Roaming with the Rhône Delta: A Storybook Journey on the Riverside

There’s a moment just before dusk on the Rhône when the river shimmers like liquid silver, holding its breath as though it knows the day is about to tell a magnificent story. It’s in this stillness that the Riverside Ravel slips from its moorings in Lyon, gliding into the unfolding pages of southern France.

Lyon vanishes slowly behind us, its Renaissance façades blinking farewell. The river curves like a calligraphy stroke, guiding us where time and taste entwine. The journey is less cruise, more literary escape. Every turn reveals a tale.

In Vienne, the bones of empires remain—Roman amphitheaters now host jazz instead of gladiators. We stand on the hilltop near the Chapel of Pipet, gazing at the Rhône as it threads its silver promise through valley and vineyard.

In the morning, bicycles await. We follow the ViaRhôna, pedaling along flower-lined trails, past stone farmhouses and herons slicing the sky. Our destination: the legendary Côte-Rôtie, where sun-struck Syrah grapes cling to impossible hills. At Domaine Barge, the doors open wide, and we sip wine in cellars carved deep into time, the aroma of oak and ambition hanging in the air.

Next is Tain-l’Hermitage, tucked along a river bend where indulgence reaches new heights. At the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona, chocolate becomes art—from bean to bar. Inside, we taste Grand Cru chocolates alongside Rhône Valley wines—Syrah, Marsanne, Viognier—as experts guide us through pairings where spice, fruit, and cocoa entwine in perfect harmony.

Downriver, Viviers awaits—a town wrapped in medieval hush, its shuttered windows winking with history. But it’s beyond the cathedral where magic rustles beneath the soil. Farther inland near Grignan, the story deepens. At Domaine de Cordis, the land whispers in earthy tones. Didier and Carole Chabert greet guests not with fanfare but with warmth. Their truffle dog leads the way through oak groves. A dig, a pause, a reveal—the elusive black diamond of French cuisine. Time forgets itself in Grignan. All that remains is aroma and awe.

Later, Châteauneuf-du-Pape beckons with its storied vines and timeless hush. Beyond its cobbled lanes, we’re welcomed into a private tasting at Le Pavillon Maison Bouachon. Beneath stone arches and flickering candles, a sommelier guides us through Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre blends—each glass echoing the land’s rhythm. Wine isn’t poured here—it’s unveiled. The experience becomes a dialogue between palate and place, past and present.

Sunday morning in Gordes unfolds slowly. Church bells ring from Église Saint-Firmin, echoing through dew-covered cobbled lanes. Locals drift toward the square, baguettes tucked under arms, exchanging greetings like poetry. The cafés hum while the market sleeps. We settle on a terrace overlooking the valley, the view stretching toward the Luberon like a painted canvas. The castle looms, stoic and golden in the morning light.

Stopping in Tarascon, we rise with the sun and head toward Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. There, we visit the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole, where Van Gogh found both refuge and revelation. It was here, from 1889 to 1890, that he painted some of his most iconic works—The Starry Night, Irises, Almond Blossom—drawn from the view beyond his barred window. We walk the Van Gogh Trail, marked with reproductions of his work in the very places he once stood. Cypress trees reach skyward, wheat fields glimmer in gold, and inside the monastery, his room waits—humble and serene, touched by the pulse of genius.

As the Riverside Ravel glides into the Rhône Delta, the landscape opens wide. Horses roam in the distance. Flamingos ripple through salt flats. On the top deck, the scent of barbecue floats through twilight. Chefs work Green Egg grills, searing beef, fresh-caught fish, and Provençal vegetables. Glasses clink. Laughter rises. The river reflects a sunset of molten gold and lavender. We dine beneath the open sky, the Rhône shimmering beside us, the Delta unfolding like a dream.

As we near the journey’s final chapter, Avignon welcomes us with its towering walls. The Palais des Papes watches over the city—a Gothic sentinel rich in history. We explore its grand chambers, the whispers of conclaves lingering in the air.

From there, we make a short morning pilgrimage to the Pont du Gard, a Roman marvel of engineering. Built in the first century AD, this golden limestone aqueduct spans the Gardon River with breathtaking grace. Beneath its soaring arches, we walk, reflect, and feel time stretch. Ancient olive trees line the path, and a museum nearby deepens the story.

That evening, the final indulgence awaits at Domaine de Panéry. Beneath a ceiling of stars, we dine among vines. Olive oils pressed from nearby groves. Wines poured like poetry. The chef arrives with seared Bresse chicken breast, fig reduction, wild herbs. Laughter dances above the table.

The Rhône Delta eventually opens like a book nearing its last page. In Camargue, horses roam like myth. In Arles, Van Gogh’s ghosts whirl among sunflower fields. And in Avignon once more, the palace sits watching—wise, golden, still.

When the cruise ends, it doesn’t feel like disembarkation. It feels like waking from a dream spun in fine history, fine food, and wine. Something lingers—the hush of river mornings, the thrill of candlelit cellars, the bite of truffle on tongue.

Roaming with the Rhône aboard the Riverside Ravel isn’t travel. It’s transformation. And if rivers could whisper stories, the Rhône would never stop speaking.

Join us in 2026 when we sail the Danube on the Riverside Mozart, and again in 2027 when we return to sail the Rhône.