Best spot between Cinque Terre and Loire Valley?
 

With two spare days between obligations in Cinque Terre, northern Italy, and the Loire region, France, where should I go?<BR>I am interested in natural scenery, hiking, historic buildings, and art. <BR>I am leaning toward someplace in or near the French Riviera, perhaps Nice, Marseille, etc., but I'm all ears for hidden secrets that aren't too far out of the way.

annecy

Cassis !

Too many good choices.<BR><BR>Antibes<BR>Corniche de l'Esterel<BR>Aix en Provence<BR>Arles<BR>Avignon<BR>Orange<BR>Lyon<BR> Chateau Longsard<BR><BR>for starters.<BR><BR>The problem with the French Riviera is that it leaves you with a very long drive to get onward to the Loire - - which is part of my reasoning for all the other places in between.<BR><BR>And I'm curious - - are you aware that retuning a rental car from Italy in France might have a hefty surcharge? (But then I don't know that you are doing that - - don't know how you are getting to the CT, nor how/whee after the Loire).<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

ttt<BR>

Thanks for the ideas so far. To specify further, I'll probably be taking trains from Nice to Angers, which stop and/or transfer in places like Marseille, Cannes, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Lyon, Le Creusot, etc, some of which have already been mentioned. What is it about the places mentioned that is attractive? What art or architecture is worth seeking out? <BR>Thanks...