reid

Follow the Seine on an 8-day river sojourn, winding from Parisian suburbs to the sea and back, discovering small towns, romantic chateaux, medieval cities, windy seascapes, and colorful gardens that inspired Impressionist painters. Walk in Van Gogh's footsteps at Auvers-sur-Oise... admire the breathtaking view from the heights of Richard the Lionheart's castle at Les Andelys... before opening hours, immerse in the picture-perfect beauty of Monet's gardens and lily ponds at Giverny... stand awestruck at the island monastery of Mont St. Michel, and the D-Day beaches at Pointe du Hoc... wander the cobbled streets of medieval Rouen. The charming seaside port of Honfleur, where Monet learned to paint with oils, and Impressionism was born. Along the way, you'll also find the soul of Norman cuisine, the essence of calvados, and enjoy special evenings as the royals once did at elegant centuries-old Château de Bizy and Château du Taillis.

This is a new itinerary for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and there are only 3 sailings on this itinerary. Reid Travel offers a free pre-night or post-night hotel stay for guests new to Tauck. They must make their deposit by July 3, 2023, to take advantage of this. Those who have already traveled with Tauck in the past can also receive a pre- or post-hotel stay if they book no later than July 31, 2023. These 2024 sailings are already booked up, so please let those who might be interested know as soon as possible, because stateroom categories are limited.  

Full Itinerary:

DAY 1

Arrive Paris / Embark Le Pecq
Tour begins: 4:00 PM. A transfer is included from the Charles de Gaulle Airport or the Charles de
Gaulle, Gare du Lyon, or Gare du Nord train stations to Tauck's riverboat. Settle in aboard the riverboat
Sapphire and join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner, followed by a musical
performance in the ship's lounge.
MEALS: Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship

DAY 2

Auvers-sur-Oise, in van Gogh's footsteps
Sail to Conflans-St. Honorine this morning, then drive to picturesque Auvers-sur-Oise, where
Vincent Van Gogh spent the last days of his life. Van Gogh moved to the artists' community in 1890
to recover from a mental breakdown; at the time, things were looking up; Van Gogh had finally sold
a painting; his work was being shown at major exhibitions, and his star was rising in the Paris art
world; at Auvers-sur-Oise he had a burst of energy and inspiration, producing 80 paintings in just
70 days; then, with no explanation, he shot himself. Follow Van Gogh's last steps on a walking tour;
visit Auberge Ravoux, the inn where he stayed, preserved as a museum; visit the cafe, and Van
Gogh's attic room; and see how his neighboring artists lived. Pay homage at the town cemetery,
where Vincent's devoted brother and patron, Theo, lies beside him. While in town, you'll also visit
the Absinthe Museum, dedicated to the history and mythology of the notorious cordial known as
the Green Fairy, popular among bohemian artists and poets of Van Gogh's time. Return to the
Sapphire for lunch. This afternoon, enjoy a lesson in Impressionist painting by a professional artist
as you sail for Les Andelys.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship

DAY 3

Secrets of Les Andelys and a taste of "cidre"
In 1198, Normandy belonged to England, a claim disputed by Philip II, King of France. Anticipating a
French invasion, the audacious King of England, Richard the Lionheart, decided to build a mighty
fortress on a cliff overlooking the Seine and the village of Les Andelys. Richard designed the fortress
himself and with the help of thousands of workers built it within a year. He proudly named it Chateau
Gaillard (loosely translated as "Saucy" or "Defiant" Castle), a towering middle finger to Philip; Richard
declared that it was so well situated he could defend it "even if the walls were made of butter." The
astonishing ruins of Castle Gaillard are still there, and you can see them up close on a guided tour, with
panoramic views. Get acquainted with Les Andelys on a walking tour; then drive to an apple farm in
Tilly to find the essence of calvados, Normandy's famous apple brandy. The terroir here is inhospitable
to wine grapes but perfect for apples; cidre, therefore, is Norman wine, with all its sophisticated
varieties, grades, blends, and nuances. Discover the art of making cidre and calvados, with tastings, of
course, and locally made paté. Return to the riverboat for lunch as you sail for Caudebec; dinner is at
leisure this evening, followed by evening entertainment in the lounge.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship

