Highlights of the Seine

River Cruise Wake up in the city you were just dreaming about.

From Paris to Rouen, Caudebec-en-Caux, Les Andelys and Vernon to Paris.

The Eiffel Tower, the way of life or the art? You could argue for hours about what it is that makes Paris so special. But one thing everyone agrees on is that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And when seen from the water, it’s even more beautiful. The banks of the Seine, the river’s many bridges and all the little stories about them are incredibly romantic. The Seine seems to have adopted the Parisians’ laissez-faire attitude to life as it gently flows towards Normandy. The landscape here – which was named after the “men of the North”, the Vikings, who landed here around 1,200 years ago – is extremely pretty. Blossoming meadows and dense forests guide the river towards Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The many artefacts documenting the 2,000-year history of this city are highly interesting. It’s easy to see why Normandy has been depicted in so many works of art. You too will reach for your camera more often than usual, regardless of whether you visit Claude Monet’s magical garden or the gorgeous Château Bizy, also known as “Little Versailles”. And everywhere you go, you’re tempted by culinary delights. In France, cheese is revered. Sample as much of it as you can, and find out why.

Les Andelys : The Château Gaillard is now just a mighty ruin. Nevertheless, it’s easy to imagine Richard the Lionheart keeping watch here for the advance of the enemy – the French – through the Seine valley. The fortress was the centre of the defence system, which included a network of trenches and a fortified island in the river with chains stretched across it. Today, Les Andelys is a peaceful, picturesque location amid rugged limestone rocks, green fields, the river island, the Hôpital Saint-Jacques and the Saint-Sauveur church tower. On our Seine cruise you can go for wonderful walks through the small town’s blossoming lanes towards the Gothic abbey church and, of course, the castle complex.

Rouen : Enter the streets of the lovely port city of Rouen, and you’ll feel as though you have travelled back through time. As you follow in the footsteps of France’s national hero, Joan of Arc, you’ll experience history first-hand. This is a city of art too: the cathedral served as a subject for the impressionist painter Claude Monet. Further picturesque sights in the region include abbeys and castles, which you’ll spot on the shore as you glide along the Seine towards Caudebec-en-Caux.

Normandy : At the beginning of the 19th century, painters and the first members of the jet set made the Norman coast fashionable. Wild chalk cliffs and fine sandy beaches, picturesque fishing villages, lush green idylls and gentle river landscapes, garnished with abbeys and castles nestling in the bends of the Seine, make up the charm of the landscape on this Seine cruise. Perhaps you'll catch a whiff of the delicate scent of apple trees in the air? If so, you are on the trail of a basic ingredient of local enjoyment: Calvados, the famous brandy, is distilled from cider and is not only an excellent digestif, but also the secret of traditional local cuisine.