French Feast: Normandy, Brittany & Aquitaine

This port city on the Seine River and gateway to Paris is full of beautiful architecture and is an art-lover's delight. Museums are plentiful here including the Historial Jeanne d'Arc and the Musee des Beaux-Arts with the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France. Stroll the many local markets full of fresh produce and flowers and dine at one of the incredible restaurants featuring fresh ingredients from this region.

This port city on the Seine River and gateway to Paris is full of beautiful architecture and is an art-lover's delight. Museums are plentiful here including the Historial Jeanne d'Arc and the Musee des Beaux-Arts with the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France. Stroll the many local markets full of fresh produce and flowers and dine at one of the incredible restaurants featuring fresh ingredients from this region.

Cruise the elegant Seine to or from Rouen through the heart of Normandy—an inland journey reserved for smaller ships. From the river, pass beneath the sweeping Pont de Normandie at the estuary, sail by the colorful waterfront of Honfleur, and continue inland past white chalk cliffs and pastoral countryside before Rouen’s cathedral spire rises into view above the riverbanks.

Sitting on the estuary where the Seine River meets the English Channel, the charming character of this harbor town has been the subject of artists like Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin. The 15th century St. Catherine's church is an interesting vaulted timber structure built by shipbuilders. And a walk along the edge of the Honfleur Estuary will pass town gardens, beaches, and a view of the Normandy Bridge. You can also find the intriguing local cider along the Route du Cidre.

Sitting on the estuary where the Seine River meets the English Channel, the charming character of this harbor town has been the subject of artists like Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin. The 15th century St. Catherine's church is an interesting vaulted timber structure built by shipbuilders. And a walk along the edge of the Honfleur Estuary will pass town gardens, beaches, and a view of the Normandy Bridge. You can also find the intriguing local cider along the Route du Cidre.

This third largest port of Normandy is a small ship only port full of historical significance and is the gateway to the Normandy beaches of WWII. View the stunning former Benedictine monastery, the imposing Chateau de Caen built by William the Conqueror in 1060 and the Pegasus Bridge. Then take a walk in the Vaugueux District with its pedestrian-only street lined with shops and eateries.

Once notorious as the home of pirates, St.-Malo today is better known for the UNESCO site monastery and town of Mont St. Michel and the famous oysters of nearby Cancale. Walk the city's ramparts, or pass the time at a seaside boulangerie sampling a fresh and buttery croissant. 

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SEAD

Royan is a seaside town on France’s Atlantic coast, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. It’s known for long sandy beaches, a relaxed resort vibe, and striking post-World War II modernist architecture after much of the town was rebuilt. Royan is popular for swimming, sailing, seaside promenades, and its central market, which is a local landmark.

Royan is a seaside town on France’s Atlantic coast, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. It’s known for long sandy beaches, a relaxed resort vibe, and striking post-World War II modernist architecture after much of the town was rebuilt. Royan is popular for swimming, sailing, seaside promenades, and its central market, which is a local landmark.

Follow the Garonne River and the expansive Gironde Estuary from the Atlantic Ocean into renowned wine country, sailing past the historic Cordouan Lighthouse rising from the sea and along the Médoc peninsula, where vineyard-covered hills, grand châteaux, and historic port towns line the banks.

Bordeaux has long been known as La Belle au Bois Dormant, Sleeping Beauty.  And while the beauty part is undeniable, the sleeping part could be argued. Sure, the region is filled with treasures from long ago, including more than 350 historic monuments and buildings in the city alone. But the capital of Aquitaine is also home to a vibrant culture and, as oenophiles well know, is the gateway to some of France's most famous vineyards. In this UNESCO World Heritage city, 13th century cathedrals and 18th century palaces are commonplace. Venture beyond the city's borders to the chateaux of the Médoc region or to Saint-Émilion, a breathtaking medieval village set among the vineyards that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.