Lyon, Rhone-Alpes, France

Posted on Sunday, October 11, 2009

Lyon is a popular port on France river cruises.  Capital of Gaul under the Roman Empire, major center of culture and trading during the Renaissance, strong industrial breeding ground in the nineteenth century, Lyon has become a large European metropolis, benefiting from the influences that have swept across its beautiful landscape. Now included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Lyon is categorized along with prestigious cities such as Venice, Prague, or Saint Petersburg. From the Roman city of Lugdunum to the city of today, two millenniums have left their mark in terms of an outstanding architectural heritage, at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers : Fourvière, with its basilica and Gallo-Roman ruins, the Renaissance district of Old Lyon, which is centered around Saint Jean Cathedral, the presqu'île (peninsula between the two rivers), which was shaped by the great classical and imperial era, along with the slopes of the Croix-Rousse, where the silk industry thrived. A particularly lively part of the city, Lyon's historical area is proof of the importance that the city places on its heritage, preserved and enriched over the centuries, it is now turned towards the future.  If a France river cruise is not for you, take a France tour that include Lyon.

Paris & European River Romance Cruise

Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009

Fall in love with the romance of Paris and three European rivers!

Cruise highlights include:

• 7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom on the lovely River Princess
• 2 nights in Paris at a superior first class Tour Eiffel Suffren Hotel (or similar) with breakfast
• All meals onboard
• Complimentary fine wine during dinner, bottled water in your stateroom, and 24-hour specialty coffee during your cruise
• 9 shore excursions, fully hosted by English-speaking guides
• State-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio headset system on all shore excursions
• Complimentary use of bicycles during your cruise
• Exciting onboard entertainment and insightful lectures
• Exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program 
• Captain's Welcome & Farewell Dinners
• An experienced Cruise Manager and attentive, all English-speaking staff
• All transfers on arrival and departure days

Rendezvous in Paris—the most romantic city in the world with its charming sidewalk cafes, iconic Eiffel Tower, legendary Louvre, and alluring Notre Dame—before setting sail along three breathtaking rivers: the vineyard-rich Moselle, the castle-laden Rhine, and the meandering Main.

Visit the winemaker's villages of Bernkastel and Traben-Trarbach where you'll discover over 500 years of winemaking history, and get to taste the famous and delectable Riesling wines of the region. Walk the streets of medieval Miltenberg, a town that seems lifted from the pages of a fairytale. Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites while in Bamberg and Trier. Travel along the "Romantic Road" past extravagant baroque palaces and quaint medieval-walled towns to Rothenburg, with its half-timbered houses and imposing fortifications. Then spend time enjoying dynamic Frankfurt with its imposing skyline and historic Römer Square.

France Vacation: Paris

Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Paris is one of the world's most romantic cities and elegant capitals in Europe with a wide array of things to do.  Stroll along the Champs-Elysees, see the amazing collections at the Louvre, take a cruise down the Siene River, browse for antique books on the Left Bank, explore the City of Light's Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.

One of Paris' highlights, is certainly the Eiffel Tower. Engineered by Gusatave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower was built in 1887 as the entrance arch to the Exposition Universelle, the World's Fair. What was considered an eyesore for the Parisians at the time of its construction, is now a monument linked to many historical events, and a structure that represents France to people around the world. It is a "must see" for anyone going to Paris.

The tower has three stories, with the first two accessible by stairs and elevator, while the top floor is accessible solely by elevator. The view is not all the Eiffel Tower offers though, there is a skating rink on the first floor during winters and the facility is free to use. Apart from the rink, there is the Altitude 95 on the first floor, a restaurant able to cater to up to 200 people. The second floor has a reservations only restaurant, with a private elevator. In addition, a post office, a photo studio, souvenir shops and beautiful gardens. The view from the top, as expected, is phenomenal. You cannot miss the Eiffel Tower at night. The "metal lady" is illuminated by 352 projectors of 1000 watts and twinkles every 30 minutes in the evening with 20.000 bulbs and 800 fairy lights.

With the popularity of the monument, you can expect to face long lines, but the end view from the top of the tower is a worthwhile experience. If you travel with a tour operator, you can typically skip the lines as they get preferred access. Packages include hotel accommodations, breakfast daily and a half day city tour with prices starting at $599 pp for 5 nights. If you don't like the idea of being on a motorcoach the entire time, there are not "city stays" that allow flexibility, while still having the essentials taken care of. You can also combine stays with surrounding cities such as London or Nice, take a cooking class, visit a wine vineyard, stay in a luxury resort, or take a river cruise.

For more information on France tours, cruisses & vacation packages, visit www.escortedfrancetours.com