Viking River Rivers - Rhone Cruise Tour 14 Nights Lyon Provence & Rhineland from Amsterdam, Viking Einar, August 27, 2025 on iCruise.com (2023)

• Amsterdam, Netherlands

Board your ship and settle into your cabin. The Dutch capital Amsterdam is a city with charming canals, elegant gabled houses, magnificent museums and plenty of bicycles. It's a pleasure to explore. Its mosaic of waterways forms around 90 islands connected by 1,500 bridges. The legacy of the Dutch GoldenTime lives on in the gilded mansions and paintings by Rembrandt and other Dutch masters that adorn the Rijksmuseum, a vast collection of Dutch art and cultural history. Discovering Amsterdam is a pleasure best enjoyed on foot; Visitors line the canals and eat Dutch pancakes or grab a stroopwafel to go. ...
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• Kinderdijk, Netherlands

Kinderdijk is a rural municipality in the province of Alblasserwaard. This corner of South Holland, part of the scenic Waal and Merwede regions, has long been shaped by the Rhine Delta. Kinderdijk is best known for its 19 well-preserved 18th-century windmills. The charming village is located in the middle of the lowlandsPolders, tracts of land reclaimed from the sea by the power of windmills and enclosed by dams or dikes. This fabled place is reminiscent of the 1865 novel Hans Brinker, in which a heroic boy sticks his finger in a broken dam. Sail down the idyllic waters of the Rhine and enter the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Delta as classic Dutch landscapes unfold around you. Flat farmland, charming windmills and slender cottonwood trees line the banks, and vast tracts of land stretch out in all directions, growing all manner of fruit from tomatoes to tulips. See the Frisian cows and neat villages with their neat farms and marvel at how much of this land has been reclaimed from the sea with the help of traditional windmills and dyke building. ...
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• Cologne, Germany

Cologne reveals its Roman heritage in the city's layout and ancient ruins scattered throughout the city. Cologne's modern squares and Hohe Strasse are home to cozy shops, attractive restaurants and Cologne boutiques. Of particular interest is the city's 14th-century cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic architectureArt and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral's soaring twin spiers, saved from destruction by Allied bombing in World War II, are visible for miles, its stained glass windows filling the interior with brilliantly colored light. ...
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• Koblenz, Germany

• Ruedesheim, Germany

Koblenz is a traditional German city that was founded over 2,000 years ago. The former trading settlement is located on a ridge in the central Rhine highlands and is reminiscent of the fairytale Germany of bygone times with cobblestone streets, flower-decorated half-timbered houses, the old market square and medieval churches.In the "Deutscher Winkel" (German Corner) a huge equestrian statue of the German Emperor Wilhelm I overlooks the beautiful scenery by the river. The famous Teutonic Order established its first base here in 1216. The Romanesque Basilica of St. Castor, Koblenz's oldest building, dates back to 836. The Rhine flows through one of Germany's most scenic areas. As you drive along its most scenic stretch, the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine, you'll pass vineyard-covered hills whose steep slopes require winemakers to hand-pick the grapes to keep a centuries-old tradition alive. Magnificent castles line the banks, all of which have stories to tell, and the Lorelei rock towers over a spectacular river bend. Here the infamous River Maiden is said to captivate sailors with her song and lure them to their deaths at her feet. Rüdesheim is located in the heart of the German Rheingau and is the wine center of the region. The famous Drosselgasse, a cobbled street lined with taverns serving local wines and street music, draws locals and visitors alike. Half-timbered houses, narrow labyrinths and old inns give the city a medieval flair. Castles once provided security for the region, including the 9th-century Bromserburg, the oldest on the Rhine, and the 'Siegfried's Cabinet for Mechanical Music' museum also houses an impressive collection of self-playing instruments. ...
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• Tower, Germany

The sleepy German city of Speyer sits on the west bank of the Rhine and features a Romanesque Imperial Cathedral, the burial place of eight emperors, including some of the most famous emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. Speyer was once an important Celtic center that changed hands several times between the Romans and the RomansHuns. The term Protestant originated here at the Diet of Speyer in 1529, when 14 free German cities and six Lutheran princes protested the Edict of Worms, which had banned the writings of Martin Luther and branded him a heretic and an enemy of the state. ...
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• Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg, the largest port city on the Upper Rhine, is the cultural center of Alsace in France. Thanks to its location on the border between France and Germany, it has a nice mix of cultural influences. The well-preserved old town is surrounded on all sides by the small Ill, the properties are so compactthat it is easy to explore the "island" on foot. And there's plenty to explore: cobbled streets lined with wooden houses and criss-crossed by picturesque canals. Immersing yourself in Alsatian café culture is essential to any visit here; enjoy coffee and cake between charming half-timbered houses. ...
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• Breisach, Germany

Breisach is the gateway to the legendary Black Forest, built on a basalt rock in the Rhine valley, in one of the warmest regions of Germany, opposite France's Alsace, famous for its wine-growing. But Breisach can also boast of its wine: the largest is at home hereWarehouses with a storage capacity of more than 160 million liters. Breisach's most striking landmark is the Romanesque-Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Its two towers are visible from all over the city and from the Rhine. ...
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• Basel (Saxony), Switzerland

