Schnooks

trying to figure out where to be the days before and after it. We arrive in Paris July 15 - Aug. 2. We have to be to Limoges on July 25-29 for a missionary conference. Of course, we should visit Paris a few days at the beginning most likely. We also need to visit Strasbourg, and my husband wanted to see Normandy. He was crazy enough to mention going to Berlin.. he is dreaming I'm sure. I suppose I should call an agent as I'm not even familiar with what trains go where.. do we have to go back to Paris to get to Limoges if we go to Strasbourg.. thanks for any help you might have.

Gretchen

I think he may have to pare Berlin out of the mix. Maybe start out in Paris and arrange a day tour to Normandy, IF it is the beaches you want to see. YOu don't say how long or why you need to go to Strasbourg. You could probably go there after Limoges, and then return to Paris to leave.
If you really want to spend some time in Normandy then renting a car upon arriving at CDG and touring for 3-4 days, then return to Paris for several days and then go to Limoges. While in Limoges DO go to see Oradour sur Glane, the village that has been left as it was when destroyed by the Germans just prior to D-Day. It is a stirring and memorable site.

Michael

You may have to give up either Normandy or Alsace. How long do you need to be in Strasbourg? There is a TGV connection and you could make a round trip in the middle of your Paris stay. While the Limoges train is not a TGV, I believe that the SNCF offers the same type of discount for early purchases (3 months in advance, and the price increases the closer to the departure date).

Schnooks

We are part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance and we have a church in Strasbourg (and Limoges) that he needs to visit. Thank you for your suggestions so far.

And I appreciate the Limoges tip.. my husband would definitely want to go.. I suggested he go to Normandy on his own.. he said no.. you need to go.. it will change your life. But I'm not sure about our 6 yr old needing his life changed at this point

Underhill

There is much more to Normandy than the D-Day beaches, and I somehow think a six-year-old would quickly get bored there.

Gretchen

Ummmm, the 6 year old is a real deal. And while I agree with Underhill that there is MUCH more to Normandy than the beaches, you never know what people want to see. I am totally unclear about what the OP wants at this point.

StCirq

I'm confused, too, but this strikes me as a post from a first-time visitor to Europe (or at least France) who NEEDS to be in Place X for a few days and then thinks, well, we're there already, why not go to Y and Z and a few other places - it's all in the same country, right?

The first thing you need is a map. The places you want to visit are far-flung, and connections between them aren't necessarily a breeze. Forget Germany right off the bat. Then, you've only got about 12 days for places other than Limoges. You should spend at least 4 of them in Paris. You could do a nice visit to Normandy in 3 days. You could spend 3 or 4 in Alsace, taking the TVG from Paris.

Once you've looked at a map and figured out how much territory you're contemplating covering, you need to check out available transportation between these places. That should sober you up and give you some focus. I assume you'll be going by train - if you rent a car, you do have more options.

Schnooks

sorry.. that "my husband would def. want to go" in regards to Limoges referred to going to see the destroyed village there. We're def. going to Limoges July 25-29.

If we go to Strasbourg after the 29th, not sure that leaves us enough time there and to get back to Paris for flight.

I can't stop looking at apartments in Paris long enough to focus on train travel.