Rolling On The Rhône River With Viking River Cruises

A Viking River Cruise along the Rhone River from Provence to Lyon is a historical, cultural, and gastronomic experience not to be missed.

In September of this year, I took a dream trip—a European Viking River Cruise.
From Provence in the south to Lyon in the Northern Rhône region of France, I traveled for seven days on board the Viking longship Buri.

Embarking in the medieval city of Avignon the itinerary was an exploration of beautiful riverside cities, fine French food, and Roman ruins. We sailed past the storied vineyards of Tain l-Hermitage and names like Chapoutier and Paul Jaboulet.  

We stopped at six ports along the Rhône River… each port was rich in history and culture. 

Shore excursions

Viking is known for wonderful shore excursions led by knowledgeable, local tour guides. Multiple tours are offered at each port, some are included in the price of the cruise and some are optional for an additional fee. Since it was my first time on the Rhône, I took every included tour to learn as much as I could about each location, plus I took some of the optional tours.

 The included tours are generally walking tours and last about 1.5 to 3 hours.  While all of the included tours were excellent, I felt the optional tours were exceptional and offered a deeper dive in the culture. 

 You could easily do a morning-included excursion and add on an optional excursion that departs later in the day.  You can usually book a tour after departure as long as it isn’t at maximum capacity. 

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Optional Shore Excursions Provence to Lyon

I took two optional shore excursions, though many others were offered. One highlighted the art and culture of southern France,  and the other explored the legacy of ancient Rome.

Carrieres des Lumieres

 The Carrières des Lumières is an art and light show staged in limestone mines in the hill town of Les Baux in Provence. Images are projected onto the walls, floor, and ceiling of the interior and set to music. Usually it’s the work of a famous artist, in this case, the exhibition was the colorful and dreamlike work of artist Marc Chagall. The immersive experience has remained with me to this day. 

Les Baux has an interesting history as a fortress town that has seen many changes of fortune. Located in the foothills of the Apilles, Les Baux experiences the fierce mistral winds. This optional tour included a longish bus ride but it was worth it.

Pont du Gard

The other optional excursion I loved was the Pont du Gard. I liked it so much, I dedicated an article to it. 

Food and wine 

As with every Viking river cruise, food played a significant part in the story of the place. Often, the chef would prepare a special meal featuring regional cuisine and wine. 

In Provence, we drank Rhône blends such as the wines of Chateauneuf du Pape. Farther north, in Tournon Sur Rhône, we docked near the famous Hermitage AOC Vineyards. That evening we drank a local Syrah, produced by a famous wine variety in the region.  Delicious food, elegant wines, art, and architecture are all part of the cruise experience and all the things I love about Europe .

No matter which tours you take you’ll love this gorgeous itinerary through Provence, France from Avignon to Lyon.

Avignon, City of popes

 The first day includes a guided walk of Avignon and a guided tour of the renowned Palace of the Popes or Palais des Papes.

 The Palace of the Popes was both a palace and a fortress. Today it is the largest Gothic building in Europe and along with the historic center of Avignon is a  UNESCO World Heritage Site. From 1309-1377 it was the papal residence and housed seven popes. 

Near the Palais des Papes is the picturesque Pont d’Avignon. Constructed in the 12th century to connect the two sides of the Rhône River, it now has only four of the original twenty-two arches. In my opinion, it is best viewed from the other side of the river with the Palace of the Popes in the background. 

During my free time in Avignon, I enjoyed wandering the medieval streets, especially around the Place de l’ Horloge, the main square.

I even met a resident of the city who owned a charming vintage shop. She graciously invited me into her home where we sat in the backyard enjoying a cup of tea and conversation. Who says the French are unfriendly?

Chateauneuf du Pape

The southern Rhône Valley is known for the wines of Chateauneuf du Pape. Viking offers an optional shore excursion to this heralded wine region. 

