BURGUNDY and LOIRE
 

Hi; I'm try to help my daughter plan their 10th anniversary in France next year in August. They have been all over the map, but have settled on this route. Three nights in Burgundy, three nights in the Loire and finally, two nights in Paris. So, fly into CDG and rent a car. Drive to Auxierre and stay one night outside of this city in a chateau that we have stayed at. Then drive to Beaune for two nights. After that, drive to Amboise for three nights. Finally, drive to Orly, drop off the car and take a train into Paris. Questions: 1. Looking for nice B@B'S in Beaune and Ambroise. And 2. Can they take the train into central Paris without changing trains from Orly? [Near the Weston Hotel] They are very frugal lovely people. Their budget for B@B'S would be under 100euros. They will stay at the Weston, but that's our gift to them using 'points'. Thanks Richard

Firstly I should caution that driving to Auxerre from CDG after an all night trans-Atlantic flight is a genuine safety compromise. Driving an unfamiliar car over roads which are traveled rarely combined with fatigue can be a dangerous mix. Driving tired causes a significant number of traffic accidents. This is the time to take the train from Paris to Beaune and pickup a rental car the next day.

They'll probably save money with this strategy as rail tickets purchased in advance will cost less than the price of the rental car, gas, and toll charges to reach Beaune.

1. For accommodations around Amboise:

The Cheval Blanc in the small village of Bléré, between Chenonceau and Tours. Bléré is much quieter and less touristy than Amboise. This hotel/restaurant changed hands in early 2008 with the long-time owners retiring. Under the new owners, (Hélène et Fabrice Tavernier) the service is reportedly much more efficient but their culinary reputation is yet to be established. During the week (Tuesday to Friday) two courses (entrée and main dish) are €22 with a €7 supplement for dessert. Despite a change of owners, I still find this location worth considering as a place to base oneself.

www.lechevalblancblere.com
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Between Blois and Tours

Auberge de Launay
in a beautiful setting and a wonderful restaurant
http://www.aubergedelaunay.com/

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in Chenonceaux

Hostel du Roy
http://www.hostelduroy.com/

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la Ferme des Berthiers
just south of Tours in a very homey setting
http://www.lafermedesberthiers.fr/

2. The trip from Orly will require several train changes. First at Antony, and then most likely at Chatelet but with more than one Westin Hotel in Paris, it's difficult to be more precise.

RER C also runs from Orly Airport (free shuttle bus to station on periphery of airport) direct into Paris and is considerably cheaper than the Orly VAL to Antony and then RER B into central paris- RER C stops at St Michel-Notre Dame and other stations all along the Seine

In this area of France is the village of Vezelay. We had lunch there and walked uphill through the village to Vezelay Abbey. Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene

Also, in the area is the Guedelon Castle that is being built from plans drawn up in the 1200s and using tools and methods of those days. It was an interesting place to visit. http://www.guedelon.fr/

In this same area there is a lot of pottery shops. We stopped at a house in the countryside and purchased pottery.

We stayed two nights at A La Metairie Bed & Breakfast close to the village of Lindry which is about 10 miles from Auxerre, France. It was a lovely bed and breakfast and an easy drive to Auxerre. Brigette fixed a great breakfast complete with an egg and cold ham and cheese along with the typical French breakfast foods. Brigette can speak English very well so communication was good. We would highly recommend her bed and breakfast.

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I'll second Vezelay as a fascinating place

and when driving between Burgundy and Loire you can also stop by to ogle one of France's most unique sites - the Pont-Canal (Canal bridge - a canal crosses the Loire high above it on its own bridge) - also one of the first metal bridges i think - perhaps Eifel had something to do with it and if you have time you can also ride a boat over the canal-bridge and beyond.

