10 Must See Ports On A Rhone River Cruise

1. Rhone River Cruise Ports

There are lots of ports that a Rhone River cruise can stop at along its journey. The Rhone River is 500 miles long, starting in Lyon and ending in the Mediterranean. Hundreds of cities line its banks, and they are all stunningly beautiful.

I’ll only discuss the major ports where the boats will stop, so you can choose a cruise based on your favorite ports.

2. Vienne

This city on the Rhone is just 20 miles south of Lyon, and seeing it from the water will take your breath away. Its colorful buildings against the green hills look like something you would see out of a fairytale. 

There are many castles and museums here, and they even have an ancient Roman amphitheater. This isn’t the only thing they have from the Roman era. They also have a Jardin Archaeologique de Cybèle with multiple Roman temples, buildings, and walkways. ​​Le Pyramide is another Roman artifact in this city and is now used as a roundabout.

Vienne Cathedral is a medieval church built in 1130 and one of the most beautiful churches in the world. It looks like a duomo in Milan or Rome, but it’s just right on the side of the river in this perfect little town.

3. Arles

Arles is the second to last port before entering the Mediterranean. It’s known for its ancient Roman buildings and where Van Gogh painted his famous “Starry Night Over the Rhone”. Van Gogh wasn’t the only renowned artist who lived here. Pablo Picasso also based himself here in 1957 and did many exhibitions at the Réattu Museum.

Some highlights of this city include the Roman Amphitheater of Arles, the St. Trophieme Church, and the Abbaye de Montmajour. The view of this city from the river isn’t as impressive as others on this list. However, once you are inside the city and can see the buildings up close, you will instantly fall in love with it.

4. Avignon

This is such a fantastic place to visit. If you want a city full of castles and incredible architecture, then Avignon is the place for you. It’s located in the ​​south-eastern Provence region of France, and from 1309 to 1377, the Palace of the Popes was the seat of the Catholic popes.

As you sail into the city, you’ll first see the Pont Saint-Benezet. This medieval bridge used to stretch across the entire Rhone River, but now only four arches of the bridge remain. This is because multiple floods over the years destroyed the bridge, and before they could repair it, another flood would hit and ruin their work. 

Another famous landmark in the city is the ​​Avignon Cathedral, which was built in the 12th century next to the Palace of the Popes. The cathedral houses the seat of the Archbishop of Avignon, which is significant because the popes used to visit often.

5. Viviers

This city is perched high on a hill along the Rhone River. It is mostly hidden when you’re on the water, but you will not be disappointed once you enter the tiny hilltop town of Viviers. The Viviers Cathedral is the main spectacle of the town and towers over this small village. The church’s construction began in the 11th century and has had to be rebuilt multiple times. 

From the outside, this Roman Catholic church is built in the traditional Gothic style and has towers and spires that surround the church. It has a tall domed ceiling with stained glass windows on the inside. The church is the main attraction, but there are a couple of other things to do here, such as the House of the Chevaliers, and walking the cobblestone streets of the old town.

6. The Camargue

This region of France is known for its fantastic wildlife and natural beauty. It is right on the edge of the Mediterranean and covers over 360 square miles of land. The Camargue Regional Nature Park is what this region is known for. This Park consists mainly of wetlands and has a large bird population.

Wild horses are another animal that lives here, and the park is most famous for them. Seeing them galloping across the wetlands is one of the most magical sights you’ll ever see.

You can also book a horse riding tour to see the Park by horseback. Some birds that live here are a variety of gulls and terns, Night Herons, Bitterns, and Squacco Herons. 

If you want to see what else is around the area, head to the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau, where you can see flamingos and many other bird species. Also nearby are the pink salt lakes of Aigues-Mortes, where you can find massive pink lakes that make for an incredible Instagram picture.

Depending on the time of year you visit, you might be lucky to watch the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer bull games. Here, professional bullfighters get into the ring with the bulls, dodge, and weave as the bulls charge them.

7. Port-Saint-Louis

This is the last city you’ll hit as you go down the Rhone River. It is at the mouth of the river, which means it’s the point where the river flows directly into the Mediterranean Sea.

This means that there are beaches in this city! Some of the most famous ones are Plage Napoléon, Plage Nord, and Plage de Piemanson. The city of Port Saint-Louis doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing, but the area around this city is incredible.

8. Martigues

Martigues is a little seaside village with colorful houses lining the water’s edge. If you want the best view of the village, go to the Miroir aux Oiseaux. Here you can get a postcard-worthy photo of the small boats and buildings that define this wonderful town. 

Then there’s the Le Quartier de l’Île, where the city’s canals are located. This area is known as the Venice of the Provence. Last, we have the Église Sainte-Madeleine-de-l’Île.

This 17th-century church is one of the most beautiful in the region. The interior is covered in beautiful fresco,s and the walls are decorated with gold accents. The main beach of the city is called Plage de St Croix. It’s located in the city’s south and has white sand and crystal-clear water. 

9. Lyon

Lyon is the city where most Rhone River cruises begin. It is the second-largest city in France and is known as Paris of the East. Lyon is the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and is at the crossroads of the Rhône and Saône Rivers.

First on the list of things to see in Lyon is the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière. This church is high above the city, giving an incredible view of the Old Town below and the Rhone River. 

Then we have the vast Parc de la Tête d’Or with its massive green space and botanical gardens. You can walk around here for hours and still not see the whole thing. There’s also another Roman amphitheater called the Théâtre Gallo Romain de Lyon-Fourvière.

Built in the 15th century, it is now the site of concerts and festivals. Lyon is also known as the food capital of France, and its dishes include Quenelles, Andouillette, and tarte aux pralines for dessert. This city is truly magnificent and should not be missed.

10. Tain L’Hermitage

If you like wine, then you’ll love this city. There are three major wineries in this city, the Maison M. Chapoutier, Caves de Tain, and Paul Jaboulet Âiné. They all produce white and red wines from local vineyards in the area. Wine is not the only thing they are famous for. 

They also have a chocolate museum/cafe called the Cite du Chocolat Valrhona, where you can experience the chocolate-making process and learn about its history. There’s also the Parc Jouvet, a beautiful park with fountains and places for children to play. The city’s center has the Fontaine Monumentale with its multiple tiers and a statue on top. This town’s tall churches and lovely bridges look incredible from the water.