DAY 4

Mont St. Michel or Étretat & Honfleur
Legend says that sometime in the 8th Century the Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of
Arrandos and told him to build a church on a small rocky island off the coast of Normandy. The angel
was a brilliant strategist. Surrounded by water and high cliffs, accessible on foot only at low tide, the
islet was a challenge to any Romanesque church builder, but it was also impervious to raids by Vikings
and Englishmen. The bishop named it Mont Saint Michel. And over the centuries, as monarchs and
architects embellished it, the island became a breathtaking citadel, with fortifications, ramparts, crypts,
tunnels, churches, villages, and streets, spiraling up to a Benedictine monastery. In declaring Mont
Saint Michel a World Heritage Site, UNESCO calls it "a technical and artistic tour de force." Experience
it yourself today on an unforgettable walking tour. Or take a drive to the white shoreline cliffs of Étretat,
a favorite landscape for en plein air artists. You'll also visit the picturesque harbor town of Honfleur,
where landscape painter Eugene Boudin gave oil-painting lessons to a teenaged Claude Monet,
created an artists' colony, and inspired the Impressionist movement.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship
EXCURSION CHOICES: Mont St Michel guided tour
EXCURSION CHOICES: Visit to Etretat and Honfleur

DAY 5

D-Day Beaches, then and now
2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in World II. Today's poignant visit
to the beaches of Normandy is led by a local guide knowledgeable about the day's events, the heroics
and the losses of this historic Allied operation of June 6, 1944, as well as its Allied liberation of Western
Europe. See Pointe du Hoc where US Army Rangers scaled the 100-foot-high, crater-riddled cliffs and
seized the German artillery pieces to keep them from firing on the American troops landing at Omaha
and Utah beaches. Visit Omaha Beach, one of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of World
War II, today dotted with the remains of German bunkers. Pause at the Normandy American Cemetery
and Memorial overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel, the final resting place for more than
9,300 troops who lost their lives in World War II. After lunch, meet your riverboat back in Caudebecen-Caux. Dine at your leisure tonight.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship

DAY 6

Explore medieval Rouen
Medieval Rouen is dwarfed by its glorious Notre-Dame Cathedral, which so captivated Claude Monet
that he painted it over and over again at different times of the day, to capture its many faces in fleeting
changes of light. Stand in awe of this Gothic masterpiece on a walking tour of the city's enchanting
half-timbered houses and winding cobblestone streets. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the
Market Square in 1431, and she's memorialized everywhere in the city, including the Church of Saint
Joan of Arc; there is also a chapel in the Cathedral dedicated to her. Enjoy time to explore Rouen on
your own, then join us for a Tauck Exclusive this evening at historic Château du Taillis in Duclair; built in
Renaissance style in 1530, and nestled in a large woodland park, the château is an elegant retreat
steeped in exquisite 18th-century furnishings and décor. Re-embark ms Sapphire in Duclair and sail
for Vernon tonight.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship

DAY 7

Monet's house and gardens in Giverny
Dock in Vernon, and drive to Giverny for an early-opening visit to Claude Monet's house and famous
gardens, exclusive to Tauck; the colorful house, now a museum, is preserved as he left it – and you'll
explore at leisure the gardens that were Monet's outdoor studios, where he could arrange the trees,
flowerbeds, compositions, and colors as it suited him. The flower garden and the Japanese water
garden are meticulously maintained, and walking in them is a unique, immersive experience, not just a
sense of being present in Monet's art, but also in the painter's mind. Drop in at the Impressionist
Museum for a self-guided visit, to learn more about Impressionism and its history. Then return to
Vernon for a farewell reception at the grand Château de Bizy; once the residence of King Louis Phillipe, the castle is set in a landscaped park of fountains and statuary near the Seine, its salons and
dining hall exuding 18th Century French elegance. Join us for a farewell dinner aboard the ship.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION: Tauck Ship

DAY 8

Journey home
Tour ends: Le Peca / Paris. Disembark ship by 9:00 AM. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from
Tauck's riverboat to Charles de Gaulle airport or the Charles de Gaulle, Gare du Lyon, or Gare du Nord
train stations for your journey home. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.
MEALS: Breakfast

What's Included:

• All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors, and Tauck Cruise Director
• Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions (see the full itinerary here)
• A locally guided walking tour of historic Rouen, including the Cathedral painted by Monet more than 30 times and Joan of Arc Square
• Cider and Calvados tasting at a farm in Tilly
• A visit to the Château Gaillard ruins in Les Andelys
• Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard the ship include regional wine, beer, and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water, and soft drinks
• Airport and train station transfers on arrival and departure as noted
• 19 meals; all service charges

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