Tauck - Cruise Division: ms Sapphire for Tauck

Paris, world capital of art and culture, gathers some of the most famous museums and monuments in the world. Like all the world's great capitals, Paris lives at a fast pace, by day, by night and especially at rush hours. Bear in mind that museums and monuments are often less crowded during the week. Sights that should not be missed include: The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Visit any of the many others according to your tastes and interests: the Musee Picasso, Musee Rodin, Musee Carnavalet, Musee Marmottan and the Arab Institute are just a few. Essential Paris monuments are the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Defense.

Paris, world capital of art and culture, gathers some of the most famous museums and monuments in the world. Like all the world's great capitals, Paris lives at a fast pace, by day, by night and especially at rush hours. Bear in mind that museums and monuments are often less crowded during the week. Sights that should not be missed include: The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Visit any of the many others according to your tastes and interests: the Musee Picasso, Musee Rodin, Musee Carnavalet, Musee Marmottan and the Arab Institute are just a few. Essential Paris monuments are the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Defense.

Paris, world capital of art and culture, gathers some of the most famous museums and monuments in the world. Like all the world's great capitals, Paris lives at a fast pace, by day, by night and especially at rush hours. Bear in mind that museums and monuments are often less crowded during the week. Sights that should not be missed include: The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Visit any of the many others according to your tastes and interests: the Musee Picasso, Musee Rodin, Musee Carnavalet, Musee Marmottan and the Arab Institute are just a few. Essential Paris monuments are the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Defense.

Transformed from a hunting lodge into a monumental Chateau, this medieval village and farmland curled around the castle bringing much prosperity to northern France during the 13th century. By late 17th century, King Louis XIV’s transformation of Versailles established the permanent residency of the royal court and government. Simultaneously, a new city was emerging by the decree of the king who would annually tax its residents who purchased land. While population sky-rocketed, so did the city adding new French architectures to the new neighborhoods, churches, markets, and mansions. Versailles’s main attraction is its Palace a status symbol of cultural nobility. Within the Palace are significantly decorated rooms for guests of the royal court who often visit and gardens that hosted grandeur parties for the rich and famous. In 1979, the Palace and Park of Versailles, the epitome of royal elegance of Old Europe, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Suggested Private Excursions

Versailles Gardens and Fountains - Full Day tour - 9h

Settled by the Celts, Rouen really flourished in the Middle Ages. In a natural amphitheater on the Seine, the capital of Normandy is important as a commercial and cultural center. Today the city is a blend of ancient and modern. Rouen is known as the City of a Hundred Spires; many of its important edifices are churches. The most magnificent one is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture immortalized in Claude Monet's series "Cathedrales de Rouen." Surrounding the large square are picturesque half-timbered houses with steeply pointed roofs. The wealth of architectural treasures and the ambience of Rouen’s historic center will impress any visitor. Exploring the narrow, cobbled streets in the old quarter is a must. The giant clock above the archway spanning the Rue du Gros Horloge is a focal point and famous emblem. Rouen is connected to the sea by the Seine Valley. The city serves as a starting point for trips to Paris and to Norman castles and abbeys.

Suggested Private Excursions

Le Havre: D-Day Beaches - 9 hours

Le Havre is the gateway for optional tours to Paris, the "City of Light." See the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysees. In Le Havre itself, visitors can explore at leisure and learn something of the French "art de vivre." Visit fish and vegetable markets, public parks, modern architecture, a long seaside promenade and a vast beach.

Caen has sights to captivate any visitor. After the wonder of Abbaye-aux-Hommes and Abbaye-aux-Dames, the ducal castle will captivate. It stands as an 11th Century fortress encompassing the Exchequer, Saint-Georges' Chapel and two museums. The old Vaugueux quarter is dedicated to gastronomy. Remnants of the Renaissance can be seen from the Italian style Hôtel d'Escoville, or from the half-timbered houses of the Quatrans or rue Saint Pierre or again from poet Malherbe's home. To discover unusual aspects of the city, stroll through the streets and city squares. In rue Ecuyère, rue Froide, rue Saint Martin, secret back courtyards hide treasures of the city's past. From Caen Memorial to Normandy Landing Beaches, the historical Battle of Normandy Trail awaits. Caen Memorial invites the visitor to embark upon an exciting journey through the history of the century. It is completed by its Nobel Peace Gallery and was built to encourage a better understanding of the Second World War and to deepen reflection on Peace and the defense of Human Rights.

Bayeux, one of Normandy's many great places, has retained its own history separate from the mystique of D-Day. Visit Bayeux's canal-laden downtown. Admire Bayeux Cathedral, a beautiful church modified to include a number of memorials from World War II. Most of Bayeux's war memorials are outside town. Other points of interest include museums dedicated to two very famous people: The museum of William the Conqueror contains Tapisserie - which depicts the region's history. The other museum is for Charles de Gaulle, who was the French leader during the German occupation. Outside town are two very significant war memorials - one of which is the Museum of the Battle of Normandy. Bayeux is within reach of a number of Normandy's other attraction, and has plenty of character of its own for those wishing to take a moment away from touring battlefields.

