Hello we have 3-4 days to make our way from Collioure to Italy (Torino). We would like to drive along the coast and plan to make a first stop in Nimes to show our kids the Ampitheatre and the Pont du Gard which we missed on an earlier trip. Can we do both sites in one day? Is one night sufficient for Nimes?
From Nimes to Torino is there a spot you might recommend for an overnight (or two). We have bikes on the roof and lots of luggage so somewhere where we can securely park and leave things in the car would be preferable. I'm thinking Nice might be too busy/congested for that idea though I would love to see Nice.
We are heading out in a couple of weeks so much will be weather dependent ie if pouring rain fewer stops! If it's sunny it would be lovely to be near the ocean.
Thanks!
nimes to italy
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The big coast road is mostly tunnels and few views of the water. If you want scenic, look at the routing via Cuneo and Alba to Torino. Weather should dictate.
and the coast road from Collouire to Nice is not scenic at all - except the short section around the Cote d'Esteral just east of St Tropez.
I would just high-tail it to the Nimes/Provence area & spend your 3-4 days there. You could do the inland route visiting the magnificand Gorges du Tarn and the many caves around there - but that takes a long time & your luggage/bike exposure might be worrysome for you.
Stu Dudley
I would stay in the foothills above Nice. Try http://www.gites-de-france.com/location-vacances-chambre-hotes.html for accommodations. You might want to read the last part of my trip report going from Paris to the Dordogne to the Provence; click on my name to find it.
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately Nimes to Torino will take about 5-6 hours so we'd prefer a stop midway. We are not wanting to go through the alps this time. It's too bad the coastal route is not scenic. I will look into foothills suggestions - perhaps Vence? And then we could cut up via Cuneo and/or Alba. I will check your trip report Michael thank-you.
Do you have my 27 page itinerary for Provence & the Cote d'Azur? We've spent 34 weeks vacationing in this region. The itinerary describes our favorite villages, markets, scenic drives, etc. I've sent it to over 3,000 people on Fodors. E-mail me at StuDudley@aol.com & I'll attach a copy to the reply e-mail.
Stu Dudley
THanks everyone we are now on the road. Torrential downpour predicted for tomorrow so we will not do the coast - or foothills - and will do the straight quick drive to Torino tomorrow from Orange, where we have found a good accommodation choice where we have easy parking and don't need to unload everything.
We visited the arena and maison carre in Nimes as well as the Pont du Gard. Had really wanted the kids to enjoy the museum but it was "closed for maintenance" - no notice on website, no sign at the parking lot. Sigh. One worker told us to wait half an hour and we might be able to join a group. We did . No group. Then another told us it was newly painted and the paint was toxic. Annoying lack of communication. But we did love the bridge.
Maybe one day we can come back to the coast in the summer!