One of the best ways to explore France is on a river cruising expedition. The country has a network of canals that flow through historic cities, picturesque towns, and stunning vineyards. Best of all, you’ll find many things to enjoy as you sail through these gorgeous places. To give you an idea, here are the top five things to do whilst river cruising in France.
- Stop at a Bordeaux Vineyard
The vineyards of Bordeaux are some of the world’s largest and finest. The region’s diverse landscapes allow for the production of different wine varieties, such as reds, rosés, sweet or dry whites, and sparkling whites.
As one of the most famous stops on a river cruise, the Bordeaux vineyards consist of 6,000 chateaux, medieval cities, historic villages, and archaeological sites. The winegrowers of Bordeaux are happy to open their vineyards for wine tours, tastings, gourmet discoveries, and more!
- Visit Stunning Chateaux Along the Loire River
There are some incredible places to explore here, making a luxury river cruise in France the perfect way to see it all. A Loire Valley River cruise offers the fantastic opportunity to visit stunning chateaux and discover France’s scenic and untouched landscapes. There are more than three hundred châteaux in the Loire, giving you plenty of options.
The Royal Château de Amboise will be worth a visit for its views alone. Perched delicately above the Loire, at the confluence of the river with the Amasse, the Royal Château de Amboise would be a great spot to enjoy the scenic river views and its surroundings. It’s the place of residence for the French kings between the 15th and 19th centuries and the perfect representation of a Loire châteaux.
- Take in Paris whilst Cruising the Seine River
A Seine river cruise is a more romantic way to explore Paris and marvel at its iconic sights, such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Musée d’Orsay. Seeing these sights from the river viewpoint allows you to gain good insight into the city’s fascinating architecture and history.
You’ll have plenty of options for a river cruise in the Seine River. You can choose a sightseeing riverboat cruise if your main goal is to see the city’s iconic sights. Meanwhile, a Seine dinner cruise would be more suitable for couples, where you get to indulge in delectable food and wine as your boat travels along the scenic river.
- Taste the Best of Gastronomic France in Burgundy When Travelling the Rhone
When cruising the Rhone river, taste the best gastronomic French cuisines in Burgundy. As one of the country’s most picturesque wine regions, Burgundy is home to world-renowned wineries.
On your tour of Burgundy, enjoy cellar visits and wine tastings from the bottle and barrel, take up French cooking lessons, taste traditional cheeses and artisanal chocolates, and discover medieval villages.
- Visit the Medieval Villages along the Rhine
Exploring medieval villages is a must when cruising the Rhine River. The three main port stops along the Rhine are the villages of Strasbourg, Colmar and Riquewihr, which are all in the Alsace region.
Strasbourg is a lovely village along the German border with a rich and colourful heritage blending German and French influences. Its most iconic sight is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, which overlooks the sweeping views of the Rhine. Colmar is a picturesque village famous for its colourful houses and vibrant Christmas markets. Riquewihr is another pretty town in the Alsace with cobbled streets dotted with half-timbered wine shops and tasting rooms.