Advice for France Driving Trip
 

My husband and I are beginning to plan a 2 week trip in France for our 1st wedding anniversary this August. We live in Italy and will be driving to France. We want to head out August 5 and be back in Italy by August 18.

I have been reading my DK Eyewitness Guide book on France and reading many things on the internet. However I still can’t decide which regions of France we should visit. The reason I say “I” is because my husband is flexible and says he is happy to go anywhere in France as long as the trip includes Paris.

I went to Paris only once when I was 15 and was ill 3 out of the 4 days we were there…so I really haven’t seen Paris. We just went to the French Riviera for a long weekend a couple weeks ago (Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo) so we don’t want to include that area in this trip.

We like to visit charming towns and look at historical sites, and pretty views and countrysides. My husband does not like museums very much. This would be a problem anyway because we are bringing our dog with us…and although the French are great about allowing dogs in restaurants and shops, I don’t think we can bring him through the Louvre. I personally love castles and palaces. My husband, being an Italian Catholic, enjoys visiting churches. (We are used to waiting our turns to visit inside churches while the other waits outside with the dog.) We both love trying new food and eating at restaurants. Although we are by no means food or wine experts! We don’t really want to take a beach/sun vacation because we will take a week for that in July here in Italy.

I was thinking 4 nights in Paris and 3 nights in the Loire valley. And then I can’t decide after that. My husband says his sister loved northern/northwestern France, while I was interested in maybe visiting the area in eastern France (Strasbourg, Lyon, Dijon).

We would appreciate any suggestions any of you France experts have for us! :) Just FYI, we are in our mid 30’s. One other concern, I was worried about many things closing in August in France. My husband swears that France is not like Italy in this way. I’m not too sure about that…

I am by no means a France expert, but here are some things that may be intresting. It sounds like you are more outdoorsy-with the dog. We went to Tende one year on our way from Nice to Rome. It is just north of Mentone. There are neolithic paintings and engravings up in the mountain passes, and a very nice museum in town. The hike up is quite a climb, but very do-able. We went in June but could not get all the way to the paintings due to snow.
And we also love Alsace. Haven't been to Strasbourg, but enjoyed the little towns and wineries. Lots of open area and places to hike, so again, it would be good with the dog.
Katie

If your husband likes churches he should hook up with Michael Osman http://www.geocities.com/parisfinder/. My sister, a catholic who loves churches was entralled with Michael's knowledge of the Paris churches. He took us to St.Catherine's tomb, vespers at Sacre Couer, on and on and on. We used his services for 3 full wonderful days. He took us to the markets, local hangouts, etc. Michael tends to book up long in advance...

Just head to Burgundy, which has many historic sites and sights, including cathedrals and other churches and ancient abbeys. There are also lovely small villages and ample space for walking with your dog, such as along the Burgundian canal and in the huge regional park of the Morvan.

Thank you for your responses! This is what we have decided on at the moment:

Day 1: drive to Lyon and stay the night. (Only because it is half-way from where we live in Italy (Pistoia) to Paris.
Day 2: Drive to Paris
Day 3: Paris
Day 4: Paris
Day 5: Paris
Day 6: Drive to Loire Valley
Day 7: Loire Valley
Day 8: Loire Valley
Day 9: Drive to Burgundy
Day 10: Burgundy
Day 11: Drive to Asti (about half-way back to Pistoia)
Day 12: Drive to Pistoia

My questions are these:

1) In Paris, staying in the St. Germain is nice? At Best Western Left Bank St. Germain? It had good reviews on Trip Advisor. Is it nicer to stay in the Eiffel Tower area?

2) Which town should we stay in the Loire Valley? I thought Tours, but I read somewhere here on Fodors that Amboise and Blois are better choices.

3) Which town should we stay in Burgundy? Dijon, Beaune?

4) Are 2 nights enough for Burgundy? Or should we stay 3?

Thanks again for all your help! :)

Hi, 2 days are never enough in Burgundy, not even 3! Before deciding please have a look at my Dijon photo album ((P)): http://tinyurl.com/okerl

Have a great trip! :-)
corinne

Hi Amy,

I also recommend 3 nights in Burgundy.

Coco has a very nice apartment in Dijon that you might want to consider.

http://www.myhomeindijon.com/

((I))

Thanks Ira :-) but as you may know, unfortunately I can't welcome ((&))...

Loire resource:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/guillonniere/loirevalley/

I think most would agree that Amboise is the best of the three, both in terms of location and access. However, my choice would be Bléré and the hotel Le Cheval Blanc and its famed Michelin* restaurant. Bléré is on the River Cher, just down from Chenonceau.

You may wish to consult

www.mappy.com

to work out driving routes. You need to see if it is better to stop in one location on the way to Paris.

Having a car in Paris is a liability, so you will need to figure out where to park it.

The St. Germain area is a very nice area to stay in Paris. Centrally located, good public transportation, picturesque streets, interesting shops and markets, quite near the Jardin du Luxembourg.

I wouldn't stay in Lyon for the first night. Stay in a place like Annecy instead. It will still be an easy drive north from there.

Going by way of Annecy is a great suggestion, because the route to Paris is practically equal in time and distance to the Lyon route. And this is a nicer drive.