Arles

Arles is a wonderful city, with a creative atmosphere and a bohemian vibe. Though it was once the capital of the Kingdom of Arles and an important river port, it is best known for the outstanding Roman amphitheater Les Arènes. 

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the arena became a shelter for the population and at one time there were over 200 houses within the arena walls. Towers and fortifications were added. Because people were actually living within the structure, the arena was saved from being pilfered for stone as the Colosseum in Rome was, or otherwise allowed to decline.   

Today there are still bullfights in this arena, though most are centered around a unique tradition where the bullfighter tries to remove a wreath of flowers from the bull’s horns. 

Vincent Van Gogh was a resident of Arles and the painter, Gaugin, often visited him there. During one of Gaugin’s visits, Van Gogh painted Les Arènes depicting a crowd at a bullfight in the amphitheater. I was 

The walking tour of Arles takes you to the courtyard of a building where he stayed. The tour also includes a walk past the photogenic Cafe Van Gogh however, there won’t be time to linger there. You’ll need to come back later on your own time.  Oddly, the city of Arles does not own any Van Gogh paintings therefore, the only way to view them in Arles is on the occasion of a special exhibition. 

Tournon Sur Rhone

We arrived in Tournon after dinner, but early enough for a walk. The bridge in the photo connects Tournon with the famous Tain L’ Hermitage AOC vineyards.

From here the optional tour offered was a ride on a vintage steam train through the forest. I recommend this! The scenery is beautiful and it’s fascinating to travel via the train de l’ardèche

Vienne

Vienne is a stunning city with an ancient Roman past and some impressive Roman ruins. The included shore excursion is a walking tour of the city. You’ll stroll through the medieval old town with its narrow half-timbered structures and picturesque squares. Other landmarks are the Gothic Cathedral of St.Maurice and the Chapelle Notre Dame. 

Vienne is rich architectural elements from various periods of history: an amphitheater which was recovered from centuries of rubble (not functional) and medieval half-timbered houses in the city center were some of the most interesting.

However, the big wow was the Temple of Augustus and Livia. Built under Pontius Pilate, it is in near-perfect condition in the middle of a pretty square, much like a Roman piazza, surrounded by wine shops.  

The boat docked in Vienne overnight, so a group of us went for a walk in the city after dark. It was a magical experience walking through the ancient old town with very few people around. A memory I will always treasure.

Lyon

Lyon is France’s second-largest city, yet the pace does not feel frantic or rushed. The guided visit to Lyon is key if you’ve never been there before. It is a deep city and there is much history to uncover. 

The included shore excursion goes to the top of Fourvière Hill dominated by the Fourvière Cathedral, and includes amazing views of the city. In Roman times this was the center of Lyon. 

Since the hill is quite steep you will take a bus to the top. The rest of the tour is a walking tour. 

Known as a city of gastronomy,  Lyon is the perfect place to indulge in fine French cuisine.  Be sure to try some local dishes like Salad Lyonnaise with a glass of rosé.

Vieux Lyon

My favorite part of the city was the Vieux Lyon or the old town built along the Saône River. The docks for the cruise ships are on the other side of the river so it’s very convenient to walk from the ship to the old town.

Something you won’t find this anywhere else except Lyon are the traboules. What are they? Hidden alleyways used during the war to evade the Nazis, although they have been in existence much longer and had other uses.

You’ll need a guide to find and access them because many are not accessible to tourists, only residents. Other highlights of the Vieux Lyon include the magnificent St. Jean Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the old town, also part of the UNESCO designation, 

The Vieux Lyon is a marvelous place to spend a day,  sitting at a cafe, enjoying a local wine, wandering the streets and admiring the Renaissance architecture. 

If you have any questions about any of the ports or what it’s like to take a Viking River Cruise you can email me, or leave a comment. One of the things I love about river cruises is that you only have to unpack one time. Your hotel travels with you. If you’re looking for stress-free ways to travel, this is ideal.