The name “Seine” comes from the Latin Sequana, the Gallo-Roman goddess of the river.
Rising in the commune of Source-Seine, about 19 miles northwest of Dijon in northeastern France, the Seine flows northwesterly through Paris and into the English Channel, between Le Havre and Honfleur. While it is only the third longest river in France at 482 miles long, the Seine has been the hub of Paris, and all of France, since the Middle Ages.
A popular trading route since the Iron Age, the Seine boasts numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites along its banks, including Le Havre, the Left Bank and Right Bank of Paris, the Palace and Park of Versailles, Chartres Cathedral, the Palace of Fountainebleau, and Provins. Overflowing with glorious art, architecture, cultural institutions, world-class cuisine, wine, and spirits, a cruise along the Seine is guaranteed to fill you with joie de vivre!
Not surprisingly, all the major river cruise lines offer journeys on the Seine, including AmaWaterways, Scenic Tours, Tauck, Amadeus Cruises, CroisiEurope, Uniworld, Avalon Waterways, and Viking River Cruises. With so many attractions in the region, each offers travelers the chance to seek out personal must-sees, whether it’s the beaches of Normandy or the gardens of Giverny.