rosiecaro

We are headed to France in the next couple of weeks with my bestie for 30 years. She has decided since we are going to be SO (not) close to the Med she would like to see it. We are staying in Siagnon, near Apt, and I can not find a quiet little village to drive to that is not hours away and not a big driving nightmare. Thoughts?

Cathinjoetown

From Apt, I thought first of Cassis and that area, at least a two-hour drive. Very pleasant.

West of Marseilles there's Martigues and Lavèra, slightly less driving. I don't know that area.

Of course, Marseille itself is a huge port on the Med but assume you're not looking for a city experience.

DebitNM

+1 for Cassis. A lovely drive and the perfect spot for lunch. We have done it same time of year and it was great. Will do it again in mid October of this year.

Judy

We've driven to Cassis from Saignon. It was not a difficult drive at all. We took one of the boat tours of the calanques, had a great seafood lunch, walked around Cassis and drove back...it was a wonderful day trip and an interesting change of pace.

Sojourntraveller

I think you are asking to have your cake and eat it too.

You say a quiet village and then add not hours away and not a driving nightmare. There is no such place if you consider 2 hours too long and if a driving nightmare means there isn't a straight and empty road to get there.

It is what it is.

rosiecaro

Sojorn.. I get what you are saying, but I was actually considering Cassis, but my brain is only one brain, and I thought I would ask for advice before I just made an uninformed decision. zI know the area s bit around Nice, Villefranche and Cannes, but did not want that kind of headachy driving.
Thanks all!

Underhill

You could take the train instead of driving, which would allow you to choose among any number of places along the coast.

KayF

We had a lovely day trip from Aix to Cassis, just a tip that street parking seemed non-existent, maybe due to a market being on, or maybe it's always like that. We drove around for a bit but eventually found a large open car park that was an easy walk (10 mins I think) from the town. Pretty sure we had to pay.

Kay

rosiecaro

So in Follow-up: We drove with instructions to go to La Lavandou to Cassis, which was lovely, however it was s Sunday and there was absolutely no place to park the car! We drove on to La Lavandou and it was lovely and while busy not terrible to park.