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Hello! My wife and I are planning to go to France in late Sept/early Oct this year and are having a difficult time deciding how to split our time. It seems the more research I do the more confused I am as everything seems to sound wonderful!
A bit about us: We've been to Italy, Spain and Portugal before and love food, architecture, churches, history and quaint towns. We're in our mid 20s and plan to arrive and leave out of CDG. We're open to driving or training to where we need to go.
We have exactly two weeks and would like to stay in Paris for a week (with a day trip to Chartes and Versailles) and would like to explore another area of France for the other week. We prefer an area that is more of the french countryside feel with a slower pace of life that still has a lot of history to it. Our favorite city to visit in Spain was Toledo if that is any help as it had that beautiful medieval feel. We also want to base ourselves out of just one or two cities outside of Paris (visiting nearby areas though is great) and not spending every night in a different city.
We were thinking the Dordogne region (and I already got some great info from Stu Dudley!) and basing ourselves out of Sarlat but doing more research I was then thinking Normandy, then Burgundy, then Alsace... You can see where this research isn't really helping as it more just fuels the imagination of more possibilities than helping me cross regions off the list.
Suggestions?
Other notes: WW1 and WW2 history are of no interest to us. Nor are beaches as this is more of a historical and cultural trip than a beach vacation.
Suggestions for France, 2 Weeks
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The things that interest you are abundantly available in all the regions you're considering (and plenty of other French regions as well). I don't know that anyone can make up your mind for you - all you'll get here are personal opinions about other people's favorites. Just keep reading and gathering information until you start to focus on a single area that seems more appealing than all the rest.
StCirq you are right. That's why it makes it a tough call because it's all so beautiful. We'll probably end up sticking with the Dordogne region which I"m sure will be a great choice but other thoughts are welcome!
Dordogne is on my list.
I'll give you what I did one year. Landed in Paris, spent couple of days, then rented car. Drove to Fontainbleau then to Orleans, spent night. I then drove the Loire valley, east to west. Stops in small towns, lots of chateaux, night time sound and light shows, gardens, some mid-sze cities with castles, museums, local festivals, wineries, fields of sunflowers, eating local fish/food, caves, etc..
Did not book any hotels in Loire, wherever I ended up tha tnight, stayed there.
At the end I looped around to Chartres and then Giverny, then back to Paris. About 10 days total.
Well, I suppose it depends on what comes to mind when you think "beautiful," but obviously the Dordogne filled that bill for me! And I'd made at least 25 trips to France before I landed there, so had seen my share of beautiful French regions (in fact, I'd been to just about every French region there was except the Pays Basque).
You certainly won't be disappointed if you choose the Dordogne!
Based on what you describe I think the Dordogne region is the best for you too. In the fall it is lovely too. I'm from New England so I know good fall foliage and for France the Dordogne has some of the best foliage (may not be at peak when you are there). And it's hard to beat the rolling, hilly landscapes, prehistoric history and multitude of charming medieval villages you'll find there, not to mention the food and wine.
Agree that you wont go wrong with any choice, but Dordogne sounds like an excellent choice and that will be a lovely time of year to be there. The food is out of this world if you like duck, walnuts and fois gras!