Nailla

I'm considering spending 7 days in France in the Fall, after visiting a friend in Ireland for a week. I haven't been to France before. Someday I'd like to go to Paris, but I'm not sure if I want to on this trip. I like the idea of spending my time in smaller places this time. I will be traveling solo and depending on public transportation. Mont St. Michael, the Loire Valley, the Alsace region and Carcassonne interest me. I'm not sure if those destinations are doable within one week. How would you spend your time in France for 7 days in order to see what you feel is the best of France? (in that short time period)

richardab

I vote for Alsace and the Champagne regions. One or two days in Strasbourg, 3 days on the Route du Vin centering yourself near Riquewihr or Ribeauville, two days in the Champagne region. That should be time well spent!. How abouta one night in Paris too? Maybe the day of arrival or the day before departure. Alsace is so quaint and lovely. The people are very friendly, the food is delicicious and reasonable and the atmosphere is generally relaxing. Accomodation are not expensive either.

Doug

All that you have asked about is "doable" but perhaps not efficiently. It seems that you will spend a great deal of time on trains. Normandy , Loire Valley and Carcassonne are three regions that could be linked more easily in one week.

Rex

Although I think that Alsace is ownderful and lends it self wonderfully to adding the variety of traipsing for a few days over into Germany - - it won't leave you feeling like you have particularly been to "France" per se.<BR><BR>The soul of France (as if there is any one such thing) might be better found on a string of pearls that stretches from Dijon to Avignon. Seven days will scarcely dot it justice, but you can find "la vraie France" along the banks of the Rhone and nearby treasures.<BR><BR>And ought to be very train friendly, to boot.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

linda

How about spending those 7 days based in Cannes? Been there a few times...you can rent a car a go up and down the coast in either direction...so many places to see. Grasse, Gourdon, Antibes, Nice, Eze, Monte Carlo, St. Tropez. If you don't want to rent a car there are local commuter trains that run up and down the coast constantly. None of these places is so huge (except Nice) that you will feel overwhelmed. In one day we drove from Cannes to Grasse, toured a perfume factory, drove Le Gorges du Loup to Gourdon (mountain village), Vence, St. Paul de Vence and Biot (glass factory). Cannes has a good variety of hotel accomodation and lots of restaurants; also very stylish shopping.

Suie

I spent a week in France a few years ago with only 2 days in Paris. We traveled through the Loire Valley, which is beautiful. If you're interested in castles, Chenonceau is definitely worth a visit. The ancient town of Rouen (where Joan of Arc was martyred) is really interesting. And the Normandy coast will take your breath away.

Sue

I spent a week in France a few years ago with only 2 days in Paris. We traveled through the Loire Valley, which is beautiful. If you're interested in castles, Chenonceau is definitely worth a visit. The ancient town of Rouen (where Joan of Arc was martyred) is really interesting. And the Normandy coast will take your breath away.

Deb

I qm in lyon now and think it is wonderful, plan to heqd over to Avignon to,orrow and look forward to that: Sorry for the typing not used to the french keyboard yet: