Exploring the Archaeology of the Rhône

This morning we travel to Vienne, the erstwhile capital of the Allobroges made into a colonia by Julius Caesar. Here we will explore its precious Roman remains, including the well-preserved Temple of Augustus and Livia, built in the 1st century AD, and the nearby Jardin Archaeologique de Cybele which bears precious remnants of the ancient city. Later, we venture to the site of Saint Romain en Gal with its excellent museum. Here you will find artefacts and mosaics from one of the largest Gallo - Roman settlements in the Rhône Valley. We return to Lyon to join our ship, we will sail to Mâcon in the evening.

This morning, we wake in Mâcon, a city famous for its beautiful positioning on the Saône and which produces some of the world’s finest wines. From here, we set off for our archaeological explorations. We return to the ship in Trévoux and enjoy another evening of dining and cruising.

Exclusive Andante excursion: Today we visit the Roche de Solutré, a prehistoric site that was the centre of Solutrean palaeolithic culture. Here, we will also visit the Prehistoric Museum world before continuing to the world-famous abbey at Cluny, a Benedictine monastery that was destroyed during the French Revolution, but whose remains testify to its power and wealth.

We wake up in Lyon and spend the morning there before spending the afternoon sailing to Tain l’Hermitage, famous for its wines, as well as for Valrhona, one of the world’s most important chocolatiers.

Exclusive Andante excursion: This morning in Lyon, we explore the Jardin Archéologique which preserves remains of the ancient Church of Sainte Croix, built on top of ancient remains, as well as the Church Saint Etienne, dating to the 4th century AD.

We awake at the stunning little town of Tain L’Hermitage famed for its wines, whose vineyards can be seen on the hills facing the river. We have a relaxed day of sailing as we make our way south to the medieval city of Avignon.

This morning we wake up in Avignon, the historic city which became home to the Popes in the 14^th century and which continued to be held by them until the French revolution, ensuring that it was adorned by a series of artists working to make the city fit for the papacy. In the afternoon, we sail to Arles, ancient Arelate, which became a very important city in Gallia Narbonensis. In the evening we sail to Martigues.

Exclusive Andante excursion: We spend the morning exploring the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in Europe and decorated by important artists such as Simone Martini and Matteo Giovanetti. From there we drive to Arles to see the incredible amphitheatre, as well as exploring the important collection of artefacts at the Museum of Ancient Arles.

We wake up in Martigues where we dock for the day. Martigues, founded in the 13^th century, was built on the remains of the ancient city of Maritima Avitocorum and is known for its atmospheric docks and canals. In the morning we explore the stunning natural habitat of the Camargue, the largest wetland in Western Europe and famed for its wide variety of wetland birds and white horses.

In the evening, our last aboard the MS Camargue, we enjoy a Gala Dinner.

Exclusive Andante excursion: After lunch onboard, we head out in the afternoon to explore the ancient remains of Marseille, the city which has remained important since its Greek foundation in the 7^th century BC. Here we explore the Museum of the Roman Docks, as well as the remains of the Greek walls and Roman docks in the Jardin des Vestiges.

This morning we disembark and set off for the stunning Pont du Gard, perhaps one of the most striking and well-preserved Roman ruins in France. Built in the 1^st century AD, it carried water from Uzès to ancient Nemausus, a masterwork of Roman engineering, which remained largely intact because of its use as a customs bridge. In the afternoon, we visit the well-preserved site of Glanum, which was never as wealthy as Arelate or Nemausus but which, nonetheless, was able to produce showy remains as the Mausoleum of the Julii and the Triumphal Arch built during the reign of Augustus.

Time permitting, we have a walk around the charming town of St. Remy-de-Provence before travelling to Marseille to take our return flight back to London.