arindasue

We are planning a 3 week train/driving trip which will begin in Frankfurt and end in Paris due to airline constraints. We are planning some time in the Alsace region, as well as the Loire valley. Any suggestions on a route, sights or places to stay in this general area of France? We have already been to Paris, Normandy coast area, Lyons and the south of France. We anticipate a few days in Paris at the end. We enjoy small towns, history, museums, scenic routes....

PalenQ

Frankfurt
Strsbourg
colmar
Alsace wine road
Nancy - wonderful wonderful town
head south to Burgundy - via Vezelay
Beaune and Burgundy Wine Road meandering thru small towns with famous wine houses

Head over to the Loire Valley via Fontainebleu

Head up to Chartres and into Paris - maybe returning your car somewhere outside of Paris and training in - cars are useless in Paris - save on rental fee by ditching it before Paris.

Well those are places I've covered by bicycle and car and are all sweet places IME.

arindasue

That sounds great, PalenQ.
After Strasbourg/Colmar, which would you suggest for a longer stay (3-4 nights)?

Michael

I would skip the Burgundy wine road and spend more time in the Loire valley.

Ronchamp is worth a visit (near Belfort). Troyes has a nice old town and cathedral. There is also Auxerre and then Sancerre, Bourges is a possibility, and then there are the numerous Loire valley castles (Chambord, Blois, Chenonceau, Villandry, Angers, just to name a few).

branderson925

Hm, hate to be contrary but cutting Burgundy wine road? I would not dream of doing something like that but then again we do not know the precise specifics of the author's interests. As a wine geek/working sommelier, I would kick myself for skipping out on the glory of Burgundy!

PalenQ

After Strasbourg/Colmar, which would you suggest for a longer stay (3-4 nights)?>

Beaune in Burgundy would be nice, especially if into vino - in the middle of the Burgundy Wine road - take short drives either way or take the train to Dijon (cars a hassle in larger cities IME) - then spend 3-4 days in the Loire perhaps.

Michael

The OP never mentioned an interest in wine per se. Between the <i>route des vins</i> in Alsace and the wines of the Loire valley, there is plenty to try, and maybe even discover outside the standard Bordeaux/Burgundy types of wines. Burgundy north of Dijon fits the OP's stated interests more than the Beaune area.

arindasue

Great ideas!

We're more enthusiastic wine-drinkers than wine enthusiasts, but that said, we did just get back from Chile and Mendoza where we enjoyed some fabulous winery tours and tastings. So, I'm sure we should make time for a visit or two while on this trip! More suggestions welcome!

Branderson925...a side question: Our wine tour guides in Chile and Argentina were both sommeliers who said they must take a two year course for their particular level. How does that compare to US sommelier training?

PalenQ

Well IME you need not even imbibe to enjoyr those wine roads - meandering through small villages and bucolic countryside.

dugi_otok

Building on what PalenQ says , 20 nights I would

Land in Frankfurt, train (2 hrs) to Strasbourg(2 nights). You do not want to rent a car in Germany and return in France.

Rent a car. Drive Route des Vins to Riquewihr or Nearby village for(4nights) We stayed here: http://i-love-riquewihr.com/

Drive to Beaune for (3 nights) We stayed here, 10 km outside of Beaune. http://www.la-saura.com/en/index.asp

Drive to Auxere for (1 night) after first stopping at Fontenay and Vezelay.

Drive to Loire for ( 6 nights: 3 nights east of Tours-Amboise, 3 nights west of Tours-Saumur or Chinon )

Drive to Chartres and then Fontaineblieu for (1 night)

Drive to Paris, drop luggage at your hotel, return car, walk or metro to your hotel for(3 nights).

Fly home from Paris