Le Havre is the gateway for optional tours to Paris, the "City of Light." See the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysees. In Le Havre itself, visitors can explore at leisure and learn something of the French "art de vivre." Visit fish and vegetable markets, public parks, modern architecture, a long seaside promenade and a vast beach.

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Caudebec-en-Caux is located on the right bank of the river Seine. The chief architectural interest of the town is its church, which dates back to the 15th and early 16th centuries. Other interesting buildings in the town are the Maison des Templiers (The Templars' House) from the 12th century, which now features a small museum of local archeology and history; a former prison from the 14th century, and the Hôtel de ville which was built around 1800.

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The twin communities of Grand-Andely and Petit-Andely form a commercial center, with a distillery, metalworks, glassworks, and silk and leather industries. On the border between Normandy proper and the Norman Vexin, it was of considerable strategic importance in the Middle Ages

At the gateway to Normandy, 75 km from Paris and 60 km from Rouen, the village of Giverny (pronounced Jee-va-nyee) is located on the right bank of the River Seine, at its confluence with one of the two branches of the River Epte lined with willows and poplars.
But Giverny rises to fame in 1883 when the painter Claude Monet discovered the village whilst looking out of the train window (the line has since closed down). Monet was enthusiastic about the spot. He found a large house to rent, "the Press House". By the end of April he had moved in with Alice Hoschedé, his lady-friend, his two sons and her six children. The house was a farmhouse with a vegetable garden and an orchard of over one hectare.
At the time there were about 300 inhabitants in Giverny, most of them farmers, and a few middle-class families.

The village consists of two streets on the hillside lined with low houses in a pink or green roughcast with slate roofs, their walls covered with wisteria and Virginia creeper. These streets are crossed by narrow lanes running down the hill. The Claude Monet Road runs straight to the village. The "Chemin du Roy" (Secondary Road 5) follows the banks of the River Epte. Claude Monet's house lies between the two roads.

At the gateway to Normandy, 75 km from Paris and 60 km from Rouen, the village of Giverny (pronounced Jee-va-nyee) is located on the right bank of the River Seine, at its confluence with one of the two branches of the River Epte lined with willows and poplars.
But Giverny rises to fame in 1883 when the painter Claude Monet discovered the village whilst looking out of the train window (the line has since closed down). Monet was enthusiastic about the spot. He found a large house to rent, "the Press House". By the end of April he had moved in with Alice Hoschedé, his lady-friend, his two sons and her six children. The house was a farmhouse with a vegetable garden and an orchard of over one hectare.
At the time there were about 300 inhabitants in Giverny, most of them farmers, and a few middle-class families.

The village consists of two streets on the hillside lined with low houses in a pink or green roughcast with slate roofs, their walls covered with wisteria and Virginia creeper. These streets are crossed by narrow lanes running down the hill. The Claude Monet Road runs straight to the village. The "Chemin du Roy" (Secondary Road 5) follows the banks of the River Epte. Claude Monet's house lies between the two roads.

At the gateway to Normandy, 75 km from Paris and 60 km from Rouen, the village of Giverny (pronounced Jee-va-nyee) is located on the right bank of the River Seine, at its confluence with one of the two branches of the River Epte lined with willows and poplars.
But Giverny rises to fame in 1883 when the painter Claude Monet discovered the village whilst looking out of the train window (the line has since closed down). Monet was enthusiastic about the spot. He found a large house to rent, "the Press House". By the end of April he had moved in with Alice Hoschedé, his lady-friend, his two sons and her six children. The house was a farmhouse with a vegetable garden and an orchard of over one hectare.
At the time there were about 300 inhabitants in Giverny, most of them farmers, and a few middle-class families.

The village consists of two streets on the hillside lined with low houses in a pink or green roughcast with slate roofs, their walls covered with wisteria and Virginia creeper. These streets are crossed by narrow lanes running down the hill. The Claude Monet Road runs straight to the village. The "Chemin du Roy" (Secondary Road 5) follows the banks of the River Epte. Claude Monet's house lies between the two roads.

Paris, world capital of art and culture, gathers some of the most famous museums and monuments in the world. Like all the world's great capitals, Paris lives at a fast pace, by day, by night and especially at rush hours. Bear in mind that museums and monuments are often less crowded during the week. Sights that should not be missed include: The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Visit any of the many others according to your tastes and interests: the Musee Picasso, Musee Rodin, Musee Carnavalet, Musee Marmottan and the Arab Institute are just a few. Essential Paris monuments are the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Defense.