Spanish & French Coasts - Seville to Amsterdam

Seville, the enchanting capital of Andalusia, Spain, is a city where history and passion intertwine along the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Known for its vibrant flamenco culture, majestic Moorish architecture, and fragrant orange blossoms, Seville captivates visitors with its timeless charm and lively spirit. From the grandeur of the Seville Cathedral and the Alcazar to the bustling streets of the Triana district, Seville invites travelers to immerse themselves in its rich culture, vibrant flavors, and warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The commercial center of northern Portugal and hub of the port wine trade, Porto is a gracious, cosmopolitan city noted for its 12th century cathedral and medieval churches, picturesque narrow streets and wine lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia. It is clustered on hills overlooking a river, and is a northern European style city with granite church towers, narrow streets and hidden Baroque treasures.

As Spain's largest fishing port, Vigo has enjoyed an important maritime role for centuries. For a different perspective, climb to Parque del Castro , built around a 10th-century fortress above the estuary and vast harbor. The lovely Galician countryside, along with nearby Portugal, offer a variety of diversions for the visitor as well.

One of France's most important ports for over a thousand years, Brest straddles the Penfield River at the tip of the Brittany region. Its history is indicated by the Chateau de Brest on one side of the river, and the medieval Tanguy Tower on the opposite bank. In the Chateau, you will find the naval museum. Brest is still one of France's three naval bases. The Tower holds more artifacts of the town's history. A more recent landmark is the dramatic, cable-stayed Pont de I'Iloise bridge, best viewed from the pedestrian-and-cycling Albert Louppe Bridge. Brest also has France's first teleferique cable car, and an impressive Oceanopolis aquarium.

The towering monastery of Mont Saint Michel rises from the tidal flats, cut off twice a day by the sea. Ascend the spiral street to see the spare monastic chambers .

The seaport and naval station of Cherbourg is situated along the English Channel northwest of Paris at the mouth of the Divette River. Believed to rest on the site of an ancient Roman station, Cherbourg has been occupied since ancient times and was frequently contested by the French and English in the Middle Ages because of its strategic location. Most recently passed to France in the late 18th century, the town was extensively fortified by Louis XVI. During WWII the Germans held Cherbourg until it was captured by the American forces shortly after the Normandy landings. Following a vast rehabilitation program that returned it to working condition, Cherbourg became an important Allied supply port. Today, Cherbourg is important for transatlantic shipping, shipbuilding, electronics and telephone equipment manufacturing, yachting and commercial fishing.

The capital of upper Normandy and fifth largest port in France, picturesque and historic Rouen is renowned as a treasury of medieval architecture. With a large part of the city destroyed during World War II resulting in massive postwar reconstruction, Rouen today appears as an interesting blend of ancient and modern. Fortunately, it has kept its medieval character with still-inhabited houses dating from the 15th century, which line its narrow cobblestone streets. Among the city's most noteworthy attractions are the magnificent Cathedrale Notre-Dame built during the 13th century, and the famous Gros-Horloge, a giant Renaissance clock looming over the renowned pedestrian street of the same name. Two blocks away is the Place du Vieux Marche, or old market square, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. She is publicly commemorated at the site on the last Sunday of each May. The "City of a Hundred Spires' as Rouen is known, was an inspiration for Monet's impressionistic cathedral paintings. Rouen also makes an excellent point of departure for a visit to Paris, the 'City of Light."

The sinuous, serpentine curves of the Seine-Maritime wind through the Haute-Normandie region from Le Havre and Honfleur on the English Channel 66 miles/106 km to Rouen and, for small boats, onward to Paris, where UNESCO has inscribed both the Rive Gauche and the Rive Droite as World Heritage Sites. The chalk cliffs along the river shelter small communities which have survived the more general industrialization of the region. The river was named Sequana by the Romans, to honor their river goddess. The Pont de Normandie at the mouth of the river spans 2,808 ft./856m between Le Havre and Honfleur, the second longest cable-stayed suspension bridge in the world. You will also cruise past the riverside town of Jumieges, famous for its romantic ruined abbey.

The delightfully attractive city of Amsterdam is home to many of the world's great art treasures, and is a major center of the glamorous diamond trade as well. Unique architectural styles of the past blend with superb modern structures, and the web of curved and straight canals makes the city as easy to traverse by water as by land. The hospitality of the local people has been remarked upon by generations of travelers, and the Dutch's respect for and tolerance of the beliefs of others has attracted refugees from around the world for centuries.