This cruise on board the HANSEATIC nature hits all the right notes, with culture, architecture and, above all, music setting the tone. The jewel of Normandy, Honfleur, starts the show with its half-timbered houses and winding streets. A scenic tour to medieval Rouen* is particularly charming in autumn, when the sun bathes the green hills and meadows in a beautiful light. The same is true for a hike along the Alabaster Coast to Etretat*. The route to the small seaside resort takes you past steep cliffs with inspiring views.

The fortified city of St Malo offers insights into Norman architecture. The first of your exclusive music concerts underscores the city's powerful impression. The monastic island of Mont-Saint-Michel* seems like a water-borne mountain, floating when the tide comes in and grounded when the water is low. The tides also shape life in Cancale - the Breton oyster capital*. Explore the oyster farms, crowned by a fabulous ocean view.

Concarneau on the French Atlantic coast surprises with its small fishing port and historic fortress walls. From here, discover the capital of art, history and legends: The city tour of Quimper* through the alleys with half-timbered houses becomes an architectural journey through time - crowned by the Gothic Cathedral of St. Corentin from the 13th century. Alternatively, mighty granite rock faces and heath landscape determine your hike at Cap Sizun*.

From La Pallice (La Rochelle) a scenic tour on Ile de Re* takes you to salt marshes, vineyards and picturesque villages. Alternatively, the walking tour in La Rochelle with cognac tasting* will lead you through the old town dotted with quaint half-timbered houses.

The vibrant blend of culture and nature sings in harmony in Spain. This exciting symbiosis is revealed in Bilbao, where another exclusive concert provides the ideal accompaniment. The economic and cultural centre of the Basque Country is a melting pot of innovation and proud traditions. Get to know the architectural city of Bilbao with a city walk through the old town*, including a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, designed by star architect Frank O. Gehry as a homage to the rough sea. Alternatively, impressive natural surroundings await on a hike through the Basque landscape*.

From the most economically important city in Asturias, Gijon, you will travel to a region known as the cradle of the Spanish nation. In the eighth century, this was the birthplace of the resistance against Moorish rule. Discover the old royal city of Oviedo* with its masterpieces of art and architecture inspired by faith. The old town with the cathedral and the early Romanesque churches have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. Your excursion to Aviles, Cabo de Penas and Luanco* combines opulent merchants' houses and baroque palaces with marvellous views of the rugged cliffs.

La Coruna heralds your arrival with the Tower of Hercules, the only lighthouse dating back to Roman times to still be in operation. Visit the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela*, a sacred beacon, and marvel at its relics and architectural styles. Away from the famous place of pilgrimage, it is well worth exploring the labyrinth of the old town with its arcade-lined streets. Tread historic and religious paths with a hike along the final stage of the Way of Saint James*. The uneven trail takes you through the partially forested landscape to Monte do Gozo, the "Hill of Joy". A concert in La Coruna provides a melodious finale to this diverse cultural cruise.