Rhône river cruise: Lyon, Chalon, Arles, Lyon

Your ship: BIJOU DU RHÔNE

Our BIJOU DU RHÔNE radiates the famous French “laissez-faire” atmosphere. You can relax everywhere on board, in the stylishly appointed cabins, spacious panorama salon and on the inviting sun deck. No cruise through France’s delightful landscapes would be complete without the delicious food and fine wines that our experienced chef treats you to each day.

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Schiff nicko cruises Schiffsreisen

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Schiff nicko cruises Kreuzfahrten

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Rezeption nicko cruises Schiffsreisen

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Panorama-Salon nicko cruises Flusskreuzfahrten

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Panorama-Restaurant nicko cruises Flusskreuzfahrten

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Kabine Deluxe Oberdeck nicko cruises Schiffsreisen

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Kabine Mitteldeck Deluxe nicko cruises Schiffsreisen

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Kabine Hauptdeck nicko cruises Kreuzfahrten

Frankreich Fluss Rhone BIJOU DU RHONE Bibliothek nicko cruises Flusskreuzfahrten

Languages: de, en
Capacity: 150 passengers
Crew: 40 members
Length: 114.3 meter
Width: 11.4 meter
Draught: 1.5 meter
Voltage: 220 volt

day 1, 02.04.2025

Place Bellecour von Lyon in Frankreich bei einer Rhone Fluss Schifffahrt mit nicko cruises erleben

Lyon

Casting off: 22:30

Embarkation 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

day 2, 03.04.2025

Amboise von Loire in Frankreich bei einer Seine Flussreise mit nicko cruises besichtigen

Chalon-sur-Saône
Mâcon

Mooring: 11:00 Casting off: 18:00

Mooring: 23:30

Chalon-sur-Saône

Mooring: 11:00 Casting off: 18:00
Mâcon

Mooring: 23:30

Burgundy with visit to Beaune and Hôtel Dieu

Total duration: About 1 hour walk, walking on cobblestones in Beaune. Some steps in the hospice. Not suitable for walkers/wheelchairs/wheelchairs.

Burgundy with visit to Beaune and Hôtel Dieu

In central France, on the route between Paris and Lyon, lies colorful Burgundy, known above all for its wine diversity, picturesque landscape and numerous medieval monuments. As the seat of influential dukes, Burgundy looks back on a long and storied past. In the Middle Ages, Beaune, which was founded in prehistoric times, was the residence of these powerful rulers, from whose era many of the city's impressive buildings date: the 12th century Note-Dame church, the medieval fortifications, the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, and probably the most famous sight, the Hotel Dieu - a 15th century hospital for the poor with its famous colorful roofs. This "hotel" is nowadays partly used as a home for the elderly, while the rest of the building opens its doors to enthusiastic visitors as a museum, which we visit during a guided tour.

Total duration: About 1 hour walk, walking on cobblestones in Beaune. Some steps in the hospice. Not suitable for walkers/wheelchairs/wheelchairs.

day 3, 04.04.2025

Rhône Fluss Frankreich Beaujolais Weinanbau

Trevoux Frankreich Fluss Reise Rhone mit nicko cruises

Casting off: 12:00

Mooring: 14:30 Casting off: 15:00

Mooring: 16:30 Casting off: 19:00

Mâcon

Casting off: 12:00
Belleville

Mooring: 14:30 Casting off: 15:00
Trévoux

Mooring: 16:30 Casting off: 19:00

Excursion Cluny Monastery

Total duration: Approx. 1:30 hours walk over partly uneven paths. Some stairs in the museum.

Excursion Château Cormatin

Excursion Beaujolais with wine tasting

Total duration: A total of about 15 minutes walk. Few stairs to the wine cellar. Walk in oingt over steep and uneven paths.

Excursion Cluny Monastery

Today you will have the opportunity to learn a little more about the history of Cluny Monastery. Cluny was one of the most important monasteries in Europe in the early Middle Ages. From here, several hundred daughter monasteries, scattered all over Europe from Scotland to Poland, were governed centrally and thus also had a significant influence on the cultural development of Germany. The abbey church in Cluny was the largest Christian church in the world until the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, of which the French Revolution regrettably left only a few, but nevertheless very impressive remains. Take a little trip back in time to the Middle Ages on your tour of this extraordinary site, where a little imagination will give you an idea of the former grandeur of the monastery complex. The ruins of the monastery are so impressive that the importance in earlier centuries can be felt even today.

Total duration: Approx. 1:30 hours walk over partly uneven paths. Some stairs in the museum.

