Art, Culture And Mediterranean Lightness In The Glow Of Late Summer

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.

Few and far between are the occasions, on which one can experience two fascinating windjammers together and directly compare their maneuvers. When both yachts glide along side by side under full sail, they offer a truly breathtaking spectacle.

Marseille is the oldest and second largest city in France boasting the country's most important port and is like an enormous amphitheater on the Golfe du Lion looking out to the Mediterranean. Europeans and Africans have rubbed shoulders here for over 2600 years and the cultures mix like the different fish in a Bouillabaisse. With its imposing town houses, 'La Canebière' is the central boulevard leading to the old port where a lively fish market takes place every day. Marseille is a town in flux: The notorious old district of Panier has long since been cleaned up, and in 1995, the multicultural metropolis saw work begin on Euroméditerranée, the largest urban development project in Europe. Marseille was the European Capital of Culture in 2013.

"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.

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.

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.

Welcome to ancient times! Roman history comes alive in the Catalan port city of Tarragona. It all began in 218 B.C.: that was when the Romans conquered the city, gave it the name Tarraco and began to build monuments that are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage. If you walk along the old city wall and visit the amphitheatre, the triumphal arch and the forum, you will feel as if you have been transported back thousands of years into the past. A little younger, but equally worth seeing is the Cathedral de Santa Maria: its construction lasted from 1171 to 1331, which is why it combines Romanesque and Gothic style elements.

Mahôn, the island's capital, has the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean. The harbor of the former capital, Ciutadella, which translates as "tiny little town", has a picturesque setting on a fjord-like bay. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and you will be enchanted by the narrow lanes in the old town, the majestic squares and the smart promenades. Menorca naturally has two sides – in the north is the wild mountain region of Tramuntana, with its ruggedly craggy coastline and hidden bays. In the south there are gentle hills with wide plains and seemingly endless sandy beaches. Listed as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Majorca's little sister is considerably quieter and more traditional.

Mahôn, the island's capital, has the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean. The harbor of the former capital, Ciutadella, which translates as "tiny little town", has a picturesque setting on a fjord-like bay. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and you will be enchanted by the narrow lanes in the old town, the majestic squares and the smart promenades. Menorca naturally has two sides – in the north is the wild mountain region of Tramuntana, with its ruggedly craggy coastline and hidden bays. In the south there are gentle hills with wide plains and seemingly endless sandy beaches. Listed as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Majorca's little sister is considerably quieter and more traditional.

Majorca's beautiful capital is an elegant city and its picturesque old town and architectural mix of Arab, Catalan and Art Nouveau elements are part of its success story. In the center you will be lured by shops behind splendid facades, and cafés and bars set on beautiful squares invite you to stay a while. Not far from the sophisticated marina you will find the dignified cathedral, affectionately known as "La Seu" for short. With pure Gothic beginnings, none other than Antonio Gaudi created part of its interior at the start of the 20th century.

Itineraries are subject to change.