Hello,

I'm planning a month-long trip to France. I've decided to start in Paris and move south to the Provence region. Either I could go the western route, through Bordeaux and onto Carcassonne, or through the eastern route, through Lyon and onto Avignon. Either way, i'll be visiting both Avignon and Carcassonne. In deciding between these two cities (Bordeaux or Lyon), which would you pick to visit and stay in for a four or five-day period, and why? Thank you.

Why is this an either/or question and why are you fixated on visiting one of two relatively uninteresting cities?

In a month, there's ample time for a clockwise or anticlockwise tour of much of France. There's no huge time difference between getting from Paris to Carcassonne roughly via Bordeaux and getting there roughly via Lyons. So why not go out one way and come back the other?

For the westward bit, google "Via Turonensis" and "Chemin de Tours" for the classic pilgrim route between Paris and the Bordeaux area (the Bordelais) or just take the more or less parallel motorway.

In this minitour, you'll see (or rather pass by) a huge proportion - from Chartres to the Burgundy vineyards - of the key artefacts of western civilisation.

Apart from the restaurants of Lyons (which really ought to get UNESCO World Heritage status), nothing in the two big cities you name is really in the first league of things worth visiting: both are tricky to drive out of and back into again each day if you're planning to use them as a centre for local exploration.

In your shoes, I'd assume rests somewhere a bit north of Lyons and a bit inland of Bordeaux. I'd research the two areas properly (none of this "which is the better?" nonsense, which just gets you a list of a few things that appealed to strangers,) before deciding the relative number of days in each location. I'd remember that France has a reasonable regional railway system, so it's possible to stay outside Lyons, get the train in for really serious eating each evening then train back to the charming nearby village after giving the local wines full justice.

But if someone put a gun to my head and forced me to choose one of the two:
- I'd still tell him it was a stupid and unnecessary choice and there are lots of better things he ought to be risking prosecution for, but
- I'd choose somewhere near Bordeaux. Lyons is a major hub of European road travel, and you're always going to be driving through sometime in the future. Bordeaux, by comparison, is rather on the fringe of Europe's 21st century travelling <i> axes </i>

But Lyon does have the reputation for having the best cuisine in France. That is enough for me.

I'd say that Lyon has more that just great cuisine - it's a beautiful city with lots to see and do and an incredible historical and architectural heritage.

I loved Lyon - especially the food!!!

We spent 4 days in Lyon this past Nov and enjoyed the city and the food!

We trained to Lyon and then picked up our car when we left, driving did look a bit hard in the city.

Some Lyon pictures

http://tinyurl.com/255sxw

Hi fr,

I would not stay IN Bordeaux for 4-5 days.

I'd stay outside the city and use one day to see Bordeaux, one day to visit Arcachon and the ocean and one day for St. Emilion.

We enjoyed our stay at www.chateau-de-roques.com

PS,

&gt;..through Bordeaux and onto Carcassonne...

I urge you to take a route that goes via Sarlat-la-Caneda, Figeac and Albi. There is much to see there that is superior to Carcassone.

Lyon has a great roman amphitheatre and largre and impressive museum of Roman artifacts. The Old Town is a great place to wander. The Fourviere hill gives you great panaromic views and the cathedral is worth a quick visit. There are also interesting routes down the mountain into toeh Old Town. The Art Museum is housed in an old benedictine convent and is also worth visiting. Place Bellecour is worth going to (tourism bureau is there), and a really nice spot to visit and have lunch on a patio is Place des Terraux...a large open square surrounded by old buildings. There are scenic views along the Saone river (check out the painted building near the old town). Place Sathonay (near Terreaux) is one of the nicest little squares that I found in the city (went twice), Place Louis Pradel for views of Opera House and city hall, Cathedral St Jean has a centuries old interior clock that chimes and has mechanical biblical characters, a small roman arena was discovered ~50 years ago and they have determined it was site of one of the first christians against lions fight (170 died),etc....and I haven't mentioned the food yet.

Lyon is good for a 2-3day visit, it has its boring areas, but it is more than just food! ( I did a trip report here Nov 05).

Hello all. Thank you for replying and offering your feedback. I guess I should post my itinerary to put things in better perspective...

1) Paris (incl. Fontainebleau &amp; Versailles), 15-day stay for obvious reasons.

2) Mont Saint Michel &amp; Saint-Malo, 3 day tour, including one night in Mont Saint Michel and one night in Saint Malo.

3) The Loire Valley (Blois - Amboise - Tours), 7-day stay, 2 nights per town (allows me to view about 10-12 chateaux and get to know each town.)

4) Southern France (either Lyon to Annecy to Charmonix, back to lyon and onto Avignon to Arles, to Carcassonne and then to Nice; or starting in Bordeaux to Carcassonne and to the other southern towns, which implies skipping Annecy and Charmonix), 18-day tour

I forgot to add that it would be a 45 day tour of France, not a month as stated previously. Also, if I decide to go the Lyon route I would spend four nights in Lyon, then two nights at Annecy, followed by a day trip to Charmonix, then travel south to Provence where I would spend two nights each at Avignon, Arles, and Carcassonne (this way I would spend an entire day at each town), and then three nights in Nice. If travelling through Bordeaux, then I would probable spend two nights there, followed by a day trip to the beach, and then I guess onto Toulouse and onto Carcassonne. But, frankly speaking, the Lyon tour seems more appealing.

Snook - I'm going to Lyon in a few weeks and your pictures are wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

Ira,
Could you explain this a bit more?
&lt;&lt;I urge you to take a route that goes via Sarlat-la-Caneda, Figeac and Albi. There is much to see there that is superior to Carcassone.&gt;&gt;

The last time I was in carcassone, it was 27 years ago. I wanted to return for sentimental reasons but a lunch would do just fine. So, you would recommend Albi instead?? Why?
Thanks.

Hi S,

I meant that you could follow that route on the way to Carcassone.

If you choose Bordeaux/Carcassone at www.viamichelin.com, www.mappy.com or other map site they will put you on the Interstate, which is no fun.

If you limit Bordeaux to 2 nights, you could spend the other two on a very pleasant and interesting tour.

OOPS, I combined a response to slojan with one to frod.