Myer

This trip isn't yet set in stone but I should have plane tickets set within a week or so.

We should be going in early September. At this time it appears we'll be arriving in Toulouse and leaving from Paris.

If that's the case we'll spend either 3 days (1 daytrip) or 4 days (2 daytrips) in Toulouse leaving for Montpellier in late afternoon of the last day.

Then we'll either spend 4 or 5 days based in Montpellier (depends on how many we spend in Toulouse). We'll probably do 2 or 3 day trips from Montpellier (depending upon the length of the stay) and leave for Paris in late afternoon where we'll spend 3 complete days.

We've been to Paris several time (most recently 2 years ago at the end of our trip to Provence) so we've got that covered.

Day trips from Toulouse appear to be 1) Carcassonne and 2) Albi. Others I should consider instead?

In general we like to wander around and see the sights. While we'll visit the odd museum, we're not really big museum goers. We do not rent a car and try to travel by train but will go by bus if necessary.

I'm a little uncertain about day trips from Montpellier. Looking for suggestions.

Previous suggestions have been Narbonne, Beziers, Sete, Aigue-Mortes. If these are the ones then trying to prioritize. Reason for one over the other.

Thanks.

Christina

You can go to many places from Montpellier, I liked Narbonne, but of course both Nimes and Arles are possibilities. Nimes is closer than Narbonne, actually.

Your Toulouse day trip ideas are what I did. YOu could also consider Cahors. http://www.tourisme-lot.com/en/646/p.../cahors/page/0

http://www.mairie-cahors.fr/

There are some direct trains that take less than 1.5 hours to Cahors. They have good wine.

StuDudley

If you have been to Provence and don't want to do the Nimes/Arles things again, I would suggest that you day-trip to places that are completely different than Montpellier & Toulouse - not big cities.

From Montpellier.
Aigues Mortes is definitely different - so I would plan a half-day trip there. Also, one of the best caves we've visited in France with stalactites & mites is just north of Montpellier - Les Demoiselles. Do some research to determine if there are tour buses that go there from Montpellier. As opposed to Toulouse, the area inland from Montpellier is very rugged - so I don't think you will find as many public transportation options there as you would in Toulouse.

From Toulouse - one of my two favorite cities in France (other than Paris)
Carcassonne & Albi from would be great destination - as you have found out. Albi closes up tight for lunch - so visit it either before or after lunch. Montauban is also somewhat interesting with easy access from Toulouse. If you can get to Cordes sur Ciele - that would be a good perched village to explore. Both Cahors (which others like more than I do) and Auch are a little over 1 hr away from Toulouse.

Stu Dudley

Michael

From Toulouse: Montauban with its Ingres museum, Moissac with it renowned church portal and cloister.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4529065771/

But if a choice has to be made, Albi takes precedence.

Myer

Thanks for the responses so far.

I think I now have to focus on Montpellier.

We went to Arles last time and passed on Nimes (so I think there was little interest for Nimes).

So far the possibilities seem to be Narbonne, Beziers, Sete and Aigues-Mortes.

How do those sound and any others we should consider?

Dr_DoGood

I'd certainly do Nîmes - if only for the Maison Carrée (best preserved Roman Temple outside of Rome), and the Jardins de la Fontaine nearby including the Temple Of Diane.
Lunch at the Carée d'Art on the top floor terrace before going on to The Pont Du Gard and finsishing the afternoon off in Uzes - the finest small city in all of France? Possibly - dinner in Uzes under the plane Trees in Place Aux Herbes or one of the many restaurants throughout town.
A near perfect day out - just mmoching, eating and taking in some of the finest Roman Antiquities in the Med.

Dr D.

StuDudley

>>Narbonne, Beziers, Sete<<

I think after spending time in Montpellier and then Toulouse coming up, I think you are going to be "let down" by Narbonne & Beziers and perhaps Sete. Try for something that is not "big city" like Les Demoiselles, which is one of the most popular caves in France. I've seen tour buses there - so there must be some way you can get there from Montpellier.

Dr DoGood - the OP will be traveling by public transportation - so Nimes, Pont du Gard, and Uzes (with dinner there) is not an option for a single day-trip - unless they hire a private driver for the entre day.

