Secrets of Provence

Early this morning we meet at our dedicated Departure Office at
St Pancras International and depart on the Eurostar direct to
Avignon. On arrival we transfer to Sete, in the afternoon we board
our home for the next seven days, the delightful Anne-Marie, a
stylish hotel barge. We are presented to the crew and enjoy a
welcome drink on board before we enjoy dinner together this
evening.

Please Note: For
departure CSR2104 you will travel on the
Eurostar to Paris before changing trains to Avignon.

This morning takes us to Étang De Thau, world-famous for its
shellfish. We visit the Étang De Thau Museum, where we learn about
the history of the shell-fishing trade and discover how the farmers
and fishermen made their living. We sample some of the freshly
caught shellfish while savouring the beautiful scenery from a
terrace along this unique seascape. This afternoon we enjoy an
excursion by coach to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, a beautiful French
village tucked away in the folds of a verdant valley and boasting a
wealth of medieval treasures. Here we embark on an informative
guided tour that helps soak up the atmosphere of this destination
that feels frozen in time. Some of the town's most impressive
sights include its Romanesque abbey and the Devil's Bride which
spans a turquoise stretch of the Hérault River, and dates back to
the 11th century when Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert was frequently
visited by pilgrims following the St James' Way

Today we visit an authentic 'manade' farm and discover the life
of its herders, taking part in a bull sorting routine. We enjoy
snacks made fresh on the farm and sample local produce before
returning to the ship.

Today we take a tour of Aigues-Mortes, perhaps one of the most
beautiful sites in Provence. Encased by square medieval walls, this
ancient fortified city is symmetrically perfect, white-washed
terracotta topped houses contrast charmingly with the surrounding
green countryside, in fact Aigues-Mortes is also famous for its
nearby salt marshes which we discover by tourist train. Roman
Legionnaires stationed nearby were paid a portion of their wage in
salt from these very marshes - an intriguing facet of local
history. What makes this sight spectacular is the marshes glow a
pink colour, due to the microscopic algae in its waters.

Today we visit the Camargue, home to 140,000 hectares of natural
wetlands, showcasing an array of different wildlife. This is a
paradise for nature lovers as we see wild white horses and even the
odd flamingo. Additionally this region is also home to some unusual
paddy fields which produce red rice - a fascinating sight. We
continue on to Sainte-Marie-la-Mer.

You have free time to explore here; perhaps visit the fortified
church which was built in the 9th century as an imposing bastion to
deter pirate raiders along the coast, located in a strategic
position near the mouth of the Petit-Rhone. The church holds a
towering presence over the village and can be seen as far as 10km
inland.

Today we enjoy a guided tour of historic Arles, the home of some
of Europe's best Roman ruins. With a long history dating back to
Celtic times, Arles' heritage of conquest over the years has left
it with a rich variety of architecture, which we explore during our
visit. We take in the stunning Roman Amphitheatre and enjoy the
myriad of Romanesque architecture and sun-baked houses.

Arles was the inspiration for some of Van Gogh's artistry and
its heritage harks back to the glory days of Julius Caesar. Once a
major Roman port, Arles rose to prominence after Caesar plundered
Marseille for backing his political opponent, and evidence of that
prosperity is preserved wonderfully for us to see. Following our
tour we travel inland to learn about olive oil production in
Provence and we sample some of the local produce. Tonight we enjoy
a farewell Gala dinner back on board the Anne-Marie, as a perfect
way to round off our wonderful French adventure.

This morning we enjoy a buffet breakfast on board before making
our way to Arles station. Here we will take the train to Paris
via Nimes, then change for our Eurostar service
back home to London.

Arles

Our fabulous guided tour of historic Arles takes in the Roman
Amphitheatre and a grand collection of other Romanesque
architecture. We also have a chance to sample some of the local
produce in Arles.

Aigues-Mortes

We enjoy time in the walled city of Aigues- Mortes. This city's
walls are contrasted against the pink glowing salt marshes nearby
and make for a marvellous sight.

Palavas-Les-Flots

Our time here is spent visiting a fascinating 'manade' farm,
where we discover the lives of its herders and have chance to
sample some of the produce made on site.

Étang De Thau

The shellfish capital of Étang De Thau comprises the largest
stretch of lagoons along the French coast and is a prime spot for
the local shell-fishing trade. We have a chance to sample the
locally caught shellfish.