I've three days in France in September this year on the way to the Medoc with no plans. I've spent a lot of time on the coast of Brittany and Normany. I've toured the Loire twice and the Loir once. I've followed the Gironde a couple of times, visited Ile de Re and the coast nearby. I've visited Cahors and areas south. I've been to Paris a fair few times. I've seen Le Mans and toured down to La Fleche.

I've never been to Poitiers, where else could I spend a few days between St Malo and the Bordeaux region? I like old buildings, bourgeois cooking, fine wine, bicycles, hiking, punts etc

I don't know, have you ever been to Dijon, in Burgundy? From there you can head down to Montluçon (half-timbered houses and the Chateau of the Dukes of Bourbon), then over to Limoges (pick up some nice trinkets) before driving into Bordeaux.

They have a big amusement park there, Futuroscope. Looks like fun, for a theme park, anyway.

There really isn't that much between St Malo and Bordeaux except the regions of Pays-de-la-Loire and Bretagne, so if you toured them both, you are getting down to Poitiers.

If you haven't been there, Angers is worth visiting, definitely. Easily could spend a few days there.

Poitiers has beautiful churches, like the Notre-Dame-la-Grande, so impressive, one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in the republic. Nearby Chauvigny has a chateau with a birds of Prey show and a bad cave that made me appreciate these sweet little faces. I assume you have been to La Rochell, great dining. The bridge that takes you to Ile de Re is my favorite

Thanks guys, Burgundy is way over the other side from St Malo and Bordeaux and I've been. Angers tick. La Rochelle tick. I think Poitiers has to be in this time.

But tell me about Limoges.... Chauvigny sounds good

I've not been to Nantes or Chateauroux

Any ideas?

It's a bit grim, but near Limoges is Ouradour-sur-glane

https://www.google.com/search?q=orad...0CDkQsAQ&dpr=1

Not at all grim, towns at the edge of the Dordogne like Le Bugue or Les Eyzies, about 2 hours east of Bordeaux.

Have you seen the great dune of Pilat next to Arcachon?
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...une-pilat-pyla

No Kerouac I've followed the Gold coast a fair bit and cycled most of the bike rides around Bordeaux city but not been to the bay yet or beyond. Good thinking.

About 30 km. east of Poitiers there is a major Romanesque church with wonderful ceiling frescoes in Saint Savin. Near Limoges there is Oradour-sur-Glane, Limoges itself has an important porcelain museum and the former bishop's palace next to the cathedral contains the regional museum with Limoges enamels and other items. The rue des Bouchers has a butcher's house transformed into a museum.

These are the pictures I took between the Loire valley and the Dordogne:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...276890499/show

Michael, another train station nut, and great enamels.

Nantes, Guérande, Pornic and La Baule are right on your route. Near Poitiers is the Tumulus de Bougon, the largest neolithic necropolis in Europe:

http://www.deux-sevres.com/deux-sevr...sdeBougon.aspx

FMT, nothing Mrs Bilbo likes like a good tumulus

Last Aug we spent 3 nights just outside of Poitiers - and really enjoyed the area - including Poitiers. If you visit Poitiers, make sure you pick up a walking itinerary at the TI. Here is the Shuterfly book my wife did for the area. The first 15 pages are sites around Poitiers. After the Ile de Re, there are pictures of Poitiers.

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/re...=1EYt2Llw1ZMpC

Stu Dudley

There are actually several tumulus' there.

If you go to Saint Savin, be sure to take your binocs along.

I'm very glad I spent some time in Poitiers and Saint Savin.