Cruise description

5 Night Cruise sailing from Paris roundtrip aboard A-Rosa Viva.

5 Night Cruise sailing from Paris roundtrip aboard A-Rosa Viva.

Looking at Paris from the Seine will make you feel slightly proud. After all, not everyone gets this view of the world-famous metropolis. You can take your time as you enjoy an overview from here of some the city’s most famous sights. This city has so much to offer that even Parisians don’t manage to see everything. So it’s advisable to choose carefully and give yourself plenty of time for coffee breaks, people-watching, sampling delicatessens, wandering around aimlessly and dawdling. Historical Rouen is located further north on the Seine. The stake for the 19-year-old Joan of Arc was ignited in the middle of this city in 1431. The many must-see buildings and museums will drive away any dark, shiver-inducing thoughts, however. The mighty Gothic cathedral and the oldest astronomical clock can be found in beautiful medieval surroundings. The Seine winds on through forests and rocks – as if it wants to kill time before saying goodbye to beautiful France as it enters the sea – towards Les Andelys. A town that is as charming, thriving and sunny as its name suggests. In stark contrast, the mighty ruins of the lofty citadel Château Gaillard sit atop a limestone promontory, high above the picturesque bends of the Seine. It was built in 1196 by Richard Lionheart as a defence against France. From below, it’s an impressive sight; from above, it offers a fantastic view!

Highlights of this cruise:

Paris
Paris is the capital city of France and every year millions of people come to Paris to marvel at its beauty, savour its exceptional cuisine and indulge in its world-famous shopping. Known as the 'City of Light', Paris benefitted from a huge re modelling program that started in 1852 which gave rise to its current layout, boulevardes, gardens and parks.

The most famous part of Paris is the Champs Elysees, a wide Boulevarde running from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.
Paris has some of the best know landmarks in the world, apart from the Arc de Triomphe it boasts Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and more. Its great gardens include the Tuileries and Luxembourg gardens.

Divided by the River Seine the City of Paris is relatively easy to enjoy on foot as many of the key landmarks are relatively close to each other. For the bolder tourist Paris now has the ‘Velib’ bike rental system which offers a very cheap and practical way to get around the city.

Rouen
Rouen is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) région. It is situated on the River Seine, approximately 90 minutes drive north-west (135 km) from the centre of Paris.

Rouen was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe which can be seen in the many monuments and buildings which have been preserved in its historical centre. Its architectural treasures include Gothic monuments like the Notre Dame Cathedral, St Ouen Abbey, Saint Maclou Church and the Palais de Justice or Renaissance style monuments like the Gros Horloge, Saint Maclou Ossuary and the Bourgtheroulde Mansion.

After the historical centre, there is ‘Sainte Catherine’ hill nearby, from where you can admire a magnificent view of the city and the meandering River Seine or walk along rue Eau de Robec where some watermills, testament to an important textile history when people were making a living out of the cloth manufacturing industry, which is now represented by the sheep symbol.