Briare aqueduct - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
May 31, 2009 ... Pont Canal de Briare 45250.jpg. The Briare Aqueduct ... latéral à la Loire over the River Loire on its journey to the River Seine in France. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briare_aqueduct

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions for hotels and sightseeing. We were in this area in Sept. 2008 and also have a few ideas for the daughter. 'Pal', I like the thought that RER C goes to the heart of the city without changes. The Weston they will be staying at, overlooks the Tuileries and Louvre. So, perhaps they can wheel their luggage from the Notre Dame stop. 'Sarasto' The thought on driving is something to consider. I can drive safely for at about three hours. It took us two hours to drive to Auxerre from CDG. They will have to decide. And 'bratsandbeer', Vezelay will be a must for them. Thanks Richard

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Pal', I like the thought that RER C goes to the heart of the city without changes. The Weston they will be staying at, overlooks the Tuileries and Louvre. So, perhaps they can wheel their luggage from the Notre Dame stop.>

Well to get to the Orly airport (Pte de Rungis is the official name i believe) RER C station you do need to hop a shuttle bus there from the terminals whilst the OrlyVAL (automated people mover) goes right from the terminals to Antony and RER B) - but since they are staying around the Tuileries/Louvre then i think they should take RER C to the Gare d'Orsay station (next to the Orsay Museum) and then just walk over the Passerelle (foot bridge) to the Louvre/Tuileries.

Thanks 'Pal'. I now know exactly where you suggest getting off the RER C. Should be easy for the 'kids'. Richard

I might consider taking the train to the furthest destination from Paris, then driving back towards Paris and dropping off car at Orly..to optimize car time, and minize falling asleep at the wheel.

, then driving back towards Paris and dropping off car at Orly.>

or if doing so then why drive thru the Parisian conurbation at all to reach Orly - and drop it at say Marne-la-Vallee (EuroDisney) - on the eastern edges of the Paris urban area which means bouchons (bottlenecks) always possible IME?

Hi 'Pal': They will be coming from the Loire and that's why I thought Orly to drop off the car. Probably Amboise or somewhere in that area. But if you have a better suggestion, as in EuroDisney, to drop the car off, I would suggest that route to them. Richard

Oh no - i errored in forgetting about the Loire - from there it's a fairly easy drive to Orly, on the south side of the Paris urban area - i see no reason not to drive from Amboise to Orly. Sorry about the mistake.

Amboise would be my favored base for this part of the Loire - so close to several neat chateaux - and just outside of Amboise is something rather remarkable that is not on the radar of many tourists - the Pagoda of Chanteloup - a large Chinese-style pagoda that is all that is left of a once grand chateau that was demolished in the 1800s after its owner fell behind in taxes - pieces sold off - the pagoda was left and symbolizes the fatuation French royals and rich had with all things Chinoiserie - Chinese during the ear. The sprawling grounds are still there as is the foundation of the once grand castle. You can climb the pagoda.

Monument Historique de la Loire : La Pagode Chanteloup
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A mi-chemin entre Chambord et Chinon, à deux pas de la cité d'Amboise, laissez-vous envoûter par le site de la Pagode de Chanteloup et venez évoquer dans le ...
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www.pagode-chanteloup.com/

during summer the Amboise Chateau stages one of the most popular Sound and Light shows in the Loire Valley, where these things are the rule in every castle - in evenings with seances in English or having English translations really - quite a show - lots of special effects and hundreds of locals dressed in Renaissance era garb - Leonardo da Vinci and Francois I are usually in it. http://www.renaissance-amboise.com/ - real spectacle!

Pagoda of Chanteloup on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Pagoda of Chanteloup. Pagoda of Chanteloup by amon-re_. Chinese style Pagode of Chanteloup near Amboise, Indre-et-Loire France. ...
www.flickr.com/photos/amon-re/3884157461/

Hi 'Pal': The Pagoda was surely out of place in the French countryside, but very interesting. The Sound and Light show will interest them. We have been to the Loire a few times and have visited the chateau that Leonardo stayed at the last three years of his life. We have also visited Vinci. They will also enjoy visiting the chateau to view his amazing inventions. Thanks--great help. Richard

Don't forget Leonardo is buried in a sweet chapel in Amboise.

Le Cheval Blanc is either closed or under new management. Not the same wonderful place it was for so many years.

Thanks for all the replys. The 'kids' now had made all their reservations. Two nights in Amboise, one night on the way to Burgundy and three nights in Burgundy. Then into Paris for three nights. I have passed on everyone's suggestions to my daughter. Richard