9 Night Cruise sailing from Lisbon to St Malo aboard LÁustral.

In partnership with Ducasse Conseil and Château Latour.

From Lisbon to Saint-Malo, PONANT invites you to join an exceptional gastronomic and oenological cruise in partnership with Ducasse Paris and Château Latour.

Board L’Austral for a 10-day cruise to the land of rich flavours and discover all the know-how and excellence of Alain Ducasse’s teams during prestigious gala dinners.

From the port of Leixões, you will first visit Porto. Capital of the northern region of Portugal, this “city of granite”, the centre of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its wine.

You will discover San Sebastián, the elegant capital of Gipuzkoa province. With its distinctive shell-shaped bay, opulent-looking buildings and small streets that are ideal for strolling, this city provides a fine glimpse at the charms of the Spanish Basque Country.

L’Austral will then make its way up the Gironde estuary for a first stop in Pauillac, will several visits and wine tastings at some very beautiful wine estates in the Saint-Estephe, Margaux and Pauillac appellations. In the evening, the moored ship will have Château Latour as a backdrop: in this magnificent setting, a gala dinner held on board will enchant you with its wine and dish pairings.

Two days in Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world, will follow. You will be captivated by its rich wine-making tradition and have the opportunity to visit the Cité du Vin, the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, and other châteaux.

Then, you will call at Belle-Île-en-Mer, before heading to Saint-Malo, a town famous for the legendary Route du Rhum yacht race, lose yourself in the diversity of its heritage, stroll along its rampart walks, and fall under the charm of the city of privateers.

Highlights of this cruise:

Lisbon
Portugal’s capital city located on the banks of the Tagus, only a few kilometres from the Atlantic coast, is a city of exceptionally rich cultural diversity. At the mouth of the river harbour, impose two UNESCO World Heritage monuments, Jeronimos monastery and Belem tower. The Alfama hillside is also worth visiting: known for its fado bars and its Moorish streets, this district is the oldest one of the city and one of the most typical. Not far from there, Chiado’s elegant streets are home to big fashion labels and are an invitation to a bit of of luxury shopping.

San Sebastian
On the Spanish Basque coast, discover Pasaia, a picturesque little town nestling in the hollow of verdant mountains, on the shores of the bay. The town is home to buildings with historical significance, such as the Arizabalo Palace, a baroque-style edifice dating from the 17th century, the Santo Christo de Bonanza Basilica and the house where the French writer Victor Hugo stayed. The coastal footpath offers magnificent views over the sea and goes all the way to San Sebastián. Nicknamed the “Pearl of Cantabria” because of its shell-shaped bay, this renowned seaside resort in the Bay of Biscay combines an idyllic natural setting with the charm of the Belle Époque.

Bordeaux
Bordeaux stretches along the banks of the Garonne river, in South-West France. Its rich wine tradition makes it the world capital of wine.. You can uncover this city’s secrets in the Bordeaux Wine and Trade museum as well as in the bars housed in the historical wine cellars of the old city centre. Let yourself be carried away by the history of the made a UNESCO World Heritage site for its prestigious classical architecture. On the famous Place de la Bourse, the past and the present unite: here you can observe the majestic old buildings reflected in the contemporary Miroir d’eau creation.

St Malo
he mere mention of Saint-Malo’s name is enough to plunge us back into the richness of its past. The fortifications stand as testimony to the Malouins’ determination to defend their citadel, fought over by France and Britain in turn. When we drop anchor here, immerse yourself in the diversity of its heritage: the time when privateers sailed the oceans in search of trade and victories; the legendary yacht races the port city is still famous for, such as the Route du Rhum; and the final resting place of the French writer François-René de Chateaubriand, who was born here and chose to be buried here anonymously.