A two-stop day with a lot of food and drink. In the morning, Tournon sits under steep granite vineyards; just across a footbridge is Tain-l'Hermitage, home of legendary Hermitage wine and Valrhona chocolate. In the evening the ship reaches Vienne, one of France's oldest Roman towns, for an included twilight walk.
Day 5 — Thursday, October 22
Morning: Tournon steam train or Tain wine & chocolate · Afternoon: scenic sailing · Evening: Vienne walk
Morning (Tournon): Viking includes a ride on the Train de l'Ardèche, a restored steam railway up the Doux river gorge. If you'd rather taste than ride, the Tain-l'Hermitage option below is excellent.
✅ Viking included
- Tournon Steam Train (Train de l'Ardèche) through the Doux gorge.
- Vienne Walking Tour and Vienne Evening Walk.
💳 Viking optional (extra cost)
- Rhône Valley Vineyard Hike: climb through the terraced Hermitage vines with a tasting. Steep but short.
🧭 Do it yourself
- Walk the footbridge to Tain (~10 min) for the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona (opens 9am Thu; ~1.5 hrs; tasting all the way through).
- Taste Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage at the M. Chapoutier cellar (opens 10am).
- Or the Cave de Tain co-op for great-value bottles.
Viking tour names come from the published itinerary for this sailing. Confirm times, prices and availability in MyViking Journey. Optional tours can sell out, so reserve early.
⚠️ Timing: the chocolate centre closes 12–1pm for reception (the tour stays open if you're inside by noon). Allow 45 min buffer back to the ship before its sailing time. Check the all-aboard time in the Viking Daily.
Afternoon: scenic cruising past vineyard slopes (Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu). Evening: the included Vienne walk to the floodlit Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia. Dinner onboard.
Booking Status
| Item | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tournon Steam Train | ✅ Booked | Thu Oct 22 · morning · included Viking tour |
| Alt: Cité du Chocolat Valrhona | ⬜ Not booked | Thu Oct 22 · 9:00–12:00 · Book online in advance (recommended) |
| Optional: Rhône Valley Vineyard Hike | ⬜ Not booked | Thu Oct 22 · Book in MyViking Journey |
| Vienne Walking / Evening Walk | ✅ Booked | Thu Oct 22 · evening · included Viking tour |
Attractions
Train de l'Ardèche (steam train)
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.5Heritage steam train from Tournon up the wild Doux gorge, crossing viaducts and tunnels. Nostalgic, scenic and easy.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Cité du Chocolat Valrhona
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.4Valrhona's interactive chocolate centre in Tain: how cocoa becomes chocolate, with tasting all the way through. The shop sells chocolate bars and baking chocolate at factory prices.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Hermitage hill & M. Chapoutier cellar
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.6The steep granite hill of Hermitage has made some of France's greatest Syrah for centuries; the name comes from a crusader-knight hermit. Chapoutier's tasting room sits at the foot of the vines.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Château de Tournon
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.2A castle built into the rock above the river, with a small museum and terrace views over Tain's vineyards.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Temple of Augustus & Livia (Vienne)
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.6One of the best-preserved Roman temples anywhere, still standing in a town square after 2,000 years. It's floodlit at night, so the evening walk shows it at its best.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Vienne Roman Theatre
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.6A 13,000-seat Roman theatre carved into Mont Pipet. Every July it hosts the Jazz à Vienne festival. The view from the top tiers over the town and river is superb.
Tickets & tours: Viator · TripAdvisor
Hotels
🚢 Viking Longship: your floating hotel ✅ BOOKED
Seven nights aboard, Sun Oct 18 to Sun Oct 25. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner. The ship moves between ports, so you never repack.
Restaurants
Café at the Cité du Chocolat
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.4Chocolate drinks, pastries and light bites inside the Valrhona centre. A fun mid-morning stop.
Bar du Temple (Vienne)
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.2Brasserie terrace directly facing the Roman temple on Place Charles-de-Gaulle. Good for a nightcap after the evening walk.
Ma Grand-Mère (Vienne)
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.4Warm, convivial spot for Lyonnaise specialities and wood-fired meats and fish. Useful if you ever take a meal ashore here.
Opera & Events
Jazz à Vienne & Roman theatre
The big festival is in July, so nothing will be on in late October. Check the town programme for small concerts.
Vienne events · Check closer to travel date for program updates.
Wine & Cocktail Bars
Small Shops & Museums
Valrhona boutique
📍 ★★★★★ ~4.5Huge chocolate shop at the Cité, the place for gifts. Look for Valrhona baking fèves and 'Dulcey' blond chocolate.
Further Reading
🎧 Listen before you go
🎧 Join Us in France: Gourmet Escapades in the Rhône Valley
A mother and daughter's food-and-wine trip through the Rhône Valley's AOC wine country and gourmet tables. Great warm-up for Hermitage and Valrhona day.
🎧 Real Food Traveler: What's the Lyon & Provence Viking River Cruise Really Like
Courtney and Jimmy sailed this exact Viking itinerary in summer 2025. They cover the ship and sailing experience, what each port is like, and practical tips.
Transport
Tournon and Tain are joined by the Marc Seguin footbridge (a 10 min flat walk). Vienne's centre is steps from the dock. Rome2Rio: Tournon → Tain