Excursion Château Cormatin

The visit to Château Cormatin will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the life of the French nobles of the 17th and 18th centuries. The residence of the Marquis of Huxelles was built between 1606 and 1625. The sumptuous chambers are still preserved in their original state from the time of Louis XIII. For the favorite of Queen Mary de Medici, the fireplaces, ceilings and wall coverings were adorned with magnificent decorations of gold and painting. Follow in the footsteps of the Comtesse and Comte, and after the tour, take time for a short visit to the palace garden, one of the most beautiful in France. Designed in the French Baroque style, it houses, among other things, a small labyrinth with a birdhouse belvedere.

Excursion Beaujolais with wine tasting

Located in the southern part of the Burgundy region, northwest of Lyon, Beaujolais is consistently ranked as the most scenic part in the French wine region. "The young Beaujolais has arrived!" This symbolic saying has made Beaujolais one of the most famous wines in the world. During the wine tasting at a winery, you can see for yourself the special aroma and unique character of this wine in an authentic and cozy atmosphere. On the way to the winery you will stop in the charming medieval village of Oingt. The peculiarity of this picturesque little town are the so-called "golden stones", which form the building fabric for all the houses. During the short walk, enjoy a view of the surrounding charming landscape of Beaujolais, which is often compared by connoisseurs to the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Total duration: A total of about 15 minutes walk. Few stairs to the wine cellar. Walk in oingt over steep and uneven paths.

day 4, 05.04.2025

Viviers

Mooring: 12:30 Casting off: 18:30

Excursion to the Ardèche Gorge

Total duration: Fußweg ca. 30 Minuten. Museumsbesuch ca. 1 Stunden mit Sitzmöglichkeiten.

Excursion to the Ardèche Gorge

Join us as we travel to the Ardèche Gorge, one of the most imposing natural sites in France. Located in the north of Provence, the gorge is of sensational scenic beauty: rocky escarpments, layers of basalt and the blue river that has carved itself into this landscape. The landscape is characterized by centuries-old and sometimes overgrown terraced chestnut forests and orchards, barren ridges, many small streams and fortress-like villages. Most visitors are always enchanted by the diversity and the impressive region.

Total duration: Fußweg ca. 30 Minuten. Museumsbesuch ca. 1 Stunden mit Sitzmöglichkeiten.

day 5, 06.04.2025

Amphitheater von Arles in Frankreich bei einer Rhone Fluss Kreuzfahrt mit nicko cruises erleben

Frankreich Fluss Rhone Avignon Aussicht nicko cruises Schiffsreise

Avignon Pont Saint Bénézet in Frankreich bei einer nicko cruises Fluss Kreuzfahrt entdecken

Arles
Avignon

Mooring: 03:00 Casting off: 18:00

Mooring: 22:30

Arles

Mooring: 03:00 Casting off: 18:00
Avignon

Mooring: 22:30

Arles city tour

Excursion Camargue with bull farm

Arles city tour

The Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh was fascinated by the special light in southern Provence. It inspired him so much that he created numerous paintings in Arles on the banks of the Rhône and became the founder of modern painting. To this day, visitors encounter Vincent van Gogh and his sources of inspiration. Once the provincial capital of the Roman Empire, Arles has numerous architectural legacies, such as the amphitheater. It is also the site of the bloodless bull games, the Course Camarguaise. Past and present are interwoven and characterize the cityscape. A very special atmosphere that you take with you from here.

Excursion Camargue with bull farm

The Camargue is located between the two estuaries of the Rhône River, which divides north of Arles and is almost entirely part of the urban area of Arles. The main actors in the delta of the Rhône between rice fields and salt marshes are the black bulls, flamingos and wild white horses. The excursion will take you, among other things, to a traditional bull farm. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the proud "Gardians" on their white horses and escorted to the ladder wagons. With these typical "Chariot Tracté" you will cross the untouched nature and have a closer look at the famous black bulls. After this encounter with the southern French "soul", a typical lunch with specialties from the region awaits you.

day 6, 07.04.2025

Châteauneuf du Pape Frankreich Rhone mit nicko cruises Flusskreuzfahrt

Avignon
Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Casting off: 15:30

Mooring: 17:30 Casting off: 18:15

Avignon

Casting off: 15:30
Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Mooring: 17:30 Casting off: 18:15

City tour Avignon

Excursion Pont du Gard

Total duration: Approx. 1 hour walk. Level paths and hardly any slope.

City tour Avignon

Avignon on the Rhône has left a lasting mark on European history. For several decades in the 14th century, it was the city of the Catholic popes. At every turn you will encounter the relics of the past with its squares, streets, the Papal Palace and of course the Pont Saint-Bénézet. The famous bridge ruin with the small chapel spans the mighty river. You will be enchanted by the charm of the city.

