France-where to go for 1.5 weeks, not Paris
 

We have about 10 days to travel in France. Where would you suggest--going south from Paris? We could drive from Paris or fly and rent a car.

there is the official french tourism office offering information:
http://www.francetourism.com/

go for regions of france for an overview and more detailled regional info.
you also might check out activities and cultural sites.
they offer to send brochures on your points of interest.

Some hints for further research:
- river Loire valley
- Languedoc
- Provence.
and one off the beaten track:
- Charente - from Angouleme via Cognac to Royan (Atlantic coast)

You don't say what you like to do but from your name I would guess that a trip down the coast would work. Take the train out to Trouville, rent a car and go south. Save a couple days for Biarritz. Drop it off and train back to Paris.

I would pick Provence. Take a TGV to Avignon and rent a car there.

What do you like doing on holiday?

And when are you planning to go..we found a lot of places closing up beginning in Oct.

If you like Roman ruins, try Arles, Nîmes and Orange.

Next month I'm off to France for 2 weeks. We're renting an apartment in Provence for a week, then up to the Loire Valley and Le Mont-st-Michel.

Thanks for your responses. I will be a little more specific. We are visiting friends in Paris for the first 2 weeks in Aug. and looking for this trip for 10 days prior to that. We have been to the Loire Valley and Normandy area before. We will be going to Rouen with our friends from Paris. We are traveling with our 18 year old daughter who is fluent in French and open to anything. We are all well-traveled and enjoy new adventures and learning about other cultures. Thanks for all of your help!

I would still pick Provence. I would try to find a place to rent for a week and take day trips. We stayed in Noves, a small town near St. Remy de PRovence and loved the area, but the place we rented w/ friends was big enough for 4 adults and 6 children so wouldn't be appropriate for your family.

I would either do Provence, which I don't know, or the South West.

They are very diffferent from what you've seen before.

Given today's reading, I'd probably go to the Lot and base myself in that area.

Provence.

oops and Arles- there are street markets under white tents, a bullring, artful shop windows,roman ruins, but I really liked Eze too