20 nights · France · River cruise · Departs Bordeaux (France) · Visiting Libourne, Pauillac, Blaye, Cadillac-sur-Garonne, Bourg-sur-Gironde, Lyon, Vienne, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Arles, Avignon, Viviers-sur-Rhone, Tournon-sur-Rhone, Macon · Aboard Scenic Cruises on the Scenic Diamond
Image courtesy of Scenic Cruises ©
This river cruise sails the Garonne, Rhone and Saone, departing Bordeaux.
| Cruise line | Scenic Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Scenic Diamond |
| Duration | 20 nights |
| Port calls | 14 |
| Departures | 7 sailings |
| From fare | $10,693 per person |
| Year built | 2008 |
| Guests | 167 |
| Cabins | 85 |
| Crew | 51 |
| Length | 135 m |
| Beam | 11 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Bordeaux is best approached through its river: the Garonne leads into a city shaped by trade, wine and ambitious architecture. Along the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, eighteenth-century façades frame broad quays and the Place de la Bourse. Beyond the centre, renowned wine estates and the Médoc’s château-lined roads invite a longer excursion. Stay in town for a market, a riverside walk and a glass of local claret. Venture farther for vineyard landscapes that explain Bordeaux’s global reputation.
Libourne sits where the Isle meets the Dordogne, its quays opening onto Bordeaux’s celebrated wine country. Founded as a 13th-century bastide, the town still gathers around Place Abel-Surchamp, a lively market square. Saint-Émilion’s medieval lanes and Pomerol’s renowned estates lie close enough for an unhurried day among vineyards. Return to Libourne for riverside cafés, handsome stone façades and the easy pace of a working French town.
Step ashore at Pauillac, on the Gironde estuary, and enter the Médoc, Bordeaux’s celebrated wine country. Vineyards stretch inland, while the waterfront reflects the town’s long history of wine trading and shipping. Three renowned estates—Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild—stand within the Pauillac appellation. Book tastings ahead; many estates require reservations. You can also follow country roads along the Gironde or travel south to Bordeaux, about 50 miles away.
Blaye occupies the right bank of the Gironde, where a monumental 17th-century citadel guards the river. Designed by military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, the fortress forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk its ramparts for wide views across the water, then explore lanes lined with stone houses and cafés. Surrounding vineyards produce Côtes de Blaye wines, and a short ferry crossing connects Blaye with the Médoc.
Cadillac sits on the Garonne, about 35 kilometres southeast of Bordeaux, amid the vineyards of Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux. Its compact centre preserves the plan of a 13th-century bastide, with arcaded streets and a market square. Visit the Château de Cadillac, a former ducal residence later used as a women’s prison, now open to visitors. Nearby wine estates offer tastings of the region’s sweet Cadillac wines and red Bordeaux blends.
Bordeaux is best approached through its river: the Garonne leads into a city shaped by trade, wine and ambitious architecture. Along the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, eighteenth-century façades frame broad quays and the Place de la Bourse. Beyond the centre, renowned wine estates and the Médoc’s château-lined roads invite a longer excursion. Stay in town for a market, a riverside walk and a glass of local claret. Venture farther for vineyard landscapes that explain Bordeaux’s global reputation.
Bourg-sur-Gironde rises above the Dordogne, at the edge of the Gironde estuary, amid the vineyards of Côtes de Bourg. Stone lanes lead to its historic citadel, whose terraces offer views across the water and wine country. Explore the old port, then taste the appellation’s characterful reds in a village shaped by generations of river trade. Here, the history and landscape are inseparable from the estuary.
Blaye occupies the right bank of the Gironde, where a monumental 17th-century citadel guards the river. Designed by military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, the fortress forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk its ramparts for wide views across the water, then explore lanes lined with stone houses and cafés. Surrounding vineyards produce Côtes de Blaye wines, and a short ferry crossing connects Blaye with the Médoc.
Bordeaux is best approached through its river: the Garonne leads into a city shaped by trade, wine and ambitious architecture. Along the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, eighteenth-century façades frame broad quays and the Place de la Bourse. Beyond the centre, renowned wine estates and the Médoc’s château-lined roads invite a longer excursion. Stay in town for a market, a riverside walk and a glass of local claret. Venture farther for vineyard landscapes that explain Bordeaux’s global reputation.
