A strong warrior, Einar wrested control of the Orkney and Shetland Islands from Danish warlords in the late 9th century after his brother Hallad was unable to hold his ground there. The dynasty that he founded ruled the archipelago until 1470.
Day 1 Avignon
Visitors to Avignon won't want to leave, and the town is too interesting to leave. Avignon is ancient, full of history, life, youth, art, music and activity. Just to "see" the town itself, a visitor could wander the narrow streets inside the fortified walls for days without tiring of them.
Day 2 Arles
Arles is a small town with a rich architectural past and exciting contemporary culture. An important Roman and Medieval center, Arles has also served as home and motif to some great modern artists, including Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and Pablo Picasso. The city's many monuments play an important part in its cultural life. Its famous Arena, built to hold 24,000 spectators, is one of the most ancient in the Roman world and is used today for celebrating traditional, popular festivals. In the picturesque stone setting of ancient Roman Theater, covered with greenery, important shows take place. The city's old hospital, where van Gogh stayed in the late 1880's, is today a cultural center housing an international translation center, a media library, and exhibition rooms. Thanks to the National School of Photography and its international summer photography festival, Arles is known throughout Europe as capital of photography. Mediterranean Arles has many street-side cafes and restaurants, as well as markets with everything from antiques to Provence herbs and spices.
Day 3 Avignon
Visitors to Avignon won't want to leave, and the town is too interesting to leave. Avignon is ancient, full of history, life, youth, art, music and activity. Just to "see" the town itself, a visitor could wander the narrow streets inside the fortified walls for days without tiring of them.
Day 4 Viviers
Located in one of the most beautiful areas in Southern France, Viviers has retained its Old World charm. The town was developed around its Romanesque cathedral, with facade, porch, and solitary tower that still survive today.
Day 5 Tournon
The imposing 16th-century Castle and Roman ruins that dot the countryside of Tournon are a photographer's dream. Visit the Hermitage and St. Joseph's vineyards. Consider the optional excursion to the Ardeche region, one of the area's natural wonders, via the nostalgic steam locomotive "Le Mastrou". (Operates May 12 - September 15)
Day 5 Rhone River Cruising
Day 5 Vienne
Vienne is the lively and historically intriguing capital city of the Poitou-Charentes region in France. The city is highly admired for its numerous amusement parks, outdoor activities, and world heritage sites. The medieval site at Sanxay is not to be missed by visitors wishing to see the architecturally impressive buildings, and well preserved Roman amphitheater. Family-focused attractions and activities abound at Futuroscope, where families may experience an interactive adventure through space, and immerse themselves in 4D experiences. Nature lovers will also enjoy the extensive garden landscapes at Magne, in Eastern Vienne.
Day 6 Lyon
Lyon, the natural crossroads between northern Europe and the Mediterranean coast, is located in the heart of the Rhone-Alpes region. 2,000 years of history have left their mark on the city landscape. Lyon's rich heritage, passed down through the ages, tells the story of a great city. Lyon's rich historical heritage and its creative initiatives of all kinds find their expression in a multitude of establishments and prestigious events. The arts are represented in Lyon; from fine arts to performing arts, everyone will find their hearts' content. Every year finds sport increasing in popularity in Lyon. Lyon offers impressive facilities: some fifty sports fields and forty gymnasiums provide 550 clubs and associations with optimal training amenities. The City also knows how to make sport spectacular; every year it hosts events -like the Lyon Tennis Grand Prix and the Lyon Marathon - that draw top athletes. Though the mention of the word "Lyon" may conjure up images of fine dining, this is only the tip of the iceberg in a city proud of its diversity and quality image.
Day 7 Lyon
Lyon, the natural crossroads between northern Europe and the Mediterranean coast, is located in the heart of the Rhone-Alpes region. 2,000 years of history have left their mark on the city landscape. Lyon's rich heritage, passed down through the ages, tells the story of a great city. Lyon's rich historical heritage and its creative initiatives of all kinds find their expression in a multitude of establishments and prestigious events. The arts are represented in Lyon; from fine arts to performing arts, everyone will find their hearts' content. Every year finds sport increasing in popularity in Lyon. Lyon offers impressive facilities: some fifty sports fields and forty gymnasiums provide 550 clubs and associations with optimal training amenities. The City also knows how to make sport spectacular; every year it hosts events -like the Lyon Tennis Grand Prix and the Lyon Marathon - that draw top athletes. Though the mention of the word "Lyon" may conjure up images of fine dining, this is only the tip of the iceberg in a city proud of its diversity and quality image.
Day 8 Burgundy Region
In Burgundy, waterways provide a leisurely means for a vacation and luxurious hotel-barges offer exquisite service, haute cuisine, and the best wines from Burgundy's vineyards.
Regional cuisine includes famous boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, and garlicky snails. Famous for fine wines, Bourgogne is home to "the best wines in Christendom".
