Viking Rhone: 14 nights from Paris with Viking Kari
Nov. 6, 2024

Paris

Paris is a unique city that makes everyone who visits it fall in love with it. Its atmosphere is magical, and its many characters make it beautiful and varied. Walking along the streets in Paris brings you back in time. In short, walking in Montmartre, you will relive the atmosphere of the Belle Époque, when Paris was the best destination for artists in search of fame.
Some of the most famous painters in the world chose Paris as the city to settle in, including Pisarro, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Modigliani. The city offers all kinds of attractions, from noteworthy works of architecture such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, dated back to 12th century and the principal place of worship of the city and the Arc of Triomphe, located at the end of Champs-Élysées and built to celebrate Napoleone Bonaparte's victories.

It is inconceivable that you go to Paris and you do not visit the Palace of Versailles that was the residence of the Sun King until the French Revolution. The palace is located about 20 kilometers from the center and it is a true spectacle, both inside and outside. Famous is the Gallery of Mirrors, where the play of light makes it looks like as if it were bathed in gold, and its gardens, as far as the eye can see, are true gems. The interplay of perspective was designed by the architect André Le Nôtre and the result is an
expanse of water play and geometry, sculptures and canals. If you are an art lover, you can indulge yourself in Paris. The Gare d'Orsay, is a real railway station used as art gallery in 1986, features some of
the world's most famous works, such as Degas's ballerinas or Renoir's portraits. The structure itself is noteworthy: it is the old Paris station dating back to 1900.

Worth mentioning is the Centre Pompidou (or Beaubourg), inaugurated in 1977 and restructured in the 1990s by a group of architects including Renzo Piano. The gallery hosts works of architecture, modern art and photography with a permanent exhibition that is always active and lots of itinerant exhibitions that go hand in hand with conferences, concerts and cultural activities. Another attraction not to be missed is the Bibliothèque Publique d'Information, located inside Beaubourgand it is the main library in Paris that hosts hundreds of thousands of sources including books, magazines, maps, scores and much more.

Paris is also the city of fashion. Some of the most famous and exclusive brands have their headquarters in this city and the Fashion Week makes the city full of eccentric people showing off their extravagant outfits.

Vernon

Rouen

Les Andelys

Mantes La Jolie

Paris

Paris is a unique city that makes everyone who visits it fall in love with it. Its atmosphere is magical, and its many characters make it beautiful and varied. Walking along the streets in Paris brings you back in time. In short, walking in Montmartre, you will relive the atmosphere of the Belle Époque, when Paris was the best destination for artists in search of fame.
Some of the most famous painters in the world chose Paris as the city to settle in, including Pisarro, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Modigliani. The city offers all kinds of attractions, from noteworthy works of architecture such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, dated back to 12th century and the principal place of worship of the city and the Arc of Triomphe, located at the end of Champs-Élysées and built to celebrate Napoleone Bonaparte's victories.

It is inconceivable that you go to Paris and you do not visit the Palace of Versailles that was the residence of the Sun King until the French Revolution. The palace is located about 20 kilometers from the center and it is a true spectacle, both inside and outside. Famous is the Gallery of Mirrors, where the play of light makes it looks like as if it were bathed in gold, and its gardens, as far as the eye can see, are true gems. The interplay of perspective was designed by the architect André Le Nôtre and the result is an
expanse of water play and geometry, sculptures and canals. If you are an art lover, you can indulge yourself in Paris. The Gare d'Orsay, is a real railway station used as art gallery in 1986, features some of
the world's most famous works, such as Degas's ballerinas or Renoir's portraits. The structure itself is noteworthy: it is the old Paris station dating back to 1900.

Worth mentioning is the Centre Pompidou (or Beaubourg), inaugurated in 1977 and restructured in the 1990s by a group of architects including Renzo Piano. The gallery hosts works of architecture, modern art and photography with a permanent exhibition that is always active and lots of itinerant exhibitions that go hand in hand with conferences, concerts and cultural activities. Another attraction not to be missed is the Bibliothèque Publique d'Information, located inside Beaubourgand it is the main library in Paris that hosts hundreds of thousands of sources including books, magazines, maps, scores and much more.

Paris is also the city of fashion. Some of the most famous and exclusive brands have their headquarters in this city and the Fashion Week makes the city full of eccentric people showing off their extravagant outfits.

Lyon

Lyon is the third biggest city of France after Paris and Marseille and offers many attractions for the tourists. Its historical centre became part of UNESCO World Heritade in 1998 and has many museums, monuments, churches, parks and landscapes. It also offers a remarkable gastronomic culture. 