Where the Rhône meets the Saône, France’s third-largest city joins Roman foundations, Renaissance streets and contemporary architecture. Walk Vieux Lyon’s covered passageways, then climb to Fourvière for broad views over terracotta roofs. Come hungry: Lyon’s bouchons serve regional dishes, while Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse brings together the city’s finest producers. Allow time for the riverbanks, museums and a meal that makes Lyon’s culinary reputation tangible.
Vienne sits on the Rhône, 20 miles south of Lyon, where Roman history remains part of the everyday streetscape. Its first great sight is the Temple of Augustus and Livia, remarkably intact beside the cafés of the old town. Climb to the Roman theatre, cut into Pipet Hill, for broad views across rooftops and river. Across the Rhône, Saint-Romain-en-Gal preserves mosaics and evidence of a thriving Roman quarter. Allow time for the cathedral and a leisurely lunch.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape sits among the Rhône Valley’s most celebrated vineyards, a compact Provençal village with an outsized reputation. Its name recalls the 14th-century popes of Avignon, who built a summer residence here. Today, the château’s weathered ruins crown the village, while cellar doors welcome visitors to taste its powerful, sun-ripened wines. Wander the narrow lanes, then look across the vines toward the Rhône plain. This is a rewarding stop for wine lovers and history-minded travelers.
Arles stands on the Rhône in Provence, where Roman monuments and a working southern French city share the same streets. The UNESCO-listed Roman theatre and amphitheatre remain central landmarks, built when ancient Arelate prospered. Vincent van Gogh painted here from 1888 to 1889, drawn by the region’s clear light. Visit the Fondation Vincent van Gogh, then explore the old town’s Provençal markets and café terraces.
Avignon rewards a slow first look: medieval ramparts frame a city shaped by popes, merchants and the Rhône. Inside the walls, the immense Palais des Papes recalls the 14th-century era when the papacy moved here. Nearby, the broken span of Pont Saint-Bénézet reaches into the river, made famous by the French song. Leave time for shaded squares, Provençal markets and a glass of local wine before the Rhône carries you onward.
Viviers stands on the Rhône in Ardèche, a compact medieval town best explored on foot. Stone lanes climb toward the Cathedral of Saint-Vincent, whose Romanesque origins and later additions reflect centuries of ecclesiastical power. Look for bishops’ residences, sculpted doorways and views across the river valley. Beyond town, Ardèche landscapes invite excursions to vineyards, limestone gorges and hill villages, while Viviers rewards those who linger.
From the Rhône’s western bank, Tournon-sur-Rhône faces the celebrated vineyards of Tain-l’Hermitage, just across the river. Its medieval castle now houses a museum, while steep lanes climb past stone houses and old town walls. A suspension bridge links the two towns, making vineyard visits and tastings easy. Come for the northern Rhône’s Syrah, then return to the quay for river views and a slower, distinctly French afternoon.
Where the Rhône meets the Saône, France’s third-largest city joins Roman foundations, Renaissance streets and contemporary architecture. Walk Vieux Lyon’s covered passageways, then climb to Fourvière for broad views over terracotta roofs. Come hungry: Lyon’s bouchons serve regional dishes, while Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse brings together the city’s finest producers. Allow time for the riverbanks, museums and a meal that makes Lyon’s culinary reputation tangible.
Mâcon is Burgundy at its gentler, sunlit edge, set beside the Saône and surrounded by vineyards. Begin in the old centre, where pastel façades, the Maison de Bois and Saint-Vincent’s twin towers reward a stroll. Then follow the riverfront or venture into the Mâconnais, famed for Chardonnay and villages such as Pouilly-Fuissé. Tasting rooms, market tables and quiet lanes offer a close look at Burgundy beyond its grandest names.
Where the Rhône meets the Saône, France’s third-largest city joins Roman foundations, Renaissance streets and contemporary architecture. Walk Vieux Lyon’s covered passageways, then climb to Fourvière for broad views over terracotta roofs. Come hungry: Lyon’s bouchons serve regional dishes, while Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse brings together the city’s finest producers. Allow time for the riverbanks, museums and a meal that makes Lyon’s culinary reputation tangible.
Published September 21, 2026
Last updated October 11, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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