Brittany and Normandy are 2 of the most picturesque regions of the nation and they are full of fascinating places & cities to discover - and do not forget the famed French cuisine!
Travelling to the region on a cruise ship will mean you can soak up more than one location during a holiday that lasts just a few days, while indulging in exceptional service levels onboard your floating hotel.
There is a assortment of sights you could potentially choose to stop at on this type of mini cruise, but one you won't wish to let pass is Rouen. The city was formerly the capital city of Normandy and there are ancient sights at every corner.
Rouen's towering thirteenth century Gothic cathedral is sure to be the high point of any tour there, but you are guaranteed to enjoy the active squares, medieval buildings, Gros Horloge astronomical clock and several museums. If you are interested in religious history, you may additionally want to go to the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
The city is a good base from which to take a gastronomic journey of Normandy. There are a number of little food producers and distilleries from the area and you can spend a relaxing afternoon sampling Calvados, cider and also the exceptional native cheeses.
Another place well worth visiting at some stage in a mini cruise is Honfleur, a pretty fishing harbor on the Normandy shoreline. The area round the port has traditional timber-fronted houses on narrow cobblestone streets and as you take a stroll round it, you could be forgiven for believing you have been transported back in time by a few hundred years.
While in Honfleur you might want to visit the Musee Eugene Boudin to see its collection of impressionist pieces or have a jaunt to Giverny, where you will be able to look at the house and delightful gardens that inspired lots of Claude Monet's most world-famous works.
St Malo in Brittany is one more excellent place to visit in the course of cruise holiday break to northern France. This walled municipality is packed with historic points of interest - with a 12th century cathedral and Chateaubriand's tomb - and set in stunning surroundings.
You won't need to voyage faraway from St Malo to see some of the most distinctive coastline in the region. The jagged crimson cliffs at Cap Frehel are guaranteed to be a memorable spectacle, while the views from Fort la Latte are amongst the very best you'll be able to enjoy in this part of France.
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If you are looking to experience the luxury of a cruise ship but don't have the time to sail away onboard a lengthy voyage, take a look at the collection of mini cruises from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. Choose from trips to France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway or even the British isles for your elegant short break.