9 Night Cruise sailing from Lyon to Arles aboard Swiss Emerald. 2 night hotel stay pre-cruise in Paris and 2 night hotel stay post-cruise in Monte Carlo.

If you're dreaming of a France river cruise, come along with us on our 14-day French Escapade: Paris to Monte-Carlo on the rivers Rhone and Saone. and visit Paris, Provence and Monte-Carlo as well. After two nights in the capital city of Paris - where you'll dine at chic Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysees - explore the countryside along rivers that meander past vineyards where some of the world's best grapes become some of the world's best wines, stopping for tastings. Discover river towns with Roman roots and lingering traces of medieval magic in their streets, experience the cowboy traditions and cuisine of La Camargue, and time travel in Avignon. Explore a palace fit for a pope and an abbey that was once one of the most powerful in Europe. Let the peace of the rivers lull you as ms Swiss Emerald glides along, bound for something new and wonderful every day. And then there are two nights in glittering Monte-Carlo to look forward to at the end of this France river cruise!

Day 1 Paris
Your France river cruise vacation begins at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris at 7:00 PM. After your arrival just relax or head out to do some exploring on your own before joining us to meet your Tauck Directors and fellow voyagers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner to remember a special evening at the exclusively chic Fouquet's on the Champs-Elysees.

Day 2 Paris
Your day begins with an orientation tour to help you get your bearings and consider all the ways that you can enjoy the "City of Light" at your leisure and as you please for the rest of the day. Choose from a selection of the city's finest museums, including Musee du Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay (subject to availability), to visit with admission included. or set off to discover all the pleasures of Paris in whatever you way you choose. Did you know that, in Paris, you're never more than 400 meters from a subway station? How convenient!

Day 3 Lyon
A free morning in Paris gives you an opportunity to do those last few things that will make your time in Paris memorable. Say au revoir to one of the world's great cities as you board the high-speed TGV train to Lyon, home to a bounty of wines produced by local vineyards, locally produced cheeses, spicy sausages, warm-from-the-oven baguettes... You'll return to Lyon in a few days - but today, embark ms Swiss Emerald late afternoon for the start of your France river cruise along the Rhone. Join us tonight for the captain's welcome reception and dinner.

Day 4 Chalon-Sur-Saone
Chalon-sur-Sâone on the River Saone lies in the heart of southern Burgundy. Although its history dates back to the time of Charlemagne, it has another significant claim to fame - this is considered the birthplace of photography. You have local inventor Nicephore Niepce, who produced several photographic firsts right here in the 1820s, to thank for the great photos of the town's Romanesque churches and other monuments you'll take during a walking tour. Then get your taste buds ready for a workout - first, to savor local culinary offerings on a guided tasting tour of some of Chalon-Sur-Saone's noted food shops; then to sip some wonderful wines as we head off to Mercurey, the largest wine-growing area in the Cote Chalonnaise, to sample some of the notable reds produced here in a tasting at one of the 30 local premier cru vineyards.

Day 5 Tournus
Pouilly-Fuisse is the appellation for the finest white wines of the Mâconnais region in the southern portion of Burgundy. Your riverboat docks the previous evening along the Saone in Tournus; this morning, head outto explore this beautiful wine producing region. Although history lies around every corner (this was a major crossroads during Roman times), the real attractions are the vineyards. Picture in your mind what a typical French vineyard looks like... and then picture the most amazing landscape that surrounds you for miles and miles. Vineyards, gently rolling hills, orchards, red-tiled farmhouses, medieval cathedrals... Enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard before returning to the riverboat to cruise to Mâcon.

Day 6 Macon
Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, France experienced hundreds of years of unstable government; the only constant was the church. And so during the reign of Charlemagne (742 - 814), monastic influences inspired a great revival in art, education and culture. Today you'll visit one of the great monasteries of the period when you tour the great Benedictine Abbey of Cluny; founded in 910, it was at the center of this major monastic reform movement and was also the largest Christian building in the world until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. You'll also visit Haras National de Cluny (France's national equestrian center), which dates back to the 19th century, to learn about its high-quality thoroughbred stallions. The history of wine production at Château de Chasselas dates back to the 14th century - and yet for many, the name is most familiar from the opening lines of the famous Monty Python "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch; a visit today includes a wine pairing lunch. Later today, reboard ms Swiss Emerald as Tauck's France river cruise heads to Lyon.

