Hi Traveling friends!
Husband & I are hiking Mont Blanc (16 days) in August and then have a free week before spending our last week in Barcelona. Suggestions on transport? Drive, train, bus?? Could spend the wk in one place or drive the distance between. Love day hikes, museums, art, local cultural activities, old towns, small villages, music..... Train part way and then rent a car? Very open to ideas. Need to book lodging in early September?
Thanks in advance!

Trains are great and if you stop off at say a place like Avignon you could rent a car and drive around the classic Provence with many sights in a compact area - could also drive thru central/southern France to say Monpellier and drop car and take train. Or spend whole week in Avignon area and get back on train -for lots on trains check www.oui.sncf - French railways - book early to get discounted tickets. www.seat61.com has loads of goodies on booking your own trains - general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. Renting car in France and returning in Spain could mean steep dropoff charges - same for renting in Switzerland and returning in other country.

Have you consulted a good guidebook or two? You would, I think, be much more likely to find options of interest to you that way....

There is no need to backtrack to Geneva if you want to go to Southern France. There are direct buses form Chamonix to Annecy, from where you may continue to Grenobla - Valence - Avignon or to Grenoble - Gap - Sisteron - Aix-en-Provence

old towns, small villages,

Instead of Geneva, for that area in Switzerland, maybe go to Vevey or Montreux instead.

Yes Geneva would be a detour off direct route towards Barcelona.