On the Banks of the French rivers Rhône and Saône, well-known wine-growing regions are strung together. To match the wines are also many Goodies are to be found: mustard from Dijon, noble Bresse chicken, hand-crafted Nougat of Montélimar ... Scenic and culinary experiences together in one of the Saône, and Rhônekreuzfahrt therefore, perfect. Click here to read the review of our 8-day pleasure cruise through France.
"Red goes only to a very limited extent to cheese", explains wine expert Christian Budde, the passengers of the "A-ROSA Luna". Astonished eyes meet in the Lounge of the river ship, but guests to the Experiment: A mouthful of pearly Crémant, a bite from the character-filled goat cheese – fruity nose and a nutty melt soften each other. It continues with soft cheese from the Burgundy and a Mâconnaise, while behind the panoramic Windows of the Ardèche is passing. When Munster cheese accompanied by a gewürztraminer white the funky idea of awakening the Six-course menu that will be served in two hours – hopefully, the Hunger to return before then. However, the stomach is shown, in view of pink roasted US beef sirloin with cafe de Paris-foam and Pommes Pont Neuf cooperative. At the end of the Evening, is required according to the chef, the Restaurant storms of enthusiasm, contrary to beat.
The starting point in Lyon – "La ville de gueule", the "palate city"
In the case of a River cruise on the Rhône and Saône gourmets get their money's worth. The cruise starts and ends at the confluence of the two French rivers in Lyon. "La ville de gueule", the "palate city", is already worth the trip, not only from a culinary point of view. A Must-see for foodies, the "Halles de Lyon". The nondescript concrete-and-glass building on the Place des Cordeliers combines well-known producers and regional specialties under one roof. Neatly various cheeses, are lined up, Asian tourists are watching with open mouths as the butcher cuts a fine ham pieces direct from the club. And, of course, is cooked fresh.
On the first evening of the trip, the river on a ship in the direction of the Saône. Already at noon the next day, we reach the northernmost point of the trip: Chalon-sur-Saône. Subsequently, the river crosses the ship to the South, via Mâcon and past Lyon on the Rhône. Here the ship in Viviers and the papal city of Avignon makes. The southernmost point of the trip to Arles, where the tours start in the Camargue. Then it goes back to the North, back to Lyon.
The first part of The culinary Highlights of the rolling Saône
First of all, the river boat sails the gentle Saône all the way up to Chalon-sur-Saône. The Sunday market runs through the streets of the old town. Tomatoes in all colors, contrary to the rays of the visitors, it smells of grilled chicken.
In the afternoon it goes Dijonin the capital of the Burgundy region. White Charolais and brown Limousin cattle pastures, meadows on the flat. After some time, the first wine of the fields are to be seen. We keep the "Clos de Vougeot", a secluded vineyard, the grapes belong to the best in the category of "Grand Crux". In the evening a "Premier Cru is served on the ship" from Beaune to pink-fried calf's back.
The next day, our Saône - and Rhônekreuzfahrt crowing and clucking in the market streets of Louhans. The Region of Bresse is known for the eponymous chickenthis is drawn in the colors of the Italian flag: blue nails, white Feathers and red comb. On the way back to the ship, we see countless white dots on a vast meadows, because every Bresse chicken has a minimum of ten square feet of space. Lush meadows and white Burgundy vines alternate.
The second part: Rhônekreuzfahrt South
In the evening, a Beaujolais Blanc accompanied the snails from the Buffet. We pass through a new wine region, for the first time, the vines up to the shore. The wine of the grape of the Beaujolais consists almost exclusively from the Gamay grapes, which are not approved for the upscale wines of Burgundy. And so it attracts the ship without a stop further to the South. In the night we ride through Lyon and directed to the much more vivacious of the Rhône. France water the most successful river supplies the best wines in the country, Côtes du Rhône Villages, and, of course, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Mediterranean climate, and of clay was limestone soils provide the best prerequisites for the Côtes du Rhône wines, but also for other, much more valuable delicacy ...
A guest at the truffle dog
Of Vivers, we drive to the Drômegebiet to the truffle forests of Grignan. "Allez au cherche, ma cherie," calls Serge Aurel good Emi to mood and the Italian hunting dog trots tail wagging away. Only a few meters away, she remains close to a young oak abruptly and pressed the nose to the earth, before you start to dig. About 15 inches below the surface is the bitch at the target of their search, and carried a nondescript black tuber into the light of day. "Stop calling" Aurel is now much more strict. "Stop." Obedient bitch makes the peach big ball drop and takes a butter biscuit as a reward. "She likes truffles too," says Aurel.