The city centre, the so-called Presqu'île (i.e. peninsula in French) hosts the Fine Arts Museums, the Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, Saint-Nizier Church and many other buildings with a huge historical and cultural meaning. The Presqu'île is also the heart of the life of Lion. Here you can find any kind of shops, restaurants and bars.
On the west-side hill of the city, there is the centre of Fourvierés, that can be reached by two funicular railways, one of which is one of the most ancient and still working. In December the city hosts one of the most characteristic festivals in Europe, the Lion Light Festival. From 5th to 8th December, about 70 installations are set in the streets, the squares and on the buildings of the city, creating a suggestive atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Lyon i salso the city that gave birth to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the Little Prince’s “dad” and gave him its homage with a monument in Place Bellecour 70 years after his death.

Lyon

Lyon is the third biggest city of France after Paris and Marseille and offers many attractions for the tourists. Its historical centre became part of UNESCO World Heritade in 1998 and has many museums, monuments, churches, parks and landscapes. It also offers a remarkable gastronomic culture. 

The city centre, the so-called Presqu'île (i.e. peninsula in French) hosts the Fine Arts Museums, the Basilica of Saint-Martin d’Ainay, Saint-Nizier Church and many other buildings with a huge historical and cultural meaning. The Presqu'île is also the heart of the life of Lion. Here you can find any kind of shops, restaurants and bars.
On the west-side hill of the city, there is the centre of Fourvierés, that can be reached by two funicular railways, one of which is one of the most ancient and still working. In December the city hosts one of the most characteristic festivals in Europe, the Lion Light Festival. From 5th to 8th December, about 70 installations are set in the streets, the squares and on the buildings of the city, creating a suggestive atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Lyon i salso the city that gave birth to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the Little Prince’s “dad” and gave him its homage with a monument in Place Bellecour 70 years after his death.

Vienne

Tournon

Arles

Arles is a French city facing onto the Rhône and it is one of the best cities where you can start a tour of Camargue. In Arles you can find ancient monuments dated back to the Roman Age such as the amphitheatre, where in the past the gladiators had their fights, and the old theatre, used now as summer arena for open-air cinema. Have a walk along the Alyscamps, a long promenade that leads to a church and surrounded by cypresses. This kind of landscape inspired Van Gogh in many of his paintings. The artist chose Arles as his home for a long time. It was in this city that the Dutch artist painted some of his most famous works, such as the sunflowers, the Potato Eaters, Starry Night and many more. Don’t miss the underground quadrilateral called Cryptoporch, rising under the Cathedral square and build in order to support the Roman court and that was used as a granary.
Besides the endless architectural works, Arles offers many restaurants and bistrots where you can taste the typical dishes, such as the famous fish soup.

Avignone

Avignon is a city of Southern France with ancestral origins. The area on which the city is now has been inhabited by humans since the Stone Age. The city has been property of many populations such as the Romans and the Burgundi. It then became independent and afterwards, France took possession of it. Avignon is an ancient papal city after that John XXII made it his residence in 1316.

The Palais des Papes, facing onto a wide square, is a touristic destination all year round. After you have visited the palace, have a walk on the Promenade des Papes that will take you to the gardens where the popes used to cultivate aromatic herbs. The walls of the city are noteworthy: they are 4 km long with 39 towers and 7 doors, making the city a treasure to shield. Avignon has a rich cultural heritage, but leisure and relaxation are not missing at all. Having a walk in the city centre you can find many bars and bistrot where you can taste the specialties of the most famous cuisine in the world and immerge in the magic atmosphere that surrounds the whole city.

Avignone

Avignon is a city of Southern France with ancestral origins. The area on which the city is now has been inhabited by humans since the Stone Age. The city has been property of many populations such as the Romans and the Burgundi. It then became independent and afterwards, France took possession of it. Avignon is an ancient papal city after that John XXII made it his residence in 1316.

The Palais des Papes, facing onto a wide square, is a touristic destination all year round. After you have visited the palace, have a walk on the Promenade des Papes that will take you to the gardens where the popes used to cultivate aromatic herbs. The walls of the city are noteworthy: they are 4 km long with 39 towers and 7 doors, making the city a treasure to shield. Avignon has a rich cultural heritage, but leisure and relaxation are not missing at all. Having a walk in the city centre you can find many bars and bistrot where you can taste the specialties of the most famous cuisine in the world and immerge in the magic atmosphere that surrounds the whole city.