Excursion Pont du Gard

Join us on our excursion to the Pont du Gard, an impressive aqueduct dating back to the 1st century. The Pont du Gard, with a height of 50 meters, is the largest preserved aqueduct of antiquity. Built by the Romans in the 1st century AD, it supplied water to the city of Nîmes. The water supply belongs to the past. However, the condition of the aqueduct, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, is fabulous and is therefore one of the biggest attractions for visitors in the south of France.

Total duration: Approx. 1 hour walk. Level paths and hardly any slope.

day 7, 08.04.2025

Lyon

Mooring: 14:00

Lyon city tour/walk

Total duration: A total of about 45 minutes walk.

Lyon city tour/walk

Lyon's city center impresses with numerous buildings steeped in history and pretty squares. Especially the centrally located Place des Terreaux is surrounded by elegant magnificent buildings. In 1998, UNESCO declared the old town on the banks of the Saône a World Heritage Site. Lyon is a bishopric of the Roman Catholic Church, whose episcopal seat is Saint-Jean Cathedral in the old town. More prominent, however, is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which towers over the rooftops of the entire city. You can admire both churches during your excursion. During a short walk through the old town of Lyon, "Vieux Lyon", you will also encounter the "traboules", characteristic of Lyon. These are narrow, narrow connecting passages between the individual alleys, which were used in earlier times by the workers to transport the silk and cloth bales dry through the city. Today, more than 300 of these traboules are still preserved and are an integral part of the old town.

Total duration: A total of about 45 minutes walk.

day 8, 09.04.2025

Lyon

Disembarkation until 09:00 a.m.

Burgundy with visit to Beaune and Hôtel Dieu

In central France, on the route between Paris and Lyon, lies colorful Burgundy, known above all for its wine diversity, picturesque landscape and numerous medieval monuments. As the seat of influential dukes, Burgundy looks back on a long and storied past. In the Middle Ages, Beaune, which was founded in prehistoric times, was the residence of these powerful rulers, from whose era many of the city's impressive buildings date: the 12th century Note-Dame church, the medieval fortifications, the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, and probably the most famous sight, the Hotel Dieu - a 15th century hospital for the poor with its famous colorful roofs. This "hotel" is nowadays partly used as a home for the elderly, while the rest of the building opens its doors to enthusiastic visitors as a museum, which we visit during a guided tour.

Total duration: About 1 hour walk, walking on cobblestones in Beaune. Some steps in the hospice. Not suitable for walkers/wheelchairs/wheelchairs.

Arles city tour

The Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh was fascinated by the special light in southern Provence. It inspired him so much that he created numerous paintings in Arles on the banks of the Rhône and became the founder of modern painting. To this day, visitors encounter Vincent van Gogh and his sources of inspiration. Once the provincial capital of the Roman Empire, Arles has numerous architectural legacies, such as the amphitheater. It is also the site of the bloodless bull games, the Course Camarguaise. Past and present are interwoven and characterize the cityscape. A very special atmosphere that you take with you from here.

City tour Avignon

Avignon on the Rhône has left a lasting mark on European history. For several decades in the 14th century, it was the city of the Catholic popes. At every turn you will encounter the relics of the past with its squares, streets, the Papal Palace and of course the Pont Saint-Bénézet. The famous bridge ruin with the small chapel spans the mighty river. You will be enchanted by the charm of the city.

Lyon city tour/walk

Lyon's city center impresses with numerous buildings steeped in history and pretty squares. Especially the centrally located Place des Terreaux is surrounded by elegant magnificent buildings. In 1998, UNESCO declared the old town on the banks of the Saône a World Heritage Site. Lyon is a bishopric of the Roman Catholic Church, whose episcopal seat is Saint-Jean Cathedral in the old town. More prominent, however, is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which towers over the rooftops of the entire city. You can admire both churches during your excursion. During a short walk through the old town of Lyon, "Vieux Lyon", you will also encounter the "traboules", characteristic of Lyon. These are narrow, narrow connecting passages between the individual alleys, which were used in earlier times by the workers to transport the silk and cloth bales dry through the city. Today, more than 300 of these traboules are still preserved and are an integral part of the old town.

Total duration: A total of about 45 minutes walk.

Picturesque Southern France

Why this trip?

Early booking discount

Itinerary

Lyon

Chalon-sur-Saône

Mâcon

Burgundy with visit to Beaune and Hôtel Dieu

Mâcon

Belleville

Trévoux

Excursion Cluny Monastery

Excursion Château Cormatin

Excursion Beaujolais with wine tasting

Viviers

Excursion to the Ardèche Gorge

Arles

Avignon

Arles city tour

Excursion Camargue with bull farm

Avignon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

City tour Avignon

Excursion Pont du Gard

Lyon

Lyon city tour/walk

Lyon

Services

The services provided during your trip

Additional services

Your ship: BIJOU DU RHÔNE

Picturesque Southern France