The taste was instilled with the mother's milk. Up to 4,000 euros, the white dog deserves lady for her owner daily during the winter season, while four to five hours of search, you will find three to four kilograms of the precious fungi. Truffle form a symbiosis with the trees under which they will grow and can't cultivate. But the probability of their occurrence is to increase Aurel, by taking cuttings of producing trees. Truffle butter, truffle oil, truffle liver sausage – the tasting convince you of the quality of the second-most expensive truffle places in the world.
Handmade white Nougat
Who truffles are not so much fond of it, the next stop on the excursion from the port of Viviers from: from The Bus stop in Montélimar, the capital of the white Nougat. We learn that the Montélimar Nougat consists of a minimum of 30 percent from seed, cores, especially toasted almonds and pistachios are used here. And the lavender gives the honey its Sweet.
The small cubes are there in the hard and the soft, white and colored versions. The recipe is supposed to be reached with the Greeks to France. But with the introduction of the Asian almond trees in the 16th century. The century began with the production.
Day trip from Arles, in the Camargue
The next day the river reached the southernmost point of the trip: Arles, which means "swamp town". The rocky corset the "Alpilles", the small Alpine, the town in the Delta of the Rhône in stock. Short in front of Arles, the mighty Rhône divides in the Petit and the Grand Rhône.
Between the two arms of the river, the regional natural Park Camargue covers, characterized by lagoons, salt marshes, swamps and channels. The Jeep jerky, first through the Northern part of the Delta, here, melons and fruit trees, wheat and Corn to grow. The Rhône supplied 20,000 hectares of rice with fresh water, he was originally grown from the soil of salt.
Three-Meter high reed leaves swaying in the Mistral wind, which provides for Sunny weather. We learn that around 10,000 in the "wild" Camargue horses all have an owner. The marshy ground, dyes her white-gray coat spotted, the juveniles are dark brown. The Black in the color palette to prove the Taureau-cattle, the meat of which carries with it a protective seal for the controlled designation of origin.
It continues to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where the Sinti and Roma of worship every year in may, a black statue of the virgin Mary. White houses with red roofs exude holiday atmosphere. From the roof of the Church from the views of the Mediterranean sea and the expanse of swampland along the coast opens up. The southern Delta can not be made due to its high salt content urbar. Over 400 types of birds, including 28,000 Flamingos. Your wings alternates between pink and black you are looking for with staksigem gear in the shallow water of the lagoon to shrimp to.
In the evening the passengers to exchange aboard the River boat reddish-brown Camargue rice against lavender sachet trip from Provence. In the sea salt-marinated cod comes in with a Côtes du Rhône Réserve blanc on the table.
Visit Paul Bocuse
It goes back to the North, the supposed culinary highlight in a suburb of Lyon. Once again, the river's on the way up a small piece of the Saône, the passengers of the "Abbaye de Collongesto bring “ by Paul Bocuse. The Restaurant is not to be confused with the just a few kilometres upstream of "L'auberge du pont de Collonges". The latter is the three Michelin-star rating, the birthplace of the French chef. We will visit the estate of his grandparents, which is used for larger events.
The rhythm of a mighty organ from the year 1900 is driving the staff nimbly up the stairs and down to the upper floor of high cooking at hats in the menu. Bocuse once said, "The kitchen makes up 20 percent of the Restaurants, the Rest of the atmosphere." This formula is also valid for our visit, the dishes are very down-to-earth. Nevertheless satisfied the passengers from the ship, the few kilometres back to Lyon to wear.
A-ROSA river cruise for food-lovers
The pleasure cruise on the Rhône and the Saône is a full success. In addition to the numerous gourmet moments on Land, also the ship's chefs put on Board fully, they will present the nightly varied buffet with regional specialities. The eight-day "Rhone Route Gourmet" is A-ROSA river cruises offered and are being held usually once or twice a year. An early reservation is recommended, because the journey is very much in demand.
The journey to the Rhônekreuzfahrt to Lyon can be done in different Ways: Who lives in the North of Germany, might prefer a fast flight compound is also offered by the company as a complete package. From the South of Germany from the arrival by TGV and ICE, however. Who wants to drive his Car for the eight-day river cruise in a guarded car Park in Lyon under.