Destination Rhône: Regions, Cities and Towns
Bid farewell to your daily routine, and say salut to savoir-vivre! With delicacies from Lyons and wines from the Côte d’Or, Beaujolais and Burgundy, the south of France is bound to suit your tastes. What’s more, the landscapes you’ll see on these cruises are also an absolute delight. Discover the beauty of every single port of call on your A-ROSA river cruise on the Rhône & Saône.
Voilà, Lyon is a joy. Especially pleasure for the palate. Stroll through the capital of French culinary art and enjoy a delicacy at every corner, garnished with joie de vivre and liveliness. You'll find them in the traboules, this charming jumble of corridors and passages. In contrast, the Place Bellecour, one of the largest squares in Europe, will take your breath away. Between the Fourvière hill and the Saône river lies the winding old town. Here it is fun to drift through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Nestled between the heights of the Beaujolais and the slopes of the Mâconnais, an endearing travel treasure reveals itself: the Burgundy town of Mâcon. Facades full of colorful joy; market stalls overflowing with regional delicacies on Saturdays on the Esplanade Lamartine; plus countless restaurants, no two of which are alike. And they will be happy to pour you an equally incomparable Burgundy. Afterwards, a stroll along the Saône?
If today seems particularly Roman to you - you are in Arles. Right in the middle: the ancient amphitheater. It almost seems as if you can still hear the fiery cheers of 21,000 people between the ancient walls, as they get intoxicated by fights and games. In the old town, too, you can follow in the footsteps of the Romans, stroll through cozy alleys, stop off at dreamy cafés, and then take a stroll to St. Trophime Cathedral, in front of which the Place de la République spreads out.
Try the stew Gardianne de Taureau. The small pieces of Camargue bull are marinated in red wine. The purest declaration of love to your palate. For the sweetness in life provide the Gaufrettes mâconnaises. You can enjoy this wafer pastry only here. But you can take the taste of caramel, lemon and vanilla home with you as a beautiful memory.
IMPRESSIONS FROM THE RHÔNE & SAÔNE
HIGHLIGHTS ON THE RHÔNE & SAÔNE
Avignon
In the early 14th century, the papal seat suddenly had to be transferred to Avignon due to power struggles in Rome. This was to change the city forever. The most obvious impact was on the cityscape. As well as the mighty new Palais des Papes, Avignon was also given Gothic churches, monasteries and other splendid buildings that visitors can still marvel at today. The Pope brought more and more people to the city, too: scholars, sculptors, architects, craftsmen and merchants. They helped make Avignon what it is today: one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
Chalon-sur-Saône
Stroll through the old town, past charming half-timbered facades and right onto the square in front of the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent, which dates back to the eighth century. Then, enjoy a cool glass of local Chardonnay. In Chalon-sur-Saône, millennia-old history meets modern lifestyle and culture – as in so many other small towns and cities along this tranquil river. The city is also known as the birthplace of photography: the Musée Nicéphore Niépce, a photography museum at the Quai des Messageries, is clear evidence of this.
Camargue
Wild, untamed Camargue. Flocks of pink flamingos take to the air above the marshlands, white Camargue horses gallop through the shallow water and great herds of black bulls graze on the steppe-like plain. Like a forgotten paradise, this landscape nestles between the two arms of the Rhône, which splits into the Petit Rhône and the Grand Rhône north of Arles. The river flows towards the sea, irrigating the terrain as it does so. This is why the Camargue is so marshy, with water and land merging into one another.
Arles
In 1888, Vincent van Gogh saw the sun in Provence as blazing, with the most intense yellow rays, like golden rain. Arles, at the heart of this region, is where he mixed the bright yellow paint for his famous Sunflowers series. Although the artist only lived in the city on the Rhône for a short time, his paintings brought it worldwide fame. Everyone knows The Langlois Bridge at Arles. Two thousand years earlier, it was the Romans who had settled here on the banks of the river. The two-storey Arles Amphitheatre and the Roman Theatre of Arles, which was built during the reign of Emperor Augustus, bear witness to this. Arles is also home to great museums: the Musée Réattu’s collection includes paintings by Pablo Picasso. A unique city and a true artistic treasure.
Lyon
Lyon, the ‘Gate to the South’, is a city that really appeals to the senses. It is home to producers of the finest silk fabric, playful Renaissance buildings and France’s world-famous gourmet cuisine. Situated at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon is characterised by the typical French savoir-vivre – the appreciation of the good life. The two rivers flow through the middle of the old town, Vieux Lyon, in which the narrow streets are connected to each other by passageways called traboules. Often covered with pointed arches and richly decorated with beam ceilings, they lead into picturesque inner courtyards.
Provence
Provence is a riot of purple in the summer, thanks to its lavender fields. The air is full of the heady scent of wild herbs, while chirping cicadas provide a natural soundtrack. It’s no wonder that this magical region was a source of unending fascination for great painters such as van Gogh and Cézanne. The entire landscape, unique and intense, is like an impressionist’s paintbox.