3 Weeks in France
 

We are planning 3 weeks in France at the end of a 10 week holiday.(late November early December period)

Our initial thoughts are 1 week Paris and 2 weeks France regions.

Would love to have any feedback to get me started on researching specifics as to peoples ideas on where to spend this time - Its a bit overwelming on where to begin when looking at the whole country without some starting areas to decide on.

We are not big museum or history buffs and really enjoy scenery and villages with atmosphere etc.
Thanks for any suggestions -
(also open to mode of travel as that hasnt been locked in... plane, train, or car are all options for getting around the country)

At the end of our stay we need to depart from Frankfurt in Germany.
thanks again

How wonderful! I have been to Paris in December and found it cold but not rainy so we could walk the city and really enjoy it.

You might consider time in Normandie and include a visit to Mont Saint Michel. It is an amazing place and we easily drove there in two hours from Bayeux. Chartes is about an hour by car or train from Paris so could be a day trip. However it is a lovely town and might be worth an overnight stay.

If you want to visit the beautiful chateaux and villages of the Loire I highly recommend making the Chateau de Rochecotte your base. Beautiful rooms, great restaurant (best baguettes in France!) and excellent staff at about $150 per night. Take the train from Paris to Tours then rent a car to explore the Loire. You might want to look into the rail/drive pass offered in France.

Twenty years ago there was a comfortable sleeper train from Paris to Germany. I wouldn't be surprised if it is still offered.

Thanks for the quick reply scootair - Im off to do a google search on your suggestions -

Honfleur is very high in charm and might make a base for exploring Normandy. Or would you rather be warmer, in the south of France?

While I absolutely love Normandy, in November and December, I would recommend Provence and the Dordogne or maybe Burgundy. I think you would have better weather and, to me, so much of the charm of the villages throughout France is the small gardens and flowers in pots and the outdoor markets. I think those things would be more enjoyable in the south.

Good advice about the Chateau de Rochecotte, but there is a closure the firse two weeks of December. Great Sunday market nearby in the town of Langais.

Provence is a wonderful region.

We spent Christams in the Alsace Lorraine region and it was wonderful... wine tasting, beautiful scenery, picturesque towns and some great hikes in the Vosges. I highly recommend this trip. We even went in to Germany for the day to "take the waters" in Baden Baden.