My girlfriend and I are taking a motorcycle trip through Europe next year. We're planning out stops along the way and "must see" stops and highlights.
We wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions for sights that we shouldn't miss between the following places....here's the route:
Paris - Bordeaux - Valencia (Spain) - French Riviera

We're definitely planning on leisurely driving through vineyards in Bordeaux, the coast of Spain from Valencia to Barcelona, then the French Riviera. We're not too familiar with these aras and would greatly appreciate some suggestions on must see places!

Thanks so much!

hi jeairas,

what is it that attracts you to these areas in the first place? have you read any guide books? what time of year are you travelling, and for how long? what do you like doing? [apart from riding motorbikes?]

help us to help you!

On the way to Bordeaux you may want to take smaller roads in the Charente, giving you the opportunity to visit cognac producers and see some exceptional Romanesque churches. La Rochelle and the Île de Ré is also worth a visit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...45839973/show/

What route are you planning on taking from Bordeaux to Valencia? The shortest route (about 800 km) would take you through San Sebastian-Donostia, Pamplona and Zaragoza. If you add the Rioja to the list, you wold only add about 100 km and get to see two major wine regions, Navarra and the Rioja (Alta and Alavesa). And if you wanted to see the Ribera del Duero wine region, it would add another 200 km.

The road from Valencia to Barcelona isn't the most attractive drive and can be busy. You would see a lot more of the countryside if you headed inland toward the Priorat wine region (Tarragona), giving you another opportunity to sample some great wine, and cheese, along the way to the Riviera.

The Costa Brava, north of Barcelona, to Cadaques, is beautiful, too! We stopped at Tossa de Mar, S'Agaro, & Calella Palafrugel, along the way to Cadaques, where we spent one night. While there, you can visit Dali's home in Port Lligat, & Cap de Creus. We didn't have time for Figueres, or the monastery (don't remember the name) near Cadaques, which is supposed to have beautiful vistas.

If you have the time, Girona is a very interesting city to spend a night or two.

Bordeaux wine country is one of the least scenic in France. It might be more interesting to tour Burgundy or Alsace, continue to the French Riviera, then hop a flight to Spain.

I thought this was all about an interesting motorcycle romp through France and Spain. Why fly when you can feel the wind in your face (of course you'll have to wear a helmet)?

Ooops, was reading too fast. Missed the bit about motorcycle trip. Never mind.

Thanks so much!

We’re actually taking a (very) long motorcycle trip in 54 days (Early April to late May):

Ostersund (Sweden) - Stockholm - Copenhagen (Denmark) - Cologne (Germany) - Rheims (France) - Paris - Bordeaux - Valencia (Spain) - Barcelona - French Riviera - Florence (Italy) - Siena - Rome - Amalfi Coast - Sicily - Brindisi - Corfu (Greece) via ferry - Dubrovnik (Croatia) - Innsbruck (Austria) - Fussen (Germany) - Wurtzburg - Prague (Czech Republic) - Gmina Osweicim (Poland) - Berlin - Copenhagen - Gothenburg - Preikestolen (Norway) - Geiranger - Ostersund

I know this may seem like a lot for the short time but I did a similar trip a few years back. Anyways, we’re not set on Bordeaux, we mainly wanted to go there to do some wine tasting as I’m in the restaurant industry. However, if it’s not a very scenic route we may skip it. We definitely want to see part of the coastline of Spain, then the French riviera before heading to Italy. However, if the Valencia - Barcelona route isn’t that nice we may choose another route. Would there be a coastal route in Spain that anybody would recommend (that’s not too far south)?
Kwoo: You mentioned the Costa Brave to Cadaques. Do you know what the route is like when you continue to Marseille?

Would it be better to go from Paris down through Burgundy to Lyon and from there go to Barcelona?

I’d like to go up the Alps but am worried that it may be a bit early in the year to go there. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

If you go from Burgundy to Barcelona you will miss some of the best wine regions in Spain, not to mention some of the best cuisine (Basque country & Navarra). The Basque coast and the Pyrenees offer some of the best scenery in all of Europe. Spain has more mountains of any country in Europe outside of Switzerland and some very interesting roads of motorcycles. But if it doesn't fit your schedule, then so be it.

Thanks Robert! No, not at all, I want to modify my schedule to see these things. What route would you suggest in Spain to see the Basque country and Navarra?

You may want to visit some of the Txakoli vineyards in Getaria and Bizkaia before heading inland. It's worth a day or two. But to see the bodegas in Navarra and the Rioja, you head inland from San Sebastian-Donostia to Pamplona (1 hour). I would take the N-121 out of Hondarribia through the Baztan Valley (http://www.turismo.navarra.es/eng/or...acionado/3066/). From Pamplona you can then head south on the A-12 to Laguardia in the Basque Rioja (Alavesa).

Some of our favorite wineries in Navarra are the Señorío de Otazu (where our friend Javier Bañales is always welcoming), Pago de Larrainzar, Prado de Irache and Señorío de Arínzano.

In the Rioja there are just too many to name, but you can refer to Maribel's Guide to the Rioja for most of them, but regardless of which bodegas you want to visit, you will need to make reservations.

While in the Rioja you can stay at Villa de Abalos (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hotel-...s/314682404274). It's in the center of the Rioja wine region and the owners, Jose Louis and Merche, are great hosts, and she's a great chef.

Be sure to read Maribel's Guides to the País Vasco, Pays Basque and the Rioja (www.maribelsguides.com) to help with your planning.

I think you would enjoy the time before heading off to Valencia.

On your way to the Riviera, you should stop in the Langudeoc Roussillon area (Montpellier and Carcassone or a smaller villages such as Collioures or Sète) for wine tasting and a taste of genuine french lifestyle. It is a beautiful area filled with historical sights to see and the wine producing area is the oldest in France. The drive is straight forward along the highway to the Riviera.

I'd look at leaving Paris going south to Chablis then West to Auxerre, Sancerre, then down the Loire moving South to St Emilion and Bordeaux. Then along the Cotes de Bordeaux and the many sweet wines along that side. Then down to Spain through the Languedoc/Roussillon.

Coming back is a bit of a pain as the wine is limited but take into account Le Clape