Small Town Touring Recommendations - France/Benelux
Mar 5th, 2012, 06:53 PM
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Small Town Touring Recommendations - France/Benelux
Hi, my daughter is going to potentially be studying in the UK this summer, and if so we will likely go over to visit her. While there, my wife and mother-in-law would like to go over to France (or Benelux area) and take a few days touring the countryside. We would likely be taking the train over from London and then renting a car (5 of us total). Any suggestions as far as specific areas or towns that we might want to look at (we have been to Normandy for a day once before). TIA...
Mar 5th, 2012, 08:27 PM
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In the Benelux area you might consider the towns of the Ardennes (in Belgium, for example, Dinant, La Roche-en-Ardenne, Spa), in the Netherlands Maastricht, in Luxembourg Luxembourg City, maybe even Aachen, Prüm, Monschau in Germany. A small corner that's nice to explore, and better by car than by train (brilliant as European rail networks are).
Lavandula
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Mar 5th, 2012, 10:04 PM
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<we have been to Normandy for a day once before>
As whole guide books are devoted to that one area alone, one can't really say they've seen Normandy in the course of a single day. If you don't want to deal with the larger cities of Rouen and Caen (both great historical, cultural and religious interests) then the smaller towns of Honfleur, Deauville, Cormeilles, Abbey ruins of Jumièges, the cider or cheese route, Normandy's "Little Switzerland"are also choices.
If you feel that Normandy just didn't hold your interest and want to try something else, the area north of Paris has many beautiful and historic cities/towns Reims, Compiègne, Soissons, Pierrefonds, Montmédy, Lille.
Lavandula offered a nice option, as well. On the drive from Aachen to Monschau you can see rows of anti-tank blocks (dragon's teeth) from WWII still aligned across fields; it is quite a juxtaposition to the bucolic setting. In this area Trier and Berkastel-Kues are other personal favorites.
Happy Travels, whatever you decide on!
As whole guide books are devoted to that one area alone, one can't really say they've seen Normandy in the course of a single day. If you don't want to deal with the larger cities of Rouen and Caen (both great historical, cultural and religious interests) then the smaller towns of Honfleur, Deauville, Cormeilles, Abbey ruins of Jumièges, the cider or cheese route, Normandy's "Little Switzerland"are also choices.
If you feel that Normandy just didn't hold your interest and want to try something else, the area north of Paris has many beautiful and historic cities/towns Reims, Compiègne, Soissons, Pierrefonds, Montmédy, Lille.
Lavandula offered a nice option, as well. On the drive from Aachen to Monschau you can see rows of anti-tank blocks (dragon's teeth) from WWII still aligned across fields; it is quite a juxtaposition to the bucolic setting. In this area Trier and Berkastel-Kues are other personal favorites.
Happy Travels, whatever you decide on!
Mar 6th, 2012, 06:30 PM
#5
Luxembourg is very small and its beauty is in its small towns and countryside. IMO Luxembourg city is the least attractive place in the country. Two towns that we particularly liked are Echternach and the walled town of Vianden with its spectacular castle on a hill.
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