We're thrilled to share the incredible experiences and breathtaking sights from Melissa & Sandra's 'Discover France' Group Tour. From the charming coastal villages to the vibrant cities and serene river cruises, join us as we explore the enchanting beauty of France through their detailed tour walkthrough and stunning photos.

Our first stop in France is to Sandra's hidden gem - the adorable, picturesque, idyllic harbour village of Villefranche-sur Mer. It oozes personality and picture-postcard views all along this beautiful coastal 'ville'.

Villefranche (as it is commonly known) is a stunningly beautiful seaside town on the Med, with an imposing Citadel overlooking the Cap Ferrat Peninsula.

This 14th century town, with its tiny evocative-named streets, broken by twisting staircases with glimpses of the sea at every turn is a delight to amble. Or sit at one of the numerous seaside restaurants to watch the world go by.

Villefranche is only 10 mins drive or a short train ride from Nice, 30 mins from Monaco or 15 mins from Menton. The latter, is the last French town and only minutes from the Italian border, making it a great base for visiting the surrounding region.

 

 

Today we went to the beautiful seaside town of Cassis on route for Aix en Provence. Cassis is a Mediterranean fishing port in southern France. Overlooked by a centuries-old château, it’s known for pebbly beaches and "calanques" - narrow inlets framed by steep, limestone cliffs. The harbor features pastel-colored buildings, sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Local vineyards are known for producing Cassis white wine. There are also many rails running along the huge, rocky Cap Canaille headland with panoramic sea views.

We boarded our private boat to explore some of the aqua blue Calanques. For lunch on board we had the most stunning delectable French hors d’oeuvres, followed by a quick swim in the crystal blue waters.

With blue skies and at 29 degrees, it was a perfect day on the French Rivera.

 

 

The next few days we based ourselves on Aix en Provence.

Aix-en-Provence is known for its stunning architecture including the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, a Romanesque-Gothic church that dates back to the 5th century. Aix-en-Provence is often referred to as the “City of a Thousand Fountains” due to the numerous fountains located throughout the city.

We then spent a full day exploring Saint Rémy and Le Baux.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a charming and idyllic town. Its sun-dappled squares, vine-clad shops, cypress trees, restaurants and cafés is Provence at its most quintessential. Of course, the town's most significant claim to fame draws art lovers from all around the world. Vincent Van Gogh spent some time here.

Then a short drive took us to the prestigious medieval city of Les-Baux, perched on a rocky spur overlooking trees, vines and olive trees. It is believed to be the most beautiful village in France. And finally a visit to the Carrières de Lumières light show.

This is a large cave of lights where a multimedia art show is projected onto massive limestone walls of a former quarry. Accompanied by music, this 40-minute light show mainly features works by famous artists. The theme changes regularly and our light show was based on Egyptian art.

 

 

We are so excited to be boarding the Viking Buri, our Viking River Cruise ship which takes us from Avignon in the South of France, up to Lyon in the Northern Rhône region.

Embarking in the medieval city of Avignon, our itinerary for the day included an exploration of beautiful riverside cities, fine French food, and Roman ruins. We stopped at six ports along the Rhône River, each port was rich in history and culture.

Viking Cruises are known for their wonderful shore excursions led by knowledgeable, local tour guides. Some tours are included in the cost of the cruise. In Avignon we visited the Palace of the Popes or 'Palais des Papes'.

The Palace of the Popes was both a palace and a fortress. Today it is the largest Gothic building in Europe and along with the historic center of Avignon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We then cruised further along the river to the wonderful city of Arles. Though it was once the capital of the Kingdom of Arles and an important river port, it is best known now for the outstanding Roman amphitheater. Often they have bull fighting and concerts in this ancient theatre.

From Arles we cruised to Vienne, another stunning French town with an ancient Roman past and some impressive Roman ruins. We strolled through the medieval, old town with its narrow, half-timbered structures and picturesque squares.

The final few days of our cruise were spent in the wonderful city of Lyon. The included shore excursion was a guided tour to the top of Fourvière Hill dominated by the Fourvière Cathedral, where we also enjoyed the amazing views of the city. In Roman times this was the center of Lyon.

Known as a city of gastronomy, Lyon is the perfect place to indulge in fine French cuisine. We always recommend trying the local cuisine in one of the many quaint bistros you will find here. And explore the hidden alleyways used during the war to evade the Nazis.

After our fantastic 7 night voyage we had to farewell the most wonderful crew who took such great care of us all. We were transferred to the train station to catch our TGV to Paris - the fast train took just over 2 hours to cover the 467km trip.

We were then picked up and taken to our new Viking Cruise ship for our next 7 night adventure...

 

 

On arrival into Paris we transferred to our new Viking ship for our 8-day Paris and Normandy itinerary.

We docked in the heart of Paris where we had views of the Eiffel Tower, with its beautiful twinkling lights from 11pm to midnight, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

After we set sail, we experienced history first hand at the Normandy beaches, visiting the Commonwealth Landing Beach and cemetery, and the famous Bayeux Tapestry Museum. The whole Commonwealth experience was extremely moving and brought many to tears for those fallen soldiers.

We then sailed to Rouen with its incredible Gothic architecture. After exploring the city, we had dinner at La Couronne - founded in 1345, it is the oldest Inn in France.

From Rouen, we had the option to ride bikes to Giverny and visit the charming house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked. The setting was the inspiration to many of his masterpieces.

This cruise celebrates history, art and food along the Seine, with many charming French villages to explore en route. We recommend including this in your next France itinerary too!

On our return to Paris we transferred to our hotel in the Etoile area. This is a fantastic location that is just minutes from the Champs Elysées. We explored Paris by foot, and enjoyed our final few days together discovering many hidden gems.

 

The month flew by and we all had the most incredible time! We saw and went to many wonderful places, met some great people, and made life-long friends.