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Avignon River Cruises

About Avignon

Not just one the most historic cities you’ll visit on a Rhone River cruise but also one of the most historic in the whole of France, Avignon is a fascinating and fantastic port to explore. Renowned for its medieval ramparts and winding streets, the old part of the city is understandably where the majority of tourists head for but also where thousands of its inhabitants still live. The city enjoys a unique historical standing, in that it was where the papacy was based during the 14th

 century. It seems strange to think that Catholic popes have resided anywhere but Rome but in truth, seven different pontiffs were based in the city and even a long time after papal power moved back to Italy’s capital, the city remained in Roman hands, only being reclaimed by France in the wake of the French Revolution in 1791.

Exploring Avignon

The City of Popes boasts a wealth of other architectural and historic attractions to discover and many river cruise excursions will give you the opportunity to explore the celebrated palace and more. Immortalised in song, the Pont Saint Benezet is one of the city’s key landmarks, being destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the centuries before finally being abandoned, this picturesque stone bridge is always popular with visitors. Don’t expect to use it to get anywhere though, as it is now an abandoned state, it ends in the middle of the Rhone. Place de l’Horloge is the go-to area to soak up the atmosphere and perhaps sample a glass of the local wine, while the 12th century Notre Dame Cathedral is another popular historical site, originally Romanesque but subsequently being endowed with a tower during the time of the city's papal occupation. If a deeper immersion in the region’s cultural history is what’s called for, then Avignon delivers with a good choice of informative museums. Musee du Petit Palais offers the bonus of being an architectural gem and offers a wide selection of artworks from the 14th and 15th century, while the Calvet Museum offers an excellent selection of 18th and 19th-century works, including a good number from Avignon’s own Joseph Vernet.

Avignon tips

Avignon’s also known for its world-famous festival, so if you’re a lover of the arts, visiting during the three weeks that the event is staged will be a bonus. If you’ve time for a quick bite, Avignon’s the perfect place to try some authentic Quiche Lorraine and also great for fish dishes. 

Avignon Itineraries

Lyon

Tastes of Southern France

2 sailing dates August 2023 to October 2023
10 Nights From Lyon , France to Lyon

Second Guest Sails FREE!* (prices already include discount and are per person)

Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £2699pp
Lyon

Aix-en-Provence with Sensations of Lyon - Nice

3 sailing dates July 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From Lyon , France to Villefranche
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2449pp
Lyon

Discover the Rivers of France & Portugal

1 sailing date September 2023
14 Nights From Villefranche, France to Beaune
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Lyon

Active & Discovery On Rhone - Northbound

3 sailing dates June 2023 to September 2023
9 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , Paris
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Avignon

Burgundy & Provence with 1 Night in Marseille

7 sailing dates July 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From Villefranche, France to , St. Jean De Losne
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Active & Discovery On Rhone - Southbound

3 sailing dates June 2023 to September 2023
9 Nights From Paris, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Avignon

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights In Nice

7 sailing dates July 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From St. Jean De Losne, to France , Villefranche
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Viviers

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights in Paris

8 sailing dates July 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , Paris
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Idyllic Rhône with Highlights of Paris

3 sailing dates August 2023 to August 2024
9 Nights From Paris, to Tarascon
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £4129pp
Avignon

Idyllic Rhone - Lyon to Marseille

6 sailing dates July 2023 to August 2024
7 Nights From Lyon , France to , Tarascon

Second Guest Sails FREE!* (prices already include discount and are per person)

Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £2189pp
Lyon

Sensations of Lyon & Provence with Paris

2 sailing dates July 2023 to August 2023
9 Nights From Marseille (Provence), to Paris
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2589pp
Avignon

Paris with Sensations of Lyon & Provence

3 sailing dates June 2023 to August 2023
9 Nights From Paris, to Marseille (Provence)
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Giverny

Ultimate France - Bordeaux to Arles

23 sailing dates June 2023 to October 2024
21 Nights From Bordeaux, France to Arles
Uniworld River Cruises logo FROM £9089pp
Avignon

Christmas in Southern France -Marseille- Marseille

2 sailing dates December 2023
4 Nights From Marseille (Provence), to Marseille (Provence)
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Tournon

South of France with Highlights of Paris

10 sailing dates July 2023 to September 2024
12 Nights From Paris, to France , Lyon
Scenic River Cruises logo FROM £3599pp
Avignon

Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence from Avignon

33 sailing dates July 2023 to October 2024
7 Nights From Avignon, France to Lyon
Riviera Travel logo FROM £1599pp
Lyon

Grand France - Paris to Port Louis (southbound)

6 sailing dates July 2023 to October 2023
14 Nights From Paris, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence from Lyon

33 sailing dates June 2023 to October 2024
7 Nights From Lyon , France to Avignon

Enjoy drinks on Riviera this summer! Unlimited soft drinks, Warsteiner draft beer, red, white, rose & sparkling house wines from 10am to midnight* - available for a limited time only!

Riviera Travel logo FROM £1649pp
Tournus

Essence of Burgundy & Provence from Arles

23 sailing dates June 2023 to November 2024
7 Nights From Arles, France to Chalon
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2449pp
Lyon

Essence of Burgundy & Provence from Chalon-sur-Sao

10 sailing dates June 2023 to November 2023
7 Nights From Chalon, France to Arles
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2979pp

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