Along France’s rivers: A taste of Burgundy and Provence
The Rhône flows past the red roofed houses of southern France, meeting the Saône, its largest tributary, in the culinary capital of Lyon. A river cruise through this region is a journey through a fertile sun-kissed countryside scented by lavender and thyme and adorned with fields of sunflowers, vineyards, farms, orchards, and olive groves.
Read MoreLa Belle Epoque: Barging through the Burgundy region of France
Burgundy — we know it as a deep red hue, the color of a wine from a country where it is named not by the grape from which it is made but by the region in which it is produced. The Burgundy region, southeast of Paris, is fruitful, prosperous and rich in history, culture, and gastronomy.
Read MoreBarging in Alsace Lorraine aboard European Waterways’ Le Panache
We booked a barge trip that began and ended in Strasbourg, capital of the Alsace region of eastern France. This beautiful area between the Vosges Mountains and the Black Forest bears a strong German influence because its nationality and language switched back and forth depending on the outcome of a variety of wars.
Read MoreHolland America’s Mediterranean
Our Western Mediterranean cruise began in Rome, center of the empire that once controlled the entire area, and sailed westward to Lisbon, capital of Portugal, whose 15th and 16th century navigators helped build an overseas empire.
Read More