Planning a trip to Europe for mid-May. We'll have a car with BMW's European Delivery Program, so we hoped to take advantage of touring in places that are especially scenic and where a car would be handy. Have never been to the Dijon-Beaune area of France, nor to Tuscany. We'll have the car for two weeks before returning home from Paris. Currently we're looking at spending about 4 days in each area, but I'm wondering if we're spreading ourselves too thin. If we chose to focus on one or the other area, any suggestions on which one to select for this trip? Our trip will take us from Salzburg to Italy, then Provence for 3-4 days, then Beaune, drop off the car at CDG, then Paris---- 3 weeks total. Appreciate any input....

4 days is OK even if most would feel that Tuscany is worthy of more time, as is Burgundy. But you have to count on two days between the two areas. Why not a drive through the Alps, including the Italian lake area (Lago di Garda, Como & Maggiore) and over the Simplon pass to Switzerland to go down the Rhone valley to France? It should be scenic enough.

I hope you're not planning to pick up the car in Austria and drop it off in Paris unless you have money to burn. You're probably looking at an extra $500 or so to do that.

StCirq,

They're buying a car, at least that's how I read BMW's European Delivery Program.

Yes, we are buying the car. I think Mapquest routed us from Tuscany along the Riviera, and it was a six hour drive. Would love to drive through the Alps, but taking two days to drive will shorten our time in the wine regions we mentioned. Any other thoughts out there on this subject? How about a good base in Italy for seeing Montalcino, Assisi ?

The Mont-Blanc tunnel might be an alternative to driving along the coast.

I checked Google map and viaMichelin, and both would take you through the Mont-Blanc tunnel although there is a variation in the route on the Italian side.

Thank you, Michael. I will check that route out too. Do you think the drive through Switzerland would be more scenic than along the coast? Are you familiar with either route? Wondering if we'll face a lot of traffic along the coast.

The routes offered by Google and viaMichelin do not go through Switzerland. They probably are more scenic than the coast, which is reputed to be less scenic because of the number of tunnels. At any rate, it should be shorter.

I guess you are committed to Montalcino for which Siena would be a better base, otherwise I recommend exploring the idea of Piedmont wines as an alternative which would shorten the trip considerably.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piemonte_%28wine%29

I can recommend the following route for dramatic scenery variation after you leave Salzburg. Start in Cannobio, It (on Northern Lake Maggiore,) drive to Asti, It (for Barola and Barberesco wines,) and drive to Courmayer, It (via Valle di Susa and France, not for faint hearted drivers.) Here, you can then drive into France for Burgundy wines (staying at Puligny Montrachet, south of Dijon) before driving on to Paris.

Just another consideration. If interested, I have further details.

Ooop, reading too fast. Sorry, dumb answer on my part.

I like Huggy's suggestion, though it's been years since I drove that route. It was lovely.

Thank you for your suggestions! I've never been to Siena, and I'd like you spend some time there also. Michael, I thought it would make more sense to base ourselves nearer to Montalcino or Montepulciano and take the train or drive up to Siena for the day. Were you recommending Siena because there would be more to do there and it would cut out some driving time? Still need to dive south to the wineries...

And Huggy, your suggested drive sounds great. Not ready yet to give up Tuscany, but still may. Will consider your suggestion. Why is via valle di susa a difficult drive?

If gas prices go even more through the roof or availability is an issue, cutting something out and staying in one area longer is an option. I guess I'd opt then to spend more time in France and consider Huggy's route...


Thank you again.

Siena is closer to Montalcino than Assisi.

I am not sure difficult is the correct term. The drive is on roads somewhat narrow (1 and 1/2 cars in width at times or narrower,) beautiful, lonely, mountainous, and once started, there are not a lot of options other than to finish the drive. You need to pay attention to your driving as you may round a corner to meet an oncoming truck. Not a lot of traffic when I drove it in Oct.

And I would do it again tomorrow. My wife and I loved it. We started in the afternoon after lunch from Susa (Alba in the morning) but would start in the AM from Susa to spend a bit more time stopping at the wonderful sights. We did not arrive in Courmayer until after dark.

The book " Back Roads Italy" from Eyewitness Travel details the route.

Courmayer, Italy is a great little village worth spending a few days in ( we stayed at the Villa Novecento.) You can then exit Italy into France and Chamonix via the Mont Blanc tunnel and on to where you want to go in France. This should be a great drive in your new BMW.

I also recommend Piedmont and Burgundy for their wines and food. I always like Tuscany but we thought Piedmont was special and less crowded.

Thanks, Huggy. I'll check out the route on a map later this week. But offhand, about how long of a drive is it from Salzburg to say.... Beaune ?

Google map or viaMichelin will give you the distances between two points.

Google maps says it is 803 kn. How fast do you drive?

Wow, that's a consideration if we don't go to Tuscany, but it just won't work with our time frame if we do visit Tuscany. I think I'll keep it in mind if things change, and it's worth remembering for a future trip. Thanks again for the info!