As several-times visitors to, and lovers of, France, we are looking to do something different. The Atlantic Coast is a possibility. Starting from Paris we are thinking of driving via Chartres, Vitre and some Plus Beaux Villages de France (St Ceneri-le-Gerei, Ste Suzanne, Rochefort-en-Terre) to the Morbihan area of Southern Brittany, and then on down to Bordeaux at which point we fancy turning inland to Bergerac and the Dordogne area . The question is: by which route from Vannes to Bordeaux? There is a coastal route via St Nazaire, St Jean-de-Monts, les Sables-d'Olonne, la Rochelle, Rochefort and Royan. Or there is an inland route that I've read about via Nantes, Fontenay-le-Comte, Coulon/Niort, St Jean-d'Angely, Saintes and Cognac.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to which? We like characterful and historic places, and enjoy walking. If we were to try for a bit of each (some zig-zagging involved, making for longer driving!) which would people recommend?
Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Sorry that I can't help, but I just want to tell you what a great area that is. I spent a summer in Royan (north of Bordeaux) as an exchange student and very much enjoyed it!

We did the coastal route. Several towns are worth more than a "drive-by." We loved Vannes and Ile de Re.

La Rochelle is lovely and the Isle de Re is interesting. We stopped at Le Richleau Hotel(5*) about 5:30 and had a drink..asked what the rates were and they was dear..However since it was late in the day and I am no shrinking violet I asked if, since there probably would be no more in coming tourist traffic, the hotel could give us a better price AND THEY DID!!! $500E room (tres elegant) for $225E and that included breakfast. It never hurts to ask.

Items in this collection might whet your appetite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624827290462/

If you are doing your trip in the summer, reservations for the Morbihan are strongly recommended. I would think that the same goes for the La Rochelle area.

We mix it up a little bit, going along the coast until La Rochelle and then heading inland to Saintes and Cognac.

La Rochelle is one of our favorite cities. We love staying at the Best Western Champlain-France Angleterr hotel.

http://www.hotelchamplain.com/index.php?choix_lang=en

The video gives you an excellent idea of the quality. We like to ask for a small room on the ground floor down from the breakfast room that lets out onto the garden (Rm #54?). It is wonderful having your own area to just sit and relax after a day of sightseeing or being on the road. Don't miss out and made a reservation at Michelin starred Richard Coutanceau. The food and service are exquisite and as it is located on the beach, the view is spectacular!

Saintes has so much to see and do, it really deserves to be a "destination" rather than a "stop-over", but we always seemed to be heading to the Dordogne and could just manage overnights We have done the Ibis there, which if you know the Ibis chain, it's an Ibis! We had a wonderful meal at Le Bistrot Gallant a few years back and would love to go back either doing a self-drive canal boat or renting a gîte for a week...some day.

Cognac - a lovely stop. My adult sons really enjoyed their tour (be sure to get the best one, "Le Paradis" tour, where you get to go to sit and enjoy samples of their best cognacs, incl. Le Paradis and fine chocolates individually paired with the tastings)

We LOVE this area! Hope you enjoy it as well.

Many thanks everyone. These answers are tremendously helpful. Carnac, Vannes, Coulon and la Rochelle were shaping up to be definites on my list. Cognac was a possibility and I was unsure about Saintes, but after reading these responses I'm really keen to include them. So it's looking like we'll be mixing the coastal with the inland. It means longer driving (especially given our liking for lesser roads and smaller villages), but it sounds like it'll be well worth it.

I've just been reading an itinerary for the salt-marsh coast from Vannes to St-Nazaire (Piriac-sur-Mer, le Croisic, Gueronde, Batz-sur-Mer, le Pouliguen) and it sounds fascinating. Given our lesser-road/smaller-town preferences it sounds more attractive than the busier route via Nantes.

Hopefully it'll happen around September. I'll keep this forum posted as to how it all turns out, but meanwhile thanks again.

Another La Rochelle lover here (as well as Ile de Ré). We almost always turn inland there, though, like klondike, through Saintes and Cognac.

Don't linger in Bergerac.

Thanks St Cirq - I mentioned Bergerac because it will be the last "new destination" on our drive. Beyond that we enter into familiar territory, having holidayed in Sarlat and day-tripped from there to Lalinde, Beaumont-du-Perigord etc. We loved the whole area so much we want to do more!

Thanks Klondike - the Le Paradis tour at Cognac will definitely go on our itinerary. You mentioned Ibis in Saintes? Coincidentally we have a soft spot for Ibis! We tend not to book ahead unless for longer stays (such as our stay in Sarlat), so occasionally we've been caught out with difficulty finding accommodation. Several times when this happened (in France and Germany), Ibis came to our rescue!

Guérande and Le Croisic are worth a look. I'm a huge fan of megaliths (amateur archaeologist) and I've spent a lot of time around the Gulf of Morbihan. If you need ideas or inspiration for that area you might find my trip report useful (hundreds of photos too).

http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ad=4366&page=1

One of our favorite towns is St-Jean-de-Luz!

St-Jean-de-Luz is absolutely wonderful....but it's not anywhere near where this poster is headed.