History buffs will thrill to the medieval city of Vézelay. Visit the Ste-Madeleine Basilica, finished in 878. In the center of Dijon is Palais des Ducs, which today houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Sometimes called "Le Petit Louvre" because of its extraordinary collections, it houses works ranging from medieval to renaissance to impressionist. For a view of Burgundy usually reserved for the birds, hop a ride with one of several hot-air balloon companies.
Day 8 Basel
The third-largest city in Switzerland, Basel stands on the Rhine at the point where the French, German, and Swiss borders meet. At the entrance to the Swiss Rhineland, Basel is the capital of the half-canton of Basel-Stadt. On its borders are the French Vosges, the German Black Forest, and the Swiss Jura Mountains. Grossbasel, or Greater Basel, lies on the steep left bank, and Kleinbasel, or Lesser Basel, is on the right bank.
Day 9 Breisach
The town of Breisach, located on the Rhine River in southwest Germany, is a major producer of wine, textiles, electrical goods and paper. This town has been long coveted because of its strategic location. Fortified by the Romans prior to the 13th century, it became an imperial town in 1275. Taken by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar 1638, in 1648 it was secured by Louis XIV for France in the Peace of Westphalia and ceded back to the emperor in the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697. The French repeatedly captured Breisach during the 18th century but finally gave it to Baden in 1805.
Day 10 Strasbourg
The rich architectural heritage of Strasbourg makes it an excellent tourist city. It has always been a town of passage, and has all architectural styles. The past is written in its walls, and its streets have a timeless quality. Few people can resist the charm of its half-timbered houses and picturesque alleys. Discover the pretty colored facades and impressive portals. Strasbourg is a popular destination where one can forget his usual surroundings. The old city lies around the cathedral on an island formed by two arms of the Ill river. La Petite France is the district which is most reminiscent of old Strasbourg. It is home to many craftsmen and antiques dealers. Its narrow streets offer a series of half-timbered houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with large inner courtyards and high sloping roofs. The exceptional warmth and hospitality of the people and the gastronomic reputation of Strasbourg makes tourists want to stay.
Day 11 Speyer
One of the oldest Rhine cities, Speyer celebrated its 2,000th jubilee in 1990. It became a significant religious center early on when the Diet of Speyer, in 1529, united the followers of Luther in a protest against the Church of Rome.
Day 11 Rudesheim
Rüdesheim is located in the heart of the Rhine river area at the southern entrance to the Lorelei valley. This romantic holiday town offers much to visitors seeking a fabulous German experience. As you cruise down the Rhine, if you listen carefully, you just might hear the siren calling as you pass the Rock of Lorelei. One attraction to visit is the Niederwald monument. Erected between 1877 and 1883, this huge monument symbolizes the re-establishment of the German Empire and unity. From Rudesheim, one can either take the foot path to the monument or the cablecar leading to the top. The panoramic views from the top are spectacular. Rudesheim is also famous for the Abbey of St. Hildegard. Some think the building is older than it is, but truly, it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Other sites to see are the Wine Museum in Broemserburg Castle, Siegfried's Mechanical Music Instruments Museum and the Medieval Torture Museum, which boasts a wide collection of medeival relics.
Day 12 Rhine River Cruising
Day 12 Koblenz
This 2,000-year-old city at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers is the cultural and business centre of the Middle Rhine region. History buffs can explore the Neoclassic Residence Schloss, the Prince Elector's palace; the Deutsches Eck, a settlement founded by the German Order of Knights in 1216; and Ehrenbreitstein, the oldest fortress in Europe.
Day 13 Cologne
Cologne is a city where cathedral spires tower over Germany's oldest city and its innumerable cultural and historical treasures, world-famous museums and active art scene. In Cologne, street music on the Hohe Strasse or galas in the modern opera house; pavement painting on the cathedral concourse or old masters in the Wallraf Richartz Museum; the annual music festival along the inner ring road or carnival in the entire city all becomes synthesized into a vivacious work of art in a cosmopolitan metropolis boasting more than a million inhabitants which has never lost its neighborly character. From venerable breweries offering unique Kolsch beer and typical Cologne delicacies to first-class restaurants - boasting well in excess of 3000 public houses, restaurants and breweries Cologne is one of Germany's leading gastronomic lights. The world feels at home in Cologne, where people meet for a Kolsch, a chat or simply a laugh.
Day 14 Waal & Merwede Rivers
Day 14 Kinderdijk
There are more windmills near Kinderdijk than anywhere else in the world. While in Kinderdijk visitors will want to visit windmill park. It's famous 17th century mill is located in a beautiful green setting, which includes walking paths, and crisscrossing waterways. Other attractions include boat excursions from Rotterdam, Canal cruise, and Frisian horse tour.
Day 15 Amsterdam
Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.