I am helping friends plan their first trip to Paris. They are in their 40's but he is mostly in a wheelchair and has very limited mobility when not. Despite all this, he is an intrepid traveler and the very picture of positive thinking!

They are looking for a "countyside" experience not too far from Paris and plan to rent a car and drive. I have been to Amboise for a few days, but most of the rest of my experience is further afield. (Dijon/Chalon area, Dordogne, Languedoc, Cevennes, etc.) I would like to steer them toward an area that would have wheelchair-friendly villages they could explore and plenty of scenic drives...maybe Normandy?

I have to admit that beyond the Clos de Luce and Chenonceau, I was not wowed by the Loire area. I didn't dig deeply westward, so maybe I missed something. I just found the terrain to be uninspiring. Of course, I spent the following week in the Dordogne...that would "ruin" anyone!

If anyone has any tips for Paris, that would be helpful, too. Though I feel much more confident advising them there, as I've been numerous time. Never on wheels, mind you, but I think I am okay.

Thanks in advance.

This isn't exactly a tip for Paris or France, but it is a good website for travelling to and through Europe in a wheelchair. Perhaps your friends can get some good ideas from it or contact the guy who writes it as he may have been to Paris and just doesn't have the info up on the website yet.
http://www.wheeladventure.com/

Mobility International has downloadable info. www.miusa.org

The Society for Accessible Travel might have something you could use too.
http://www.sath.org/

This isn't very helpful but I've noticed more and more castles, restaurants, museums, etc. in Europe have installed lifts or chair glides for stairs.

But, I haven't kept an eagle eye for them so can't give an accurate answer for places around Paris.

My first thought was Giverney but a wheelchair would be hell on the gravel paths unless they are hard-packed. So many places have that loose small gravel which can be difficult just to walk on.

It's been a few years since I've been there so if someone who has been more recently thinks it's doable, that would be lovely place to go. The house has some stairs up the the entrance but once inside, it's only a ground floor self tour.

Maybe Chartres--if cathedral could be negotiated--I don't think it has a massive staircase and I remember a pretty square near the cathedral with outdoor restaurants.

The Loire chateaux have lots of stairs so best to check.

Normandy would be a mixed bag--Honfleur would be fine, the WWII museum in Caen would also work and Bayeux and the tapestry.

In europe there is very definitely a mixed bag as far as wheelchair accessibility. I agree to check out the web sites listed above.

Also, when they have a couple of options in mind check the web sites of the major sights to see if there is accessibility.

Much of the Loire is farily flat - and seeing the grounds and ground floor of the chateaux - which we loved - would be quite a lot. But - there is typically some distance - either gravel path or sometimes just grass/ground rather than paths in some places - just to get from the parking lot to the chateaux. Pictures on the sites might help with this.

I think that Loir Normndy are better choices than places that are more hilly (Dordogne, Alsace etc) overall.

This is just an anecdote. In 1995 I took my parents to Blenheim.

I explained to the car park attendant that my mom had mobility issues. He let me drive practically up to the door, drop my mom off, then put my car in the front of the nearest car park to the palace.

That can't be guaranteed but in general people try to accommodate. So, your friends should always ask.

Hi Amy,
My husband has the same type of challenges - mostly in his wheelchair. We spent 3 1/2 weeks in France last Sept with my 86 year old mother and will return to Paris again this Sept for a week after 3 weeks in Italy.

We ended our journey by staying in Paris at Hotel Bonaparte, thank you, Ira! They do not have wheelchair accessible bathrooms, but have an elevator and very helpful staff. I thought the neighborhood was ideal to roll/walk and there are many good bus lines nearby.

We took the TGV from CDG to Avignon where we rented a car. Train station personnel very very, very helpful everywhere we traveled.

We stayed at Le Mas Perreal 011 33 (0) 490 754631 which is about an hour from the train station. They have ground floor rooms which are very large and beautiful as well a a very large bathroon. Our host, Kevin, put a chair in the shower and did all he could to make us comfortable for our 6 night stay. We had some wonderful drives in the area and there are several great dining options which are on the ground level. Le Mas Perreal B&B and our hosts Elisebeth and Kevin were wonderful.

We drove to Pezenas and stayed @ Hotel de Vigaiamont, also a B&B. Again wonderful hosts and accomodations. We had a huge ground floor room with a courtyard and the shower was accessible. Cute smallish town in which to spend a few days - fun market on Sunday??.

Next stop was the Dordogne where we stayed at La Barde in Monfort for 6 nights. Again, all was perfect and our hosts went out of their way to help with any needs.

We dropped the car off in Brieve and took the train to Paris. We absolutely love Paris and will not let a wheelchair stand in our way. If your friend would like to speak with me about details, please let me know. I will be happy to help.

Aloha,
G

Thanks for all the input everyone. I have looked at the links provided and will pass them along. I never know what will be useful for them...it's hard to put myself in their shoes.

My friends have decided on Normandy I think, but only for three days. They will spend ten days in Paris. I am encouraging them to stay in the 6th. We'll see.

I looked at the Giverney website and they rent wheelchairs there. That makes me think that it is in some respect accessible. I was also glad to pass along the information about national museums being free and people getting plucked out of long lines. Indeed my friend tells me that travel with her partner is surprisingly easy due to everyone's efforts to accommodate.

Thanks again!