With its amazing cuisine, breathtaking landscapes and close proximity to the UK, it's no wonder that France continues to be a firm holiday favourite with Brits.

And while camping, city breaks and beach holidays are often top of the list, they're not the only ways you can explore the breathtaking landscapes that the country has to offer.

In fact, if you're after a holiday with a twist, then a river cruise could be just the ticket! Not only will you get spectacular views of the scenery, but you can also stop and wander around the picturesque cities too.

Becky Parkinson decided to put this type of holiday to the test, so she boarded Cosmos' A-Rosa Rhone Route Classic river cruise along the Rhone and Saone rivers to explore the best of south-western France - and she wasn't disappointed.

Check out her travel diary below...

Becky's travel diary

On a cruise along the rivers of southern France I expected fine wines, great gastronomy and fields of heady lavender.

I didn’t expect wild horses, pink flamingos and red roses...

But I got all of this – and more – as I sailed the Rhone and Saone rivers from Lyon, the beautiful city that began and ended my eight-day trip.

I was welcomed on board with the aforementioned red rose, a gift symbolising the logo of the good ship A-Rosa Stella, which has been ferrying guests up and down Europe’s rivers for 15 years – the Rhone being her latest home.

Lyon, France’s third-biggest city, is where the two rivers meet. It was an important silk-trading city in centuries past, and its maze of covered alleyways (to keep the silk dry) is a marvellous place to investigate.

We headed to the magnificent basilica for fine views of the rivers we were to explore.

First, we sailed north up the Saone, to the beautiful town of Macon, which is surrounded by a key wine region (aren’t they all in France?).

Ah, but this is where they make Beaujolais, so there was plenty of sampling on and off board.

The ship turned around at the once-bustling port of Chalon-sur-Saone, home to a quite lovely cathedral. It is also famous for being the birthplace of Nicéphore Niépce, the man who took the oldest surviving photograph in around 1826.

There is a fascinating little museum to his work here.

Then we headed back south, drinking in the views of pretty villages and towns – either from the sun deck pool, the comfy bar, or the patio outside my cabin.

I woke each morning to breathtaking vistas sliding past my windows, before tucking into a breakfast to set me up for the day.

My room was much bigger than I expected, and all 86 cabins have those cracking views of the river.

(
Image:
Becky Parkinson)

Dinner each evening was a relaxed affair in the Market Restaurant, which has a buffet and hot food stations – and plenty of French wines and cheeses.

If the weather’s nice, you can even dine alfresco on the sun deck. There’s a games room, gym, spa treatments and saunas too.

After a stop to explore Lyon properly, we crossed to the Rhone, arriving by morning in Orange (my pitiful attempts at pronouncing this just reinforced why I got a D in GCSE French).

Orange is home to the spectacular Roman Theatre – billed as the best-preserved amphitheatre in Europe. Built in the 1st century AD, this Unesco World Heritage Site hosts concerts, festivals and opera performances.

Then on to the jewel in the river’s crown – Avignon.

Built in the 1300s, the medieval city walls enclose a treasure trove of history, architecture and culture. From the famous Pont d’Avignon “broken bridge” to the Romanesque cathedral and the imposing Gothic Palais de Papes, Avignon will blow you away.

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Image:
Getty Images)

The Pope’s Palace is one of Europe’s most important – and biggest – ­medieval buildings. The architecture is overwhelming. It’s open to the public for tours, and also stages theatre productions and concerts.

People in front of a palace, Palais des Papes, Avignon, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France (
Image:
Panoramic Images)

After all that incredible history it was time for some fresh air and exercise, so I joined a bike ride around Ile de la Barthelasse, one of the biggest river islands in Europe, situated between two branches of the Rhône at Avignon.

It is home to 1,000 residents and is prone to flooding so is mostly used for farmland. It is a perfect setting for ­relaxation and spotting bird life.

Our last port of call before the Rhone empties into the Med was at Arles, famous for inspiring Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings. When you see the colours and the light here, you know why.

The town also has bullfighting, known here as “la course Camarguaise” – but these are not bloody affairs: the bullfighter tries to snatch the tassel that’s wrapped around the beast’s horns.

As well as the bulls, the Camargue national park is home to flamingos and wild horses – seeing them gallop in the shallows is a sight to behold.

We took an amazing Jeep tour through the swamps here at the mouth of the Rhone – a spectacular excursion for bird lovers.

Flamingos in Arles, South of France (
Image:
Becky Parkinson/Daily Mirror)

If you do want to enjoy the Mediterranean before leaving, the Camargue offers 75km of sandy beaches and unspoiled dunes. Wild horses had to drag me away...

Travel tips:

  • Cosmos offers a 7-night all-inclusive A-Rosa Rhone Route Classic river cruise on A-Rosa Stella from £1,240pp including Gatwick flights, private VIP home pick-up service (within 50 miles of airport) and transfers. Based on two sharing for travel in April 2018. cosmos.co.uk
  • Excursions bookable on board and payable in euros.
  • Tourist info: uk.france.fr