Accomodation in Central France
 

We are travelling from Le Havre to Arles and are planning to stay overnight halfway down to break the journey up. I was thinking of Bourges, but can anyone recommend any accomodation in the area? Or has anyone done the journey and could let me know any tips they've picked up? <BR> <BR>Annie

Last year on our way to Trouville, we stayed at the Manoir St Dye at st Dye outside Bois. We took a chance had not made a reservation. We had met the owner with family and friends sitting next to us the previous year at Pornic (loire-atlantique)

Annie, we drove pretty much the same route at the end of September last year. We, too, thought about Bourges, but not wanting to contend with that large a town after a long day on the road, we stopped instead at Saint Amand-Montrond, south of Bourges. Using our Michelin Red Guide, we called ahead for rooms at Les Tilleuls (route de Noirlac, north of Saint-Amand, tel.48 61 02 75). It is a small hotel (12 rooms), nothing fancy, but pleasant and not expensive. It is located on a quiet street just across the road from the river. Small but clean rooms. There is a place to park behind the hotel. We took the demi-pension (may be required in off-season) and were pleased with our meal. I still remember my dessert - a creme brulee flavored with orange peel - delicious! Not bad for a one-night stopover. Don't know when you are going but according to the Red Guide they are closed Dec. 20-31, the month of February, Sunday evenings from Nov. to March and Mondays. Hope you have a good trip.

I have cited before that a good midpoint between Lyon and Paris is Nitry - - at least for eating, and by coincidence, it is close to the midpoint of your drive also (the true midpoint is a little further along). <BR> <BR>We stopped there a couple years ago, for a mid-day meal at a little place called La Beursaudiere (no website as far as I know but you can find more details about it here in this forum). For an overnight stay, I think they might have rooms, but I did manage to locate one place with a website - - http://www.hotelaxis.fr - - looks rather mundance, but has a worthwhile summary page of nearby tourist sites, of which Vezelay would surely be considered the crown jewel. <BR> <BR>Another worthwhile candidate - - if you would be interested in a luxury place - - would be http://www.slh.com/france/beaune/location_cepfra.html - - Hotel le Cep in Beaune, though I don't know it personally at all. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

If you are considering Beaune, Annie there is the lovely Hotel de la Poste. The restaurant there St Christophe has the best snails I have ever tasted.