France’s Finest

Experience the celebrated city of Arles, where Roman ruins and vibrant colors have inspired artists. Upon arrival, you will explore by foot, allowing you to immerse yourself in this energetic city of diverse architecture at the edge of Provence. Begin with a stroll to the massive Les Arènes, an ancient amphitheater able to seat 20,000. Continue to the Antique Theater, peering inside as you pass. This 1st-century wonder stood three stories tall and seated 10,000. Follow the Rue du Cloître to the Place de la République, a bustling square that once hosted the ancient Roman Circus. Here, you will see the 15th-century Church of St. Trophime, a Romanesque triumph named for a 3rd-century bishop. A walk down the Rue de la République delivers you to the Espace Van Gogh, the local hospital that treated the artist and today serves as a cultural center.

See the wetlands and farms of France’s protected Rhône River Delta region and visit one of its celebrated towns. The Camargue is a refuge for a large array of wildlife and is one of Europe’s most carefully preserved natural parks. Visit the Orthinological Park of Pont de Gau, where you can observe pink flamingos as they freely explore the swamps and salt marshes. In Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, stop to explore its narrow maze of streets and see the town’s Romanesque church. Continue to a nearby pasture to view a Camargue manade—a semi-feral herd of cattle or horses. After a delicious lunch, board a tractor-drawn carriage for a ride through the field. Cap your excursion with a drive to Arles, a magnificent repository of diverse architecture and Roman ruins that have inspired artists such as Vincent van Gogh. After time to explore, return to your ship.

Discover one family’s passion for olive oil during a visit to a countryside mill in the heart of Provence. Travel to the village of Fontvieille, home to the family-run olive mill, where your host will greet you and take you on a tour while proudly offering insight into a family’s generations of olive oil production. Gain insight into the different characteristics of the olive tree, before visiting the olive grove and the mill, housed in a typical mas (Provençal farmhouse) where the oil is manufactured. Then, savor the taste of high-quality olive oil, black and green tapenades, and more accompanied by a glass of juice. Afterward, continue on to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, one of the prettiest towns in the region. Join a guided walk past beautiful mansions, chapels and homes dating back to the 17th century or enjoy free time to explore at leisure before returning to your ship.

See a remarkable multimedia installation in a former quarry, then ascend to the rock-hewn hamlet of Les Baux. Drive to the spectacular Carrières de Lumières, an installation space carved into an old quarry. The white limestone from this cave was used to build parts of Les Baux and other surrounding villages. Today, it is an impressive venue utilized for an immersive audiovisual experience that brings its subjects to life through vibrant projections. Continue to Les Baux to explore its hilly, dramatic cobblestone lanes. Here, you will take a guided walk through the picturesque village, a fortified site painstakingly restored, nestled in limestone and crowned by castle ruins. Throughout this rewarding excursion you will traverse the bucolic Provençal countryside, viewing its olive groves and rice fields.