Cities You’ll See Along The Rhone River

One of the most popular destinations for kosher Europe tours is the province of Provence in southeastern France. And it with good reason—Provence has a long history with the Jews, who have managed to thrive in the region and even have a unique relationship with the popes who once resided there.

A popular way of seeing Provence is through the Rhone River, which passes through several significant towns and cities such as: Arles

The first destination is Arles, a city that has inspired numerous pieces from prominent artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso, and Cezanne. Its Roman ruins are a sight to behold, with many of them in relatively good shape. It has a good number of festivals all year round, from music and art to even bullfighting. The city’s museum, the Musée de l'Arles antique, has Jewish artifacts that date back as early as the 4th century CE. Arles is also known for its wines -- a wine tasting event in this city is not one to be missed. Avignon

Avignon was once home to the popes of the Holy Roman Empire in the 14th century. During this time, the Jews experienced much persecution in other parts of France. However, it was in Avignon and neighboring towns of Cavaillon and Carpentras that they found refuge, as the popes had let them settle there and gave them protect as well. Eventually they were given the moniker, "The Popes’ Jews".

A city of culture, Avignon’s medieval streets are dotted with museums—so many that it can be difficult to choose which one to visit first! Cavaillon and Carpentras

These two towns, along with Avignon, were part of Provence’s version of Arba Kehilot, the "four holy cities". For context, the Arba Kehilot were four cities in Israel—Jerusalem, Tiberias, Safed, and Hebron—that became centers of Jewish life after Palestine was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s.

One of the oldest synagogues in Europe that is still in operation is found in Carpentras —the Carpentras Synagogue. It was opened in 1367 and was fully restored only in 1954. Viviers and Tournon

Exploring these two towns is akin to taking a walk in the medieval past. Parts of Viviers have cobbled streets, in the town you will see a cathedral and a castle with a terrace that offers a picturesque view of the river and the town’s rooftops. Tournon is found in a valley near the slopes of France’s third-largest mountain range, The Massif Central. Its main attractions are its Roman ruins and its 16th century-era castle. Lyon

Last but definitely not the least of the destinations along the Rhone is the classic Lyon, the third-largest city in France. Being a big city, Lyon has its fair share of Roman and medieval ruins, a notable one being a re-discovered amphitheater. It is also home to 20 synagogues, including its Grand Synagogue. There are records of Jews residing in Lyon in the 1st and 2nd century, though it is in the 9th century that a prosperous Jewish community (which still remains so to this day) was documented. The community there had a relatively harmonious relationship with the other locals, with the Jews doing business with both Jewish and Christians, as well as holding public service jobs. They were also granted permission to establish their own cemetery. For traveling Jews that are interested in visiting all of these cities via the Rhone, one way to do it is through a kosher cruise, which is offered by cruise lines such as Kosher River Cruise which cater to Jewish passengers.