitz. Our route took in many of the sites we’d seen used as part of the Olympic opening ceremony, such as the Concierge, Pont Des Art, and many of the famous bridges that have had the odd facelift here and there. The icon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, is now sporting colourful Olympic rings, which we understand, will remain as a legacy to a superb Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Normandy beaches
Visiting some of the sites involved in the D-Day Allied Landings was both an informative and sobering experience. The Canadian museum at Juno Beach and the Pegasus Bridge Museum were extremely interesting. The latter told the story of the British military’s ingenious use of gliders to take this key bridge, preventing a German counterattack. Visits to the beautifully kept cemeteries at Bèny-sir-Mer (Canadian) and Ranville (British) hung heavy on the heart, so many young lives were lost in the conflict. During a walk along Juno Beach we saw a young boy having fun playing in the pools left by a receding tide and whilst some may be concerned about the fun and laughter (whilst people were paying their respects) others would say that’s why the sacrifice was made.
Trains
Our transfer from Paris to Lyon was by train, a very comfortable modern service that took about two hours. By contrast the wooden seats on the Train De L’Ardeche and the word comfortable do not go together. Nonetheless there’s something about the timeless charm of a steam train to help you ignore a little discomfort for our ride along the Doux valley. The 33km meter gauge track took us through a pristine conservation area, treating us to magnificent views alongside the river. At the turn around point we were treated to a superb feat of engineering, where 44 tonnes of train was turned around manually by one man. Great bearings and balance on that turntable.
Places of worship
Without doubt some of the grandest and most breathtaking buildings on our trip were churches and cathedrals. Enormous imposing structures with elaborately carved and decorated exteriors, richly adorned interiors, yawning vaulted ceilings and magnificent stained-glass windows. Whilst Notre Dame in Paris continues its restoration, others are equally impressive in their own way. Our favourite was Rouen Notre Dame which enchanted Monet to paint it many times in varying lights. It was painted after dark during our visit with a free sound and light show projected on its facade… magnificent.
Painters
Docking at La Roche-Guyon we journeyed to Giverny to visit the Monet Foundation, a museum dedicated to the founder of impressionism Claude Monet. He made this village his home from 1883 and established the most delightful gardens which included a water garden, shaded by weeping willows including a Japanese bridge. His pink house with green shutters was littered with reproductions of his paintings (impressions of the originals – see what I did there) giving a real feel for how it was when the great painter lived there.
In Arles we learnt about Vincent Van Gogh’s time there, exploring bold hues and emotions and resulting in masterpieces like Sunflowers.
Rouen
The city charmed us with its collection of 700 medieval half-timbered houses, some looking decidedly wonky I have to say, but a testament to the resilience of the wooden structures.
Vibrant squares, and winding cobblestone streets gave up its rich history during our tour, including its role in the life of Joan of Arc, who was tried and burned at the stake here (a statue of her marks the place of the pyre) The Gros Horloge, a beautifully ornate astronomical clock, added to the city’s enchanting atmosphere. Rouen is the resting place of William the Conqueror (died 1087). It’s also the home of the highest vertical lift bridge in the world (The Gustave Flaubert Bridge) rising 55m above the water to allow large vessels to enter the city.
Lyon
At Lyon we boarded Viking Delling for the second leg of our journey. Lyon is an endearing blend of the historic and modern. The Renaissance quarter took us on a cobblestone journey of the architecture from this period, complete with intimate traboules (unique passageways through buildings that connect adjacent streets). The riverside promenades, however, have been modernised to create great spaces for people to meet, exercise, relax and enjoy the riverside sights of this beautiful city. Perhaps the most ‘in your face’ (if I might put it that way), of the modern is the giant 85-flower ‘Flower Tree’ bouquet created by the Korean artist Jeong Hwa Choi.
France’s finest
“France’s Finest” is an appropriate name for a cruise that allowed us to explore some of France’s many historical treasures in comfort. Space prevents me from expanding on some of the many other places we visited (e.g. The Palace of Versailles, les Arènes amphitheater at Arles). Suffice to say we ended this trip with a great sense of satisfaction and many exceptional memories.
Next steps
To find out more about the itineraries available with Viking Cruises, and a personalized quote, call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678.
