7-night Europe cruise from Paris on Viking Nerthus
The Paris & the Heart of Normandy is a 7-night Europe cruise aboard Viking Nerthus, operated by Viking. Departing Paris on October 29, 2027, the voyage visits 5 ports including Vernon, France, Rouen, France, Les Andelys. Fares start from $4,799 per person.
Fixed editorial images from the places on this itinerary. They stay stable each time you return to this sailing.
Paris
Even if you’ve never been to Paris before, you’ll feel like you recognise every corner of the city. Countless films, books, paintings, poems and songs have been set in the city of love. Yet there’s always more to discover. The fashion capital of the world, a mecca of art and culture, an oasis for gourmets and a metropolis for media, education and political and economic power – Paris is all of this and more. Paris is a city whose beauty never fades. The Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Madeleine, Opéra, Louvre, Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, Dôme des Invalides and Centre Pompidou are just some of the sights that exemplify this city’s fame and grandeur.
Vernon, France
It’s said that you can hear the beams creaking like old bones when you see the Vieux Moulin de Vernon. The mill is perched on two pillars, seemingly suspended in mid-air over the Seine, while its roof sags like an old worn-out horse. Claude Monet painted the mill; reassuringly, the sag is visible in these paintings, which date back to 1883. Vernon has a few sights, such as a Gothic abbey church with stunningly colourful stained-glass windows. Nevertheless, it’s almost impossible to resist the lure of excursions to nearby destinations. In Château de Bizy (also known as ‘Little Versailles’), you can revel in luxurious Renaissance décor and go for a delightful stroll around the elegant park. Claude Monet’s house in Giverny is another magnet for culture enthusiasts and romantics – and rightly so. Unsurprisingly, the lush garden looks like a wild field of flowers from an impressionist painting. The crowning glory is the enchanting pond of water lilies – the subject of one of the most valuable paintings in the world.
Rouen, France
Situated in a natural amphitheater on the Seine River, Rouen's status as a commercial and cultural center reaches as far back as the Middle Ages. As a result of its importance, the city was the target of many sieges. During the English occupation in the Hundred Years' War, Rouen was the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Other tragedies include the destruction of a major part of the commercial and industrial center during bombing raids in World War II.
Today the city presents an interesting mix of medieval and modern architecture. Rouen expanded outward during the 20th century with the development of industries; its increasingly busy port is now the fourth largest in France. The city's greatest attraction is its historic center. Known as the “City of a Hundred Spires,” many of its important edifices are churches. Dominating the large central square is the magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. You may recognize the west façade of the cathedral from a series of studies by Claude Monet, which are now displayed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Surrounding the square are picturesque half-timbered houses with steeply pointed roofs. The wealth of architectural treasures and the ambiance of Rouen's historic center never fail to impress visitors.
Rouen also serves as a gateway to Paris. Driving distance is 2 hours by car or 1.5 hours by train. (Trains arrive in Paris at St. Lazare Station.)
Prices come from third-party data feeds via Viking and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works
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Nerthus, an ancient deity revered by various Germanic and Scandinavian tribes, symbolizes fertility and the earth. Often referred to as Mother Earth, she was depicted riding a chariot drawn by cows. These sacred processions were believed to bless the land with fertility.
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