The name of the Seine derives from the Celtic Sequana. Sequana was worshiped as the goddess of the Seine, embodying the fertile bond between earth and water.
On the leisurely, almost 350-kilometer journey on the stylish “MS Seine Comtesse” towards the Atlantic, you will experience the change from the pulsating life of the metropolis to the lush green idyll of Normandy and the silent witnesses of French history. Leaving behind the Eiffel Tower, the 114-metre floating home on the meandering river passes castles and abbeys and makes its first berth in Rouen – just outside the gates of the old town.
Historical jewels
With its hundreds of half-timbered houses, visitors think they are in an open-air museum of Gothic art. The well-known French writer Victor Hugo called the capital of Normandy “the city of 100 bell towers”. That of the cathedral rises 151.5 meters into the sky, higher than any other in the country. The French painter Claude Monet dedicated a whole series of 33 paintings to the church.
Located on the Flower Coast (Côte Fleurie), the beautiful port city of Honfleur is also a historic jewel. After all, it lures you with a romantic quarter at the old harbor basin, which has hardly changed since the 17th century. The afternoon on this third day of travel is full of contrasts. The cruise guests first get to know the modern architectural city of Le Havre. Its city center, completely rebuilt in the 1950s by star architect Auguste Perret, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
At the end of an eventful day, the washed-out chalk cliffs await in the seaside resort of Étretat. Not on the Seine, but initially on the road of the Norman abbeys, it continues the next day. The destinations are the monasteries of Jumièges and Saint-Martin-de-Boscherville.
Famous names like Giverny and Chantilly accompany the cruise guests in the days that follow. One is a village where the famous painter Claude Monet lived for 45 years and made this region world-famous with his impressionist paintings. When visiting his house, travelers can be enchanted by the unique garden with the water lily pond, which served as a motif for the artist. The other (Chantilly) is a château that amazes with both its interior and its gardens. In addition, it has the largest horse stables in Europe.
But what would a trip on the Seine be without Paris? On the last day there is the opportunity to take a look at the Eiffel Tower and Champs Élysées and to discover the bohemian district of Montmartre, at the highest point of which the white Sacré-Coeur Basilica is enthroned. Bon voyage!
Cruise & Wine Show
The 5th OÖN river cruise with Moser Reisen on the Seine will take place from July 9th to 16th, 2022. The “MS Seine Comtesse” offers space for 150 passengers, has three cabin decks with 22 outside cabins on the upper deck, 41 outside cabins on the middle deck and twelve outside cabins on the main deck. All are equipped with shower/toilet, air conditioning, hairdryer, TV, telephone and safe.
- When extra the popular OÖN wine show with sommelier Hans Stoll will be on board again. The long-standing editor-in-chief and current chief commentator of OÖN, Gerald Mandlbauer, will also accompany the trip.
- Price: depending on the category with full board from 1249 to 2079 euros; Excursion package 320 euros
Arrival package by bus (Linz-Schiff and back) 249 euros, by flight (Vienna-Paris-Vienna, bus Linz-Vienna-Linz) 399 euros; - Info/Booking: Moser Reisen, Karin Böck, Tel. 0732/2240-22, boeck@moser.at, moser.at
Source: Nachrichten