Uzes does not have a train station - but there may be a bus that gets you there (it might be too long of a bus trip with multiple bus connections, however). It is one of our favorite smallish cities. We've stayed near there for 2 weeks.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

I have no idea about getting to any of these on public transportation, but some of my favorites are:

St-Guilhem-le-desert
Lamalou-les-Bains
Olargues
Grignan (for the château)

Castres is pretty interesting too.

Dr_DoGood

Montpellier to Nîmes is a simple and short train journey. Onward to Uzes on the number 10 bus (twice hourly, about 30 mins) for the princely sum of €1.50 return. Check out the EdGard website.

Agree that Uzes to the PduG is problematic on public transport - a taxi though is a ten minute journey. Otherwise skip it and just soak up the atmosphere in Uzes.

Uzes <i>is</i> special. and whilst a very popular tourist destination retains all that maintains its essential small-town-Frenchness. After many years holidaying there we bought there two years ago with a view to moving permanently within the next five.

Dr D.

Myer

We went to Pont du Gard and Uzes two years ago while based in Avignon.

I wasn't very satisfied with the visit to beautiful Uzes as it was market day and the main square was overrun with the market.

A day in Nimes and Uzes could be an option.

How about another potential day trip that we can reach by train?

Myer

I can't believe the bus from Nimes to Uzes take 1 1/2 hours.

I'll check the train from Nimes to Aigues-Morts. Maybe that'll work for both the same day. Otherwise I think the bus (bus is less preferable) from Montpellier to Aigues -Morts might work.

Myer

I agree with the idea that after Toulouse and Montpellier, some smaller places might be a good idea.

Christina

I'm not quite sure about the idea that Narbonne would be disappointing after Montpellier, or the reasoning. I mean I just don't understand the logic, it is a pleasant town with a canal and several sights of interest (Charles Trenet was from there as I recall). When I was there, it was the day of the open air market which was really pretty good. I was staying in Montpellier at the time and that didn't mean I was disappointed in Narbonne. http://www.narbonne-tourism.co.uk/na...ets-birthplace

I'll admit Nimes isn't my top favorite place, I really did liek the Maison Carree but if you didn't care at all about Roman ruins, that would be no draw. It had some pleasant park areas.

I also liked Grignan as someone mentioned, but unless there are 2, it's in the Drome departement and isn't particularly near Montpellier, nor Toulouse, of course. It's near the border of Vaucluse and Mt Ventoux. I don't think you can get there by public transporation easily, it's the Montelimar exit off the A7 highway, it's north of Orange. Of course, if you had a car you could get there in a couple hours or a bit less, it's about 200 km away. The closest train station is probably Orange, where you could go for a day trip, also, it's closer. I really liked Orange, but they have fantastic Roman ruins, also.

Pvoyageuse

"I can't believe the bus from Nimes to Uzes take 1 1/2 hours".

It doesn't. It takes less than 1 hour. See Ligne E52
http://www.edgard-transport.fr/horai...013&lign_id=24

StCirq

Oh, I got Grignan and Gruissan mixed up. I enjoyed Grignan more, but it's too far.

Myer

Pvoyageuse,
You're correct.

E52 takes about 40 minutes but B21 take 1 1/2 hours.

StuDudley

>>I wasn't very satisfied with the visit to beautiful Uzes as it was market day and the main square was overrun with the market.<<<

That's why I advise people to never visit a city/village for the first and perhaps only time on market day.

Stu Dudley

MaineGG

I'll second StCirq's recommendation of St.-Guilhem-le-Désert.

http://www.saintguilhem-valleeherault.fr/en/

Here's the bus schedule from Montpellier:

http://www.herault-transport.fr/fich...te/308_ete.pdf

And more about other places along that bus route:

http://montpellierlife.com/buses/

Myer

Thanks,
This is really helpful.

The St-Guilhem-le-desert is only 40 minutes. I hope it's a smooth ride.

I'll check it out in the morning.

StuDudley

St Guilhem is a short visit - unless you have lunch there. See if there is a way to get to nearby Clamouse cave.

Stu Dudley