Take a River Cruise in the Footsteps of Richard the Lionheart
Cruise Circle
Richard the Lionheart was king of England for just 10 years (between 1189 and 1199). He rarely set foot on these shores, spoke French, and his penchant for Crusades cost us a small fortune, yet he is one of our best-loved monarchs. These destinations will bring you a little closer to Richard and our medieval past.
Bordeaux - the birthplace of Richard's mother
How Richard the Lionheart became King of England and Duke of Normandy involves plotting and scheming. His mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, married to become Queen of France and later married again to become Queen of England. She was born in Bordeaux, a popular starting point for river cruises that visit the wine regions of Sauternes, St Emilion, and the Medoc. Cheers to Eleanor!
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Durnstein - where Richard was held prisoner
King Richard I (to give the Lionheart his correct title) was never one to say no to a Crusade. Unfortunately, on his way back from his third campaign, he was captured by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, with whom he had refused to share the spoils of war, and imprisoned in Durnstein Castle. The ransom was an eye-watering 100,000 silver coins, which was about twice as much money as the Crown had. It’s made tiny Dunstein famous (a must-visit for river ships), so guests can hike up to the castle, now a ruin...but brace yourself for a very steep climb!
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Les Andelys - where Richard built himself a castle
While Richard was in prison, his lands in Normandy were seized by King Philip of France. Naturally, once released, our hero set about recovering them, starting with building himself a castle using money he didn’t have. Chateau Gaillard overlooks the River Seine at Les Andelys, which is a ruin now but well worth a visit for the great views over the river. Learn how the French besieged and captured it (spoiler alert: they got in through a toilet chute).
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Rouen - where Richard was entombed
In March 1199, Richard was off fighting again when he was hit in the shoulder by a crossbow. The wound turned gangrenous, and within two weeks, he was dead. His heart was interred in the cathedral in Rouen, one of the must-see sights in the town, which also sits on the Seine River. The other must is where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. But that, as they say, is another story.
