Next year we are doing something very exciting. We cordially invite you to join us on a 10 day / 9 night cruise and tour, starting in Paris, and cruising down the River Seine on a 7-night cruise through Normandy and the gorgeous Seine River Valley. We’ll sail aboard the deluxe 148 passenger river ship, the M/S AmaLyra. Conclude with two nights in Paris, with sightseeing and a special farewell dinner..
On board, we will hold two tastings and a private paired dinner for our guests. More importantly we’ll explore together the towns and villages of Normandy, exploring the villages and haunts frequented by Napoleon and Richard the Lion Heart; painted by Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh. The legendary Norman houses and chateaux here are beautiful and historic. We’ll spend a day visiting the beaches of Omaha and Juno, walking the sands and cliffs where the WWII Allied Invasion took place.
On Day 2 we visit Vernon and Giverny. This is a day for art lovers and photographers!
Spend the morning exploring Vernon, a tranquil 12th century town known for the magnificent castle Chateau de Bizy and adjacent forest. The streets and alleyways of medieval Vernon are picturesque and charming.
Nearby, the village of Giverny sits at the confluence of the Rivers Epte and Seine. A settlement has existed in Giverny since neolithic times. Archeological finds here date from the first Roman settlements, before the 1st century AD. The cultivation of grapes has been an occupation of the inhabitants for centuries. The village has remained a small rural setting with a modest population. It is most famous as the home of impressionist painter Claude Monet (1840-1926).
Monet’s house and gardens were restored and opened to the public in 1980. His huge Nymphea’s Studio was also restored. The artist’s precious collection of Japanese engravings is displayed in several rooms, hung by the master himself. The attractive and authentic gardens are plentiful with flowers.
The Museum of Impressionism dedicated to the history of impressionism and its continuation along the valley of the Seine. Around 1887, a migration of American Impressionist artists settled to work in Giverny, drawn by the landscapes, the overall atmosphere, and the presence of Monet himself. The Hôtel Baudy here is well worth a visit. The hotel was a center of artistic life in the Giverny’s turn of the century heyday. It is now still a café and restaurant, with period decoration.
Honfleur and Caudebec-en-Caux
Day 3 of the Angela Estate Seine River Cruise calls in at the old fishing village of Caudebec. Nearby is Honfleur, an even more picturesque port. Honfleur’s pastel-colored houses were a favorite and frequent subject matter for impressionist painters Courbet, Boudin and Monet.
Explorer Samuel de Champlain departed Honfleur in 1608 on his expedition up Canada’s St. Lawrence River and founded Quebec City. The city of Honfleur thrived on trade with Canada, the West Indies, the African coasts and the Azores. As a result, the town became one of the five principal ports of France. On August 25, 1944 Honfleur was liberated together by the combined forces of the British, Belgian and Canadian armies; taken without combat.
Join our own Jessica Endsworth on this voyage down the Seine River Valley and back to Paris. For more information see www.toursandwine.com/
Sincerely,
Angela Vineyardsry