AmaWaterways Donates Art Collection 
20.01.2014
AmaWaterways Donates Art Collection
AmaWaterways has announced it will donate the entire art collection from one of its ships, AmaLegro, to a home for retired senior citizens in Normandy. The artwork, consisting of 53 reproductions of Impressionist paintings, will be delivered to the Residence Saint Jean retirement home in Bosc-le-Hard this month.
AMAs has operated in north-western France since 2013 and the 150-passenger AmaLegro cruises exclusively in the Seine River Valley. The company recently replaced the ship’s existing collection.
“We love to showcase beautiful artwork aboard all our ships,” said Wade Korzan, managing director of AmaWaterways’ European Operations. “Our Basel-based team wanted to find a good home for the AmaLegro’s former art collection and these paintings will make a lovely addition to the décor of the Residence Saint Jean. It’s a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the local community.”
Several paintings will also be donated to the local city hall, located in a majestic manor known as the Petit Chateau.
Bosc-le-Hard is a small village located 15km north of Rouen with about 1,500 residents. According to local legend, Joan of Arc stayed in the village for one night in 1430 during her transfer to a prison cell in Rouen. She was later canonised a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
Normandy may be best known for its role in the D-Day invasion of WWII - an event that commemorates its 70th anniversary in 2014 but the region also has a rich artistic heritage, with Monet’s world-renowned home and gardens in Giverny and Rouen’s Gothic cathedral, which played a key role in inspiring the Impressionist movement.
AMA's other community initiatives include sponsoring an English school in Siem Reap, Cambodia, which guests can visit as part of the popular Mekong river cruise itineraries.
AmaLegro serves the Paris & Normandy cruise route, which features excursions to the region’s D-Day beaches, Rouen, Monet’s gardens and Van Gogh’s former home in Auvers-sur-Oise. A seven-night round trip from Paris, cruise-only, costs £1,849pp, including all meals; wine with lunch and dinner; and shore excursions.
More info: call 0808 223 5009 or visit www.amawaterways.co.uk.