Experience the Seine with Normandy

A tour through the unique Normandy with start and end point Paris, the city of love. It can only be beautiful, can it?

In fact, in the run-up to this route, I only know the French capital, the other small places seem completely unknown to me, maybe even insignificant? So maybe more of a boring trip on which there would be no real highlight at all without Paris? Mh, I am curious what will expect us on this trip. You too? Then come along on a little trip over the Seine.

The A-ROSA VIVA is already waiting for us!

OUR ITINERARY

Day 1: LES ANDELYS

It is only stop number one of our journey and already I am immediately there and away. Here in Les Andelys, in the middle of nature, I feel as if I have arrived in a pure idyll. The sun is shining and promises a golden autumn day. Already from the ship I can see our today's destination: An old castle ruin, which seems to be enthroned high up on a mountain. We hike up, are fascinated by the unbelievably beautiful view from the top. Simply breathtaking. At some point we finally tear ourselves away and march back to the centre of Les Andelys. A colourful harvest festival is in progress there right now and so we let ourselves drift through the numerous stalls and curiously look at the different offers. What a paradise! In the afternoon there is even some time for a game of mini golf - with an ideal view of the castle, of course! Would you like to know more? You should definitely read the detailed story about my dream day at this beautiful spot in the world in my blog post about Les Andelys!

Day 2: CAUDEBEC-EN-CAUX (ÉTRETAT)

Do you already know the unique chalk cliffs on the coast of Étretat? So far I have only seen pictures of them and have always been fascinated by them. So it was no question to me if I would like to use the offered A-ROSA trip to Étretat today. I'm really happy when it finally starts around 13.30 o'clock. After a short photo stop in Le Havre we reach the alabaster coast in the afternoon. And what should I say. In real life it's simply many times more impressive than in all the photos. Amazed I stand in front of the picturesque rock groupings, could stay like this forever. Instead we set off and climb over the slippery rocks on the beach and finally up to the top of the right rock. An almost mystical silence lies over the whole bay, whereby the foggy mood contributes its rest to it. I am enchanted. And right now I could continue to write about the beauty of this place forever, but in order not to go beyond the scope, my tip: please read the corresponding detailed blog article about Étretat.

Day 3: CAUDEBEC-EN-CAUX (HONFLEUR)

After we stayed overnight in Caudebec with our A-ROSA VIVA, another exciting excursion awaits us today. Our tour to Honfleur starts at 1.30 pm, where we will explore the city armed with audio guides and cameras. A short tour and an hour of free time offer the ideal mixture of interesting information and space for individual discovery. The next stop of the day is Deauville. Actually a beautiful old seaside resort with an incredibly wide beach, for which we hardly find time today. Our tight program here at the coast is only half an hour's stay. At least enough to put our feet in the water for a short time and collect some small holiday souvenirs in the form of shells. Then we continue to point three of our excursion: the visit of a Calvados distillery. Also to this excursion I wrote you a certainly very worth reading extra blog article with many impressions: Everything at once: Honfleur, Deauville and a Calvados distillery!

Day 4: ROUEN

After the last two days were so packed with excursions and sightseeing, we want to take it a little easier today. So we decide to go for a walk through the historic city centre around noon. Here, one shop follows the next and every shopping queen would probably feel like in an absolute paradise. But as we don't feel like shopping today, we rather keep an eye on the impressive astronomical clock that cannot be missed in the midst of the many half-timbered houses. We continue along the main street, where we suspect the cathedral. A bull's eye! It is gigantic and majestic and can't be overlooked. And yet, compared to the other centre of Rouen, it is not overcrowded at all. The entrance is free and nevertheless there are hardly any other tourists to be found apart from us. What a pleasant surprise.

In the evening a very special highlight awaits us: We have reserved the French A-ROSA Dining in the wine industry. Here we experience a great menu with good wines and exciting conversations.

Day 5: VERNON

Today we are in picturesque Vernon. Picturesque even in two respects: On the one hand, the small houses and the old mill of the city are really beautiful to look at, on the other hand, the famous painter Claude Monet has already immortalized himself here artistically. The perfect backdrop to stroll through the small alleys on this sunny morning. There are not many shops or the like, but after yesterday's hustle and bustle in Rouen, we enjoy this silence today. Just go without a city map - because you really don't need something like that here!

When leaving in the afternoon we can marvel once more at the beautiful autumn landscape of Normandy. And so we sail in joyful expectation, with a cool drink in our hand, towards our last stop in Paris.

Day 6: PARIS

Paris, je t'aime. Or at least something like that. When I first visited the French capital about three years ago, it was anything but love at first sight. We didn't really find each other, this city and me. It took a few short trips until we slowly and tentatively flirted with each other at the beginning. Meanwhile, however, we are connected by a hot and intimate relationship. That's why I'm really happy to be here again today. The city is huge and has so much to offer, I don't know what to decide. We don't have much desire for a big excursion, so we decide to go to the center on our own, relaxed and on our own. With the Metro number 13 we reach the Champs Élysée within 20 minutes. "LaLaLa...Au Champs Élysée..." - I can't resist a short vocal interlude while walking along the world-famous shopping boulevard. And I head purposefully for a very special shop: Ladurée. Here, there are the allegedly best Macarons of the whole city, if not the whole of France! The boutique is beautiful and I am overjoyed when I stroll to the Eiffel Tower with my small mint-coloured shopping bag. Arrived there, we sit down on a park bench with a view to the landmark of the city and eat the newly purchased, sugar-sweet macarons. Mhm, that's how holiday feels! We stay a little longer, watch the colourful hustle and bustle of the numerous tourists, before we again walk along the Seine to the metro station. And so already the last evening of our journey with the A-ROSA VIVA starts.

MY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP

ON COUNTRY

Our trip to Étretat! This landscape with its unique chalk cliffs is simply beautiful. In my opinion, anyone who has never been here before should make this trip. It's really worth it!

ON BOARD

The A-ROSA Dining! Our food was really delicious, but what I found particularly beautiful was the restaurant where we were served the menu. The wine bar on board the A-ROSA VIVA is just such a great cosy area that we enjoyed the evening a bit more.

MY CONCLUSION

What was it like with the question from the beginning: Is this just a boring journey, on which there are no real highlights apart from Paris? I think you can answer this statement yourself at this point. In fact, our route on this A-ROSA Seine cruise has been so varied and surprising that every place has enchanted me in its own way and uniqueness. We have been able to discover so many new cities that I would probably never have visited without this trip.

The French way of life has created the right holiday atmosphere - on land as well as on board. Here we were spoiled every day with the delicious French cuisine and in the evening we were prepared for the next exciting day with the right music. A life like God in France? On board definitely! 😉

These were the highlights of my tour "Seine experience Normandy with Paris". I must honestly say that I really had to struggle to "shorten" all experiences so that this blog post does not degenerate into an endless article.