sailpgd

I am traveling to Europe with my family at the beginning of November (6th-13th). We are flying into and out of Basel, Switzerland. I have narrowed my trip down to tow possible itineraries. We love history, good wine, small villages, and beautiful countryside. Please let me know your thoughts.

Itinerary 1: Basel-Beaune-Lyon-Geneva-Berne-Basel

Itinerary 2: Basel-Beaune-Nancy-Strasbourg-Basel

michelhuebeli

The first, if you skip Geneva (not much to see) and make it Montreux/Vevey instead, with a trip up to Les Rochers de Naye (http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/r...-montreux.html) and a visit to nearby Chateau Chillon (www.chillon.ch/en/index.cfm), and on the way to Berne stop for a look at the cheese-making and chocolate-making in the Gruyères region (see http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/c...ese-trail.html) and possibly a look at the Roman excavation in Avenches (Aventicum in Latin - see www.avenches.ch/en//museeromain?fs=plus).

Michael

I would not go as far as Beaune for the second itinerary. Dijon, Auxerre and Troyes would make better choices.

If the idea of Geneva and Berne is simply to establish a loop back to Basel, going down the Saône and back through the Jura to Basel is also a possibility. The Michelin Green Guide could be useful in establishing various itineraries.

Browsing through these pictures might give you some other ideas:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624827267374/ Most of the pictures are geo-tagged.

neckervd

I suppose Beaune stays for Burgundy and surrounding areas: Dijon, Salines d'Auxerre, Tournus, Macon, Cluny, Bourg-en-Bresse......
If you go down up to Lyon, don't forget Vienne and Perouges.
Geneva: 2 hrs for the medieval town and cathedral, as long as you need for museums: Red Cross Museum, Art museums, United Nations,
swiss National Museum at Prangins castle, etc.
After having visited the roman theatres of Fourvieres (Lyon) and Vienne, you may not be particularly interested in Avenches, but probably in the walled city of Murten nearby.

sailpgd

Thank you all for the replies. I am not that excited about Geneva but I figured it worked well for a loop back to Basel. Michael, are there some worthwhile towns to visit along the Saone River?

rhon

We come from Australia, so visiting Europe for a week is not something we would even consider. But if you are lucky enough for that to be an option, decide what you really want to do.

We love Burgundy. We have had four weeks in different parts on our trips to France and it is one of our favourite areas in France. We spent a week in 2010 in the Maconnais region - chardonnay and other great wines, Cluny, nearby Beaujolais. We climbed the Roche de Solutre for great views. In 2006 we stayed for a week near Chalons sur Saone and also enjoyed it , with day trips into the Jura. From both bases we visited places such as Chapaize, Brancion, Tournus [ wonderful cathedral and cloisters ]. Chalons itself has a lovely old centre and a great market on Friday and Sunday. Beaune of course is lovely and Dijon too. A week is not long enough.

We have also had a week in the Jura which is just beautiful for natural scenery - sources of rivers, waterfalls, gorges, reculees [ dead-end valleys ], forests . And wonderful cheeses, smoked meats, wines.

You have some decisions to make. But what a problem!!!

Good luck.

bilboburgler

I'd look at the Doubs river as well. If I could avoid Basel as well I would

neckervd

"Michael, are there some worthwhile towns to visit along the Saone River?"
I am not Mike, but I mentioned at least 3 "worthwhile towns to visit along the Saone River"
... and Cluny is not far away from the Saone.

See above.

kerouac

I vote for itinerary 2 but you should add Metz to it.

Michael

<i>are there some worthwhile towns to visit along the Saone River?</i>

I meant this as getting into Burgundy, away from the Jura, and coming back via the Jura. But the Michelin Green Guide(s) will give the details of what to see in any given area.

sailpgd

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions. I have done some research on the Jura and it is quite stunning. It is now the case that we are going to meet some friends in Freiburg (visiting their son who is studying abroad) for the first couple days. From there we will make day trips to Alsace. After we leave our friends, we are going to head to Beaune then to Lyon and then back up to Basel through the Jura. I think this is going to be an excellent trip but any other suggestions are certainly welcome.

sailpgd

Also, on our first day we fly into Zurich arriving at 11:40 AM. We do not have an engagement until that evening when we meet our friends for dinner in Freiburg. Does anyone know of somewhere interesting to stop on the way from Zurich?

PetrosB3

If you go to Alsace, you must visit Riquewihr. Don't miss it.

Michael

The Vitra Chair museum in Weil-am-Rhein; it is housed in a Frank Gehry building.