We'll travel by coach to one of the most beautiful villages in France, Les Baux-de-Provence, located on a plateau in the heart of the Alpilles mountain range. The village overlooks the exceptional scenery leading to Arles, the Camargue, and the Alpilles Regional Nature Park. Les Baux is one of the must-see sites when visiting Provence. The village became well known after World War II when Raymond Thuillier opened the gastronomic restaurant “Oustau de Baumanière,” which welcomed celebrities and famous politicians at the time. The entire village was placed under the protection of the French Ministry of Culture and Environment in 1966. Since then, it has become the ultimate tourist destination and has been listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages.
At the foot of the village lies the Val d’Enfer, a valley formed by erosion. Within the valley is an old limestone quarry that was used to build the village and was the inspiration or backdrop for many works, including Dante’s poem The Divine Comedy and Jean Cocteau’s Testament of Orpheus. Today, it serves as the scene for a giant multimedia show where music and colors bring to life the amazing works of Picasso, Klimt, and Van Gogh. After our excursion, we’ll return on board the ship.
PLEASE NOTE
- The order of the visits can change.
- Times are approximate.
We'll travel by coach to one of the most beautiful villages in France, Les Baux-de-Provence, located on a plateau in the heart of the Alpilles mountain range. The village overlooks the exceptional scenery leading to Arles, the Camargue, and the Alpilles Regional Nature Park. Les Baux is one of the must-see sites when visiting Provence. The village became well known after World War II when Raymond Thuillier opened the gastronomic restaurant “Oustau de Baumanière,” which welcomed celebrities and famous politicians at the time. The entire village was placed under the protection of the French Ministry of Culture and Environment in 1966. Since then, it has become the ultimate tourist destination and has been listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages.
At the foot of the village lies the Val d’Enfer, a valley formed by erosion. Within the valley is an old limestone quarry that was used to build the village and was the inspiration or backdrop for many works, including Dante’s poem The Divine Comedy and Jean Cocteau’s Testament of Orpheus. Today, it serves as the scene for a giant multimedia show where music and colors bring to life the amazing works of Picasso, Klimt, and Van Gogh. After our excursion, we’ll return on board the ship.
PLEASE NOTE
- The order of the visits can change.
- Times are approximate.
Cruises
This shore excursion is available for one or several cruises
French Art and History Along the Rhône River
LYON - MACON - LYON - TAIN-L'HERMITAGE - AVIGNON - ARLES - MARTIGUES
Discover the Rhône through an offbeat, seven-day cruise. See each city differently as you retrace the footsteps of the artists and celebrities who influenced their cultures.
From Alphonse de Lamartine's Mâcon to Marcel Pagnol's Marseille, with side trips to Paul Bocuse's Lyon and Van Gogh's homestead in Arles, each excursion will bring you to the core of the city and its history.
Discover unusual sites such as the Quarries of Light in Les Baux-de-Provence and the Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval in Hauterives.
This cruise on the Saône and Rhone Rivers overflows with the vineyard landscapes and limestone cliffs of southern France.