River Seine: Châteaux, Impressionism & Normandy 2024
Dates & Prices
Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 | Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 | $4,990 | Get Our Price | Get Quote |
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2024 | Wednesday, Aug 07, 2024 | $4,990 | Get Our Price | Get Quote |
Wednesday, Aug 07, 2024 | Wednesday, Aug 14, 2024 | $4,990 | Get Our Price | Get Quote |
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Tauck's Solo Traveler: No Single Supplement
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Contact one of our Tour Specialists for more information. Offer valid on new bookings only. Savings vary per cabin category on select river cruises. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Capacity controlled and may be removed at any time without notice. Certain restrictions may apply; ask at time of booking.
Tour Itinerary
Our Seine rhapsody is a river of inspirations... a sojourn in the dreamy haunts of Impressionist painters... romantic villages, cozy cafés, opulent estates, cider farms, seascapes, and exquisite gardens in the heart of Normandy.... Follow the Seine on an 8-day river sojourn, winding from Parisian suburbs to the sea and back, discovering small towns, romantic chateaux and 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, and 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.
Auvers-sur-Oise , Giverny , Honfleur , Les Andelys , Paris , Rouen
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Day 1
Arrive Paris / Embark Le Pecq
Tour begins: 4:00 PM. A transfer is included from the Charles de Gaulle airport or Gare du Lyon or Gare du Nord train stations to Tauck's riverboat. Settle in aboard the riverboat and join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner, followed by a musical performance in the ship's lounge.
Meals: Dinner -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 at Chateau la Chenevière, meet your riverboat back in Caudebec-en-Caux. Dine at your leisure tonight.
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner -
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 -
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 ship.
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner -
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
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Our Seine rhapsody is a river of inspirations... a sojourn in the dreamy haunts of Impressionist painters... romantic villages, cozy cafés, opulent estates, cider farms, seascapes, and exquisite gardens in the heart of Normandy.... Follow the Seine on an 8-day river sojourn, winding from Parisian suburbs to the sea and back, discovering small towns, romantic chateaux and 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, and 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.
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Dinner at 16th-century Château du Taillis in Duclair
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Early-opening visit to Monet's house and gardens and the Impressionist Museum in Giverny
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Farewell reception at17th-century Château de Bizy
- Guided exploration of D-Day sites with a local expert, including Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, with lunch at the Chateau la Chenevière
- All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
- Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,326
- A locally guided walking tour of historic Rouen, including the Cathedral painted by Monet more than 30 times and Joan of Arc Square
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
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We spent more money on this Tauck tour than a Luxury Gold trip to Spain and Portugal (top of the line) which required international travel and was for a longer duration. Also, I've said this before about Tauck. Although a good company, there is too much food offered and too much time spent sitting down to a meal when we could be sightseeing.
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Our trip was amazing and we had to he most amazing guide Leah she went above and beyond
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Tauck delivered as promised and more. The tour director was very helpful and knowledgeable. We wouldn't hesitate to book with them again.
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Always enjoy traveling with Tauck, this trip was no different. Our tour leasder was one of the best we have encountered. Weather cooperated very well for a perfect trip.