In Vienne, the next stop, a full-day guided tour covers Roman temples, a cathedral, and other historic sites as well as a train ride up Mount Pipet.

While exploring the wine-producing towns of Tournon and Viviers, you'll visit the Musée de Tain L'Hermitage, the oldest house in the region. Then you'll continue on to Arles, known, among other things, for its Roman ruins and St.-Trophime, a Roman Catholic church.

Town Hall at twilight in La Place des Terreaux, Lyon, France (MedioImages/Corbis) [enlarge photo]

The voyage ends in Avignon, where you'll take a guided walk; prepare to be wowed by the Palace of the Popes, a soaring Gothic structure.

Flying out of Marseille? You can get there from Avignon by rail or bus.

If you elect to take the November cruise, the weather will be mild (expect temperatures in the 70s). This is also the wetter part of France's autumn, so pack some rain gear.

Getting There The cruise begins in Chalon-sur-Saône and ends in Avignon. If you book airfare through Viking River Cruises, they'll send you into Lyon and out of Marseille. We priced out this multicity fare on Kayak for flights this November (we were unable to preview November 2009 airfares as of press time) from the following cities: $769 from New York City (Air France), $949 from Atlanta (Air France), $968 from D.C. (Air France), $1,011 from L.A. (Delta/Air France), and $1,083 from Dallas (Northwest/KLM Royal Dutch).

More on France:

• A Guide to European River Cruises

• Hot Property: Marseille's Hotel Le Corbusier

• Secret Hotels of the French Riviera

• Best Places You've Never Heard Of: Jura Region, France