This is a real serene cruise on the Serenité, taking you through smooth scenery, far away from the beaten tracks and tourist attractions. We cruise to Vitry-le-Francois, on the canal Marne-à-Saone, on a walk through St. Dizier you get to see many of the Art Nouveau forge works made by Hector Guimard, who is famous for the entry signs of the Metro in Paris. We stop at Chaumont and at Langres, where you take an incline elevator up to the top, where the charming town is situated, surrounded by a beautiful town wall, on which you can walk around the city and get a great 360° view. Disembarkation will be along the canal, shortly before Dijon. From here a transfer to Dijon is arranged

You get to visit Dijon with its Ducal Palace and world known mustard and Beaune, the wine capital of Burgundy with the beautifully kept "Hotel-de-Dieu", a former hospital of the poor. Drive along the Côte de Nuits wine route and be tempted by melodious names of vineyards like Echezeaux, Clos de Vougeot, Romanee-Conti. In Chalon-sur-Saône a city with a beautiful market square with half-timbered houses you find the museum of Niecephor Niepce, the inventor of photography. Macon gives you an excellent opportunity to combine history and culture with châteaux and wine. We have a tour of the Abbey of Cluny, which was built in the 11th century, the powerful influence evoked the high point of medieval spirituality. On our way over the Maconnais wine route you will enjoy a typical lunch at the Castle Pierreclos before we drive through Beaujolais and Maconnais back to the Serenité.

The cruise ends up in Lyon, once a city along the Silk Road, situated at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône. On a tour through France’ second largest city you discover many interesting sights as well as very good shopping.

Charming old Dôle is on the hillside overlooking the banks of the river Doubs and still has many, splendid monuments, testifying its proud past. We sail on the wild and romantic Doubs, that winds its way through the foothills of the Jura Mountains.

We visit Besancon, the capital of Franche-Comté and a centre of French clock making industry. Montbeliard once was a small German Enclave and its majestic 15th century castle thrones high above the town. In Belfort you are greeted by the Lion of Bartholdi, a large sandstone carving on the fortress and a stroll through this charming town is recommended. The university town of Mulhouse is the last stop in France, before we get to the Rhine and Basel in Switzerland.

Through the Provence and Camargue to the Mediterranean Sea The cruise starts in Lyon, once a city along the Silk Road, situated at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône.

Passing Tain d’Hermitage, the oldest wine growing area of France, to medieval Viviers, to the world famous wine yards of Château-Neuf-du-Pape, the antique theatre in the beautiful town of Orange, the Papal city of Avignon, to Arles on the tracks of Vincent van Gogh, visit the amphitheatre, and smell the southern fragrance of the Provence.

After crossing through the large Mediterranean port of Fos, we take a small canal that leads parallel to the sea and ends up in the charming town Martigues known as the Venice of the Provence.

Prolong the summer with a cruise through the South of France. From Martigues, not far from Marseille we sail along the Mediterranean Sea to Arles the fascinating ancient town with the Roman arena, Constantine’s baths and the Van Gogh Foundation and you understand why the special light and atmosphere of this region was so inspiring to the impressionist painter.

The Serenité gets you to Aigues Mortes, where you can walk on the well preserved town wall from the 13 th century. From here we take you on an excursion to the pilgrim town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Cruising on the Canal-du-Rhône- à-Sète, still parallel to the Mediterranean, you even have an opportunity to swim in the sea.

Experience the special attraction of the traditional fishing town and seaport Sète, before crossing the Etang de Thau, a large inland seawater lake filled with oyster banks. Visit the cellars of the famous Noilly Prat Vermouth and travel on the Canal-du-Midi until we reach the medieval town of Agde, where we find our idyllic mooring place under a tunnel of plane trees at the very special "Round Lock" with three exits.