Day 7 Lyon
Ahh, Lyon. If you're a serious foodie, Lyon is the place for you! Regarded as the culinary capital of France, there are more restaurants here per capita than anywhere else in the country. But of course there is more to this 2,000 year-old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, than food. Begin your exploration with a panoramic view of Lyon from the district of Fouvicre, set high on a hill. Check out the town's winding passageways and the Cathedrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste, with its 19th-century astronomical clock. Your day also includes the stunning Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvicre - built in the 1870s, it features exquisite marble work, stained glass windows, colorful mosaics and gilt galore; and a tour of medieval Vieux Lyon. Continue cruising to Vienne this evening.

Day 8 Vienne
It seems that the Romans were everywhere along the Rhone, and Vienne (which they called "Vienna" in their day) was no exception. During your time on a walking tour here this morning, look for the theatre and temple they left behind, as well as other sights straight out of history. You'll also take a small train to Mont Pipet for extensive views of the surrounding countryside. Some free time, then a return to ms Swiss Emerald for a cruise to Viviers - and a barbecue dinner on the Sun Deck, weather permitting.

Day 9 Viviers
The walled city of Viviers, which retains much of its medieval character, is a delightful stop on this France river cruise. A walking tour reveals ancient homes and its unusual cathedral, which looks more like a castle than a church in the opinion of some, high up on the riverbank. After some free time to soak up the character of this lovely town on your own, reboard ms Swiss Emerald for lunch, followed by an afternoon and evening cruising along the Rhone to Avignon. As you glide past the scenic shoreline, enjoy a demonstration of the French game of petanque on deck (weather permitting) and perhaps a chocolate tasting.

Day 10 Avignon
The fortified medieval city of Avignon was probably a much more peaceful place before Rome became "inconvenient" for the popes who moved the papacy here about 700 years ago. Although they stayed for less than a century, they kept busy during those years... as you'll see at the impressive Palais des Papes that they built for themselves during this morning's sightseeing. As well versed in Latin as they all were, they surely understood what "in vino veritas" means, and they all shared a fondness for wine - and the "truth" it brings - which was very convenient, because wine has been grown in the area for over 2,600 years. Taste locally produced wine named for the "new castle of the popes," the world-renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape, on a wine-tasting excursion this afternoon.

Day 11 Arles
It may seem strange to encounter Roman ruins in Provence but Arles was, after all, once a Roman city; while the gladiators are gone, the arena they left behind - just one of the town's many Roman remnants - still hosts performances and bullfights today. Explore Arles' medieval streets and city walls and be sure to look out across the surrounding countryside to what van Gogh found so enchanting. After lunch, it's off to La Camargue, France's "wild west," where cowboys tend to herds of bulls destined for bullfighting rings in Spain. Visit a working farm to see what these cowhands and their charges do during a demonstration - not something usually experienced on a France river cruise - followed by lunch and traditional Provençal entertainment. Join us this evening for the Captain's farewell dinner.

Day 12 Arles (disembark) to Monte Carlo
The France river cruise portion of your journey ends as you disembark ms Swiss Emerald in Arles, and bid farewell to the Captain and crew. As much as you may find yourself missing the friends you made among them during your time aboard the riverboat, you still have Nice and Monte-Carlo to look forward to! It won't be hard to understand why Nice is a popular playground for jet setters from around the world as you explore this lovely city on a walking tour, followed by some free time to discover what's so nice about Nice as you please. Travel on to marvelous Monaco and the Fairmont Monte Carlo, your home for the next two nights. Guests who occupied suites in category 6 during the France river cruise will enjoy sea-view accommodations at this world-famous hotel.

Day 13 Monte Carlo
Mega-yachts from around the world bobbing in the bay. the rich, the famous, the jet setters. a casino world-renowned for its glamour. a real-life royal fairy-tale romance. it's all part of Monte-Carlo's magic spell. Get the lay of the land during an orientation tour this morning and then spend the rest of the day exploring as you please. What a wonderful place it is to conclude your France river cruise vacation with a farewell dinner tonight at your premium hotel in the heart of it all.

Day 14 Monte Carlo