The Rhone through Provence

Lyon

5.10.23 - 5.10.23 60 °F

As it was the next to last night on the cruise, we had the Captain's Gala Farewell Dinner. As I have traveled with AMA a number of times, I am lucky enough to sit with the Captain at this dinner.

Our morning excursion was a trip to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which has the best overview of the city of Lyon, the third largest population in France. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1896 in a dominant position overlooking the city. The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the forum vetus (old forum). Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom is attributed the salvation of the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague that swept Europe in 1643. Each year in early December (December 8, day of the Immaculate Conception), Lyon thanks the Virgin for saving the city by lighting candles throughout the city, in what is called the Fête des Lumières or the Festival of Lights. The Virgin is also credited with saving the city a number of other times, such as from a Cholera epidemic in 1832, and from Prussian invasion in 1870.

In the afternoon, we ventured out into the countryside to sample the wonderful Beaujolais wines. Beaujolais is a French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) wine generally made of the Gamay grape, which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which make up only 1% of its production, are made mostly with Chardonnay grapes though Aligoté is also permitted until 2024 (on condition the vines were planted before 2004). Beaujolais tends to be a very light-bodied red wine, with relatively high amounts of acidity. In some vintages, Beaujolais produces more wine than the Burgundy wine regions of Chablis, Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais put together.

This was a wonderful voyage due to the beautiful countryside and the wonderful Roman ruins....one of my better trips on the river!