The Seine Valley and its not-to-be-missed ports of call

Set out on foot for an unequaled tour of the magnificent palace gardens. An alternative experience at Versailles will bring you face to face with groves, sculptures, thriving greenery, and abundant water sources. In 1661, King Louis XIV authorized... more+ André Le Nôtre to create a French-style garden that would be the envy of all in the great European courts through the 18th century. The Sun King took such great pleasure in exploring his gardens, he wrote a book explaining how to give tours of the immense grounds. This tour will follow the king’s recommendations, and your guides will let you in on the secrets and tales of this unique site—one of the most beautiful open-air museums in the world.PLEASE NOTEThe order of the visits can change.Times are approximate. less-

Morning guided tour of Honfleur. At one time a market town of the Duchy of Normandy, at another a military fortress, a port of departure for great explorers and the land of Impressionist painters, Honfleur, a charming town with an incomparable cachet, has... more+ always fascinated people. Its charming little port, rich museums and small cafés invite you to take a moment out of time. less-

Leave Honfleur by coach for the excursion to the Alabaster Coast, classified as a Natura 2000 site since 2009. This trip will be your chance to discover the natural heritage of the Pays de Caux and the Seine estuary. We will pass by Le Havre. The high cliffs... more+ of white chalk and stone beaches were popularised by the paintings of Claude Monet. The suspended valleys of the little coastal rivers, the Normandy bridge and Etretat, sights not to be missed bordering a coast that you will see in a fresh light after this trip. Marvel at the beauty of the Alabaster Coast and the diversity of its plant and animal life. Stop at Etretat. Once a fishing village, Etretat transformed itself into a seaside resort in the 19th century and became a place of inspiration for artists (Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet), writers (Gustave Flaubert and Guy de Maupassant, Maurice Leblanc) and famous people (J. Michelet, F. Faure, the Queens of Spain, J. Bonaparte...). Etretat was the holiday spot of numerous famous opera composers and singers of the 19th century who had villas there or stayed there regularly in a comic-opera decor. The town has several remarkable chateaus, manor houses and villas, such as the Manoir de la Salamandre (a house admired by tourists and located in the main street near the hall), The Clos Lupin and the Château des Aygues which were the seaside residences of the Spanish queens Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies and Isabel II. Return by coach to Honfleur. PLEASE NOTE The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. Good walking shoes are recommended. There is a 20min-walk between the parking lot and the cliffs (to and from). The stop in Etretat depends on suitable weather conditions.  less-

We'll leave from Honfleur by coach for the beautiful Alabaster Coast, a natural heritage within the Pays de Caux and the estuary of the River Seine. We'll pass by Le Havre. The high white cliffs bordered by the beaches and stones were made famous by... more+ Impressionist paintings. As Guy de Maupassant wrote: "Nature has made these valleys; the rains of storms have ended with them in the shape of these ravines, trimming what was left of the cliff, excavating down to the sea, the bed of waters which acts as a passage for mankind.” Once in Étretat, we'll set out for a hike across the cliffs to bask in the landscapes that have been dramatically shaped by weather and erosion. Afterwards, we'll enjoy some free time to explore the city itself. At the end of our tour, we'll return to the ship by coach. PLEASE NOTE Times are approximate. The order of the visits can change. Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.  less-

Le patrimoine de la "ville aux cent clochers" est particulièrement important et son histoire est aussi riche que passionnante. Jeanne d’Arc, Gustave Flaubert, Pierre Corneille, Claude Monet ou Guillaume Le Conquérant ont contribué à rendre célèbre... more+ cette ville qui propose un ensemble unique de monuments civils et religieux s’échelonnant du Moyen Âge à nos jours. La cathédrale, le Gros-Horloge ou encore l’église Sainte Jeanne d’Arc conjuguent harmonieusement tradition et modernité. less-