FRANCE/BURGUNDY HELP
 

Hi; This is the first stage of our 2 night trip to France. Our first stop is Burgundy. There is so much to see and we only have three days. While we love to 'lounge' and take our time, that will not happen for the first three days. So we leave on the 12th of September, arriving on the 13th, at CDG, at 9am. After picking up our car, our first stop is Auxerre, perhaps arriving by 12noon. After spending four hours in Auxerre, we will then go to our hotel in Chevannes, six miles south of Auxerre. Our hotel is the Chateau de Ribourdin and take dinner[as early as possible] in Chevanes at the restaurent, La Chamaille. Day 2 we will do a picture stop at Semur-en-Auxois. Then our next stop will be Autun for perhaps three hours. Then Beaune for three hours. Our last stop, if time permits, a picture stop in Chateauneuf. Dinner that night will be in Auxerre. With the travel time, we think this will take about 12 or 13 hours. Day 3 we will do picture stops in Chablis, Tonnerre and Noyers, before arriving in Fontenay.[perhaps a few hours]. Then on to Avallon for the remainder of the day, including dinner. When we leave for Lyon the next day, we will stop at Vezelay. Our route to Lyon will be to follow a portion of the Loire. So, leaving Vezelay, N151 to the N7. Then A77, to N81 to D 979 to D982 and back to the N7 to Lyon arriving at 17hrs. If time permits, a stop in Paray-le-Monial. Consider, we do long days in order to see as much as possible. But for people who have visited this area, are we overextended? THANKS Iris

I assume you mean 2 week trip to France and not 2 night??

Hi jamikins; WHAT A GOOF. Twenty two [22] nights. Sorry Iris

Hi Iris,

I spent three days in Burgundy in June, but stayed all three days at Château de Ribourdin. M. Brodard is a delightful host. You'll like it there.

I wasn't particularly impressed with Noyers but it's good break from driving to Fontenay which is definitely worth a few hours. I also enjoyed visiting Vézelay.

I haven't visited the other places that you mention so can't help there. I also have part of a trip report here so you can read more about Burgundy at http://tinyurl.com/2vzs2

If you're going to be spending the second and third day in southern Burgundy, I wouldn't drive all the way back to Auxerre for the second night, but would stay in the southern area and visit Chablis and Fontenay on your drive south.

HI I,

> With the travel time, we think this will take about 12 or 13 hours.

A 13 hr motor trip is not going to be fun. You will be ready to quit around the 7th hour.

>Consider, we do long days in order to see as much as possible. But for people who have visited this area, are we overextended?<

Yes, you are.

>Then Beaune for three hours...

It is worth a full day, as is Dijon.

>arriving on the 13th, at CDG, at 9am. After picking up our car, our first stop is Auxerre, perhaps arriving by 12noon.<

Maybe.

I suggest that you rework your plan, including where would be the best town to stay.

((I))

Hi Shanti; We are happy to be staying at the Chateau. The suggestion to stay n the southern are of Burgunday will be considered. Respectfully Ira, don't pretend to know how other people travel. This is our 28th trip to Europe and we do long days all the time. A total of four hours in a car and 8 or 9 hours on the ground in different locations is well within us. The comment about Beaune is certainly well taken, however this will be our first and only time in this area and we want to see as much as possible. Perhaps we are overextended. But you don't know us and our physical condition, so you should stick to what you know about Burgundy and try to help. Iris

Ira was trying to help by letting you know that Burgundy isn't easily done in long days of driving. By doing that you will miss much of the essence of that beautiful region, leaving yourself little time to explore something not on your schedule.

Do you have the Michelin Green Guide to Burgundy? You might want to pick up a copy and have a look at the suggested itineraries so that you can avoid backtracking.