• end of the cruise

• bus trips

• Lyons, France

Located in the border triangle of Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel reflects a fascinating mix of traditions. The city straddles the Rhine at the river's furthest navigable point, and an attractive cluster of old town buildings cluster along the riverbank. Around the market square, the guild houses are reminiscent of Gothic, Renaissance,and baroque splendor; The centerpiece is the town hall made of red sandstone. More than 40 art and culture museums give the streets steeped in history a modern touch. And nowhere does all this taste more refined than with cheese fondue or croissants. For wine lovers, all roads lead to Burgundy, and one in particular, the Route des Grands Crus, is home to eight of the world's ten most expensive wines. Sublime as it is, its wine tells only part of Burgundy's story. This serene region is the epitome of French culture, where farmers and winemakers are as respected as the crops they produce. While the region's rolling hills are known for their excellent wines and incredible cuisine, the villages of Burgundy are known for their quiet beauty and historical heritage. Lyon straddles the Rhône and Saône rivers. After Paris, it is considered the most important cultural center in the country. Amid a cityscape of red-roofed buildings, tree-lined boulevards and waterfront promenades, the cobbled streets of Old Lyon house a rich collection of Renaissance architecture and intimate traboules, unique passages through buildings connecting neighboring streets, all of which dominate at the grand Basilica at the top of Fourvière hill. The city also offers a variety of outstanding museums, cultural treasures and excellent Lyon restaurants. ...
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• Lyons, France

Lyon is known as the gastronomic capital of France. It's not uncommon for wealthy Parisians to head to Lyon for dinner. The city is surrounded by towns and villages that produce excellent fresh produce, and dining options abound here. Lyon's great chefs enjoy celebrity status, be itThey prepare classic recipes in a traditional way or refine them with their own signature. Your delicious meal can be paired with a glass of light and fruity northern Beaujolais or a bold southern Rhône red. ...
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• Lyons, France

The Old Town of Lyon is one of the densest concentrations of Renaissance city buildings in Europe and is a sheer delight to explore. The dwellings of this UNESCO site date back to the city's silk-weaving success in the 15th century, when Italian merchants and bankers invested their profits in building houses in the city; some todayits elegant residences house museums. Located in the heart of the old town of Lyon, the Cathedral of St. Jean is a stunning example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It has survived periods of political unrest and religious wars and is now one of the city's most recognizable symbols. ...
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• Vienna, France

Located between the French regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais, Vienne is the gateway to the Lyon countryside. It is one of the oldest cities in France, with a history that can be traced through its architecture. Among the Roman remains and artifacts is the 17th-century Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia.1st Century AD The Roman amphitheater on the hills of Mont Pipet is one of the best preserved in the nation. Vienne also has well-preserved medieval buildings. Other sights include the Saint-Pierre Abbey and the Saint-Andre-le-Bas church. The lure of fine cuisine, charming villages and breathtaking views is endless along the Rhône. Cruise along this graceful waterway that meanders past vine-clad banks and amazingly well-preserved echoes of medieval and Roman times. The various locks the ship passes through have helped tame its waters, previously impassable due to rapids, shoals and eddies. Today, driving along this route is a pleasant and peaceful experience, surrounded by the rolling hills and high mountains of the Rhone Valley. ...
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• Tournon-sur-Rhone, Frankreich

• Viviers, France

Tournon is isolated between the river and the granite slopes covered with vineyards that support the finest harvests. An old castle built tightly into a rock dominates the river landscape. A settlement has perched on this hill since Celtic times, but the stunning view from its vantage point has never changed.Its neighbour, Tain-l'Hermitage, takes its name from the hermit who planted vines here after returning from the Crusades. Today its vines are drenched in sun and produce port and some excellent whites. The sleepy town of Viviers was founded in the 5th century, the former Roman settlement became a bishopric, and the fighting of the following centuries made it necessary to fortify the town. With the Renaissance came a period of stable prosperity which allowed for the construction of many new houses, including an excellent example of the period, the Maison des Chevaliers. Some buildings date back to the Middle Ages and time seems to have stood still along the cobbled streets of the old town, dominated by the 12th-century Cathedral of San Vicente with its beautiful windows. ...
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• Arles, France

In the waning days of the Roman Empire, Arles was the capital of Roman Gaul and has many Gallo-Roman ruins such as Les Arenes; This ancient amphitheater seats 20,000 people and is still used today for bullfights and plays. The village has a lively atmosphere that attracts rural farmersand famous Provencal market. It also enjoys a rich artistic heritage; the Mediterranean sunlight here inspired a number of works by the legendary impressionist Vincent van Gogh. Many of the sights of Arles are immortalized in his paintings. ...
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• Avignon, France

Avignon's narrow streets are lined with churches and remarkable medieval buildings. This "City of Popes" was the seat of the Popes for 70 years in the 14th century, after the incumbent Pope left Rome and fled here. The huge Palais des Papes or Palace of the Popes was the center of the Christian world.during this contentious time. It remains a work of Gothic splendor. Another of Avignon's notable structures stretches down to the Rhône, the ruins of the Pont d'Avignon. The 12th-century bridge, immortalized in folk song and dance, once spanned the river. ...
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• Avignon, France

When the Catholic Church acquired Avignon in the 13th century, it quickly transformed the sleepy riverside town into a major religious and cultural center. Evidence of the makeover is everywhere. In addition to the huge palace, the church built a wall around Avignon and served as a mansion.residences to their cardinals. Avignon Cathedral has been dwarfed by its neighbor the Palais des Papes. Centuries after the papacy returned to Rome, the Vatican required a golden statue of Mary to be placed on the cathedral; its golden gaze still welcomes visitors today. After breakfast, disembark your ship and travel home. ...
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