Cruising the Seine

Arriving in the morning at Poissy, we disembark and join other Croisi passengers as we make our way to Versailles. Originally a hunting lodge and rural retreat, Versailles was transformed into the magnificent Baroque Palace we see today by Louis XIV when he made it his seat of power, moving his court and government there in 1682. One of the most celebrated architectural achievements in the world, its creation stimulated a mini renaissance of interior design during the 17^th and 18^th centuries and was accredited with UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. After a morning of artistic opulence, we return to our boat and settle in to relax on board as we sail onward to Honfleur.

Our first visit today is Honfleur, the prettiest of the Normandy ports, with its tall, slate fronted houses shouldering each other on the yacht filled harbour. For centuries Honfleur was a prosperous trade and fishing port, a strategic asset in the Hundreds Year War and in the 17^th century, the port from which French navigators set out to explore the New World and ultimately establish Quebec. Much of its historic heritage is intact and we will take a guided walking tour through the town to explore its medieval and industrial past.

Exclusive Andante excursion

In the afternoon we take a trip out to Lillebonne. Occupied by the Romans during the Gallic Wars, the town was called Juliobona in Caesar’s honour and evidence suggests it was a large and prosperous town. The large number of potsherds and amphorae excavated here suggests the city conducted vigorous trading with imported wines, oil, and olives coming from the Mediterranean regions. The city boasted a large theatre designed to seat at least 3000 people and we shall explore its remains as well as the small archaeological museum.

Having sailed overnight we arrive in the city of Rouen, capital of the northern French region of Normandy.

Exclusive Andante excursion

This morning we explore Rouen, once an important river port and centre for textiles. The city is steeped in history and today we see a vibrant and compelling mix of modern architecture, crooked medieval half-timbered houses, Gothic churches, celebrated restaurants, antique shops, food markets and patisserie selling multicoloured macarons. Our main focus of the morning is the Musée des Antiquités. Installed around the cloister of the former monastery of the Visitation Sainte-Marie, the museum’s collections include exceptional pieces, from antiquity to the Renaissance including the Roman mosaic of the hunt from Lillebonne. This afternoon we set sail once again and settle in to enjoy the scenes unfolding and relax on our return journey to Paris.

This morning our cruise ends, and we disembark for further adventures in Paris. First, we visit the Ile de la Cite. This area of Paris is home to more than its fair share of famous sights, but our goal is the infamous Palais de Justice and hidden within it, Sainte Chapelle. This architectural masterpiece was built to accommodate holy relics acquired by Louis IX in 1239 and it ranks as one of the greatest examples of Gothic art in France alongside the cathedrals of Notre Dame Cathedral and Chartres. We continue to the Conciergerie, formerly part of the palace complex but repurposed during the Revolution as tribunal and prison. We end the day at the Musée de Louvre where we will view the Etruscan, Greek and Roman galleries, one of one of the richest collections in the world.

This morning we explore the city’s Romano Gallic origins with a visit to the Arènes de Lutèce, site of the Roman amphitheatre. Built in the 2nd century AD it was designed to seat up to 15,000 people. In the afternoon we visit the Musée de Cluny where we visit the Roman baths that lurk beneath the museum. We end the day with a visit to the Catacombes de Paris. After several years of modernization and accessibility work, the museum reopened in May 2022 with a brand new museography.

We leave Paris behind, and speed northwards across the channel by Eurostar back to London.