France & Spain Sailing Cruise

Barcelona revels in contrasts. Many enthuse over the beautiful elegant squares and boulevards, while others look for medieval romance in the Gothic quarter. Some love the artistic treasures in the Picasso Museum or the Joan Miró Foundation, but for most people Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Art Nouveau and its glory is epitomised in the spectacular Palau de la Música. At every turn you encounter the playfully opulent creations of architect Antonio Gaudi. His exuberant fantasies are evident in the numerous houses, idiosyncratic parks and the famous uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral which he created.

Departure 07.00 pm Barcelona revels in contrasts. Many enthuse over the beautiful elegant squares and boulevards, while others look for medieval romance in the Gothic quarter. Some love the artistic treasures in the Picasso Museum or the Joan Miró Foundation, but for most people Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Art Nouveau and its glory is epitomised in the spectacular Palau de la Música. At every turn you encounter the playfully opulent creations of architect Antonio Gaudi. His exuberant fantasies are evident in the numerous houses, idiosyncratic parks and the famous uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral which he created.

Arrival 01.30 pm, Departure 07.00 pm On one side of the harbor a defiant church, on the other the old royal castle, in between a promenade on which gnarled plane trees provide shade – can so much picturesque idyll be real? In Collioure it can. The fishing village has been attracting artists since the beginning of the 20th century: Here, fauvists like Henri Matisse and André Derain revived in the golden light. Today, a theme trail along the harbor leads to the places where their works were created. Artists have again settled in the old town quarter and offer their works for sale in the flower-decorated labyrinth of alleys and stairways.

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm "Would you like some more water? The Mediterranean Sea on one side, the lagoon on the other, a network of canals in the town center – Sète is so maritime that even the cemetery offers sea views. Fishing still plays an important role here. When the cutters enter the harbor, chased by screeching seagulls, it is always an impressive spectacle. Seafood lovers definitely get their money's worth here: along the canals, which give the city a feathery Italian flair, fish restaurants serve the freshest oysters, stuffed squid or juicy tuna steaks.

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 06.00 pm With exciting cities like Marseille, Cassis, Toulon, and Aix-en-Provence in the vicinity, it really isn't easy for La Ciotat to stand out. On the other hand, being overlooked also offers great opportunities: La Ciotat has managed to retain the authentic, unexcited charm of a small town and is a real insider tip on the Côte d'Azur. The coastal town is a great place to live in: Old mansions, chapels and churches line the town's airy squares; and the newly designed harbor promenade invites visitors to stroll and shop with a view of fishing boats, sailing yachts and the old shipyard cranes.

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

Arrival 08.00 am Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town – a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-colored houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometer-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.

Itineraries are subject to change.