parisbound11

Hi all,

My wife and flying to Paris at the end of April and plan to do a 2 week driving trip. We'd like to spend a day or so in Lourdes, but the rest of the itinerary is open. We plan to start in Paris and will be flying home from Paris as well. We'd like to see Chartres and Giverny if possible. Any suggestions on places to see, stay, etc. would be really appreciated. Thanks for your help...

Dukey1

Re Lourdes:

assuming you have not been before be aware that

You can actually reach it by fast rail from Paris. The place is often incredibly crowded with visitors, at least in the "village" itself. There are several city-run parking garages and rather than driving around and around searching for a place be prepared to park in one of those garages and walk to the grotto area.

The street leading toward the grotto is lined with both a few places to stay and a greater abundance of stores selling every form of rosary, statue, bottles shaped like the Blessed Mother for you to put the spring water into, etc., etc. Our Lady has definitely "provided" in ways hardly imagined by the kid involved.

Once you get into the grotto area itself that all changes somewhat..still plenty of folks but no crass commercialism. Lots of sick folks hoping for a miracle and that alone can be heartbreaking to witness.

I would plan to visit both the so-called "crypt church" on the grotto level as well as the original "basilica" above.

The grotto itself has been toned down over the years; all those crutches and other medical implements supposedly left by those miraculously cured seem to have disappeared.

If you can, visit early in the day. If for no other reason than historical significance your visit will be worthwhile I suspect.

StCirq

This is so vague it's impossible to answer. We don't know you, and have no clue what your interests are. I would start by getting a map of France and several guidebooks and determine what you want to see and where you want to go, other than Lourdes. It's a long way from Paris to Lourdes and there are many possible routes you could take, but you've given us zero information to help you out. Of course you can see Chartres and Giverny - they're both close to Paris and easy to drive to (or train to). Beyond that, what interests you?

Michael

Get yourself the Michelin Green Guide for France to work out an itinerary of places you would want to see on your grand tour of France.

But it might be best to consider Chartres and Giverny as day trips from Paris and take the train to Toulouse. From there figure out a tour of what you could see in the week that you have (Paris + day trips + plus train to Toulouse will take up most of the first week).

Obviously Lourdes is a priority. You might then want to concentrate on the Pyrenees and the area between them and Toulouse, which I call the <i>Midi</i>

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parisbound11

I'll have to check out Toulouse. Thanks for that tip. We thought we might want to take in Bordeaux, Dordogne, and perhaps an area with some castles or medieval towns. We don't mind driving a few hours a day assuming the roads are driver-friendly. We came back recently from India, and driving a few hours a day could mean going just a few miles. Hope this extra info might help on getting suggestions for some ideas on an itinerary. Thanks.

adrienne

Why are you flying into and out of Paris. Why not fly into Marseille (for instance), rent a car and see Lourdes (perhaps Carcassone, Perpignon along the way) and then head for Paris. I would not want to do that long drive twice.

Giverny and Chartres are so close to Paris that you should see them as day trips.

Other places to stop:

Albi, Lyon, Dijon. It really depends on your interests. I like visiting churches so I would choose a route based on my interest.

Dukey1

Here's another possibility: rent the car in Paris if you wish but drop it off somewhere in the same country ideally and take the train back for your return flight.