Hi Underhill; Thanks, but Ira was telling us we couln't do do long days. TO quote him, 'we would be tired after 7 hours'. My husband has a 17 hour day planned this Sunday. Six hours in a car. My day will only be 14 hours, five hours in a car. The comment from Shanti was constructive and we may change to one day in southern Burgundy. This will be our eigth time to France, but FIRST and LAST to this area and we want to see as much as possible. I thought I explained that in my first posting. We only have three days. So we had one constructive comment from Shanti and a positive thought from Ira on Beaune. I can appreciate being told we are overextended, just don't tell me what are capibilities are. NOW IRA, what about my thought about going down the N7, plus the other routes to Lyon. Is that a good way to go? That's what I need to know? Are there lovely towns we will pass through? That's what I need to know. RESPECTFULLY Iris

Since you did ask, yes, I think you will be overextended. My husband and I have spent considerable time in France, a fair amount of that in Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, and know all too well how much time can be lost on those sweet little back roads that go to interesting places, like the abbey of Fontenay.

Incidentally, I remember well our days of 15-hour schedules. But I don't remember them with great pleasure.

Hi Underhill; Thanks for your reply. This will be our eigth time to France. We usually do 'back' roads. However the first to this area and the first to Lyon. To repeat, we want to see as much as possible. As yet we have received no concrete information except from Shanti who suggested moving a day to the southern area of Burgunday. So I accept we are overextended. That does not bother me. We will have two full days in Lyon and they will be our restfull days. [abit 12 to 13 hour days] Please read my first post and now give me useful advise. THANKS Iris

I'd recommend adding a day to Burgundy and subtracting one from Lyon.

Have you tried mappy.com and viamichelin.com for suggested routes? That would certainly get you the concrete information you want.

Hi Iris,

We spent 4 days in Burgundy in 2006 and spent 1 full day in Beaune, 1 full day in Dijon (both which we Loved) then 1 day driving the wine routes out of Beaune. The other two days were arrival and departure days so we just took it easy.

I think you are overextended, and I think a lot of fodorites travel alot slower than you want to so that may be why you are not getting the type of advice you are looking for. I dont think anyone means to tell you couldnt do long days...to be honest I wasnt going to reply based on how you responded to other posters...

Good luck with your trip, Burgundy is a lovely area and we cant wait to return this Sept.

Jamikins agree with you - I'm kind of surprised that anyone has responded.

Most people on this board are giving their time to be helpful to fellow travellers and some of the brusque "stick to what you know about Burgundy" and "now give me useful advice" stike me as dismissive.

Maybe it's just her style?

HI; Thanks to all who responded. I think location for us could have been better. However, I made the reservations over six months ago and so I'm committed to these hotels. I do use viamichelin frequently, but have not on this leg of the trip for some time. So, thanks Underhill, as I revisited the travel time between towns and have found it acceptable. Fours hours or a bit less driving and eight or nine hours on the 'ground' visiting our two main objectives, Autun and Beaune. Our picture stops are usally an hour or less and so far we have two. We are flexable on times and we could spend more time in Beaune. My hope was an opinion on driving the 'Loire' to Lyon. I appreciate all the advice. An overnight between Autun and Beaune would have been useful and eliminated doubling back to our home base. THANKS to all Iris

>Ira was trying to help by letting you know that Burgundy isn't easily done in long days of driving.<

Thank you Underhilll.

((I))

Hi All; I apologize for any remarks that were 'curt'. So I just want to say, long days are the way we travel. This is our 28th trip to Europe, 8th to France. Only 3 have been with tour groups and we have rented cars for all the other trips, with two exceptions. Our Baltic trip [busses between countries, then a rental car into Poland] and our trip to Greece. Last year in Italy, with two villa's rented, we had eight at one villa and twelve at the second villa. After a family discussion, we decided on alternate days, we would have a long day and then a short day. The long days, leave by 9am and home well into the evening, after visiting as many hilltop villages as possible. The short days, leave by 10am and be back by 2pm. Each villa had to have a pool. On the travel calender on this web site, you can see my schedule for next April with our daughter and husband in Portugal and Spain for only 8days. So this is the way we travel and the way we enjoy our travel. Finally, I apologize Royal,Underhill, Ira and anyone else offended by my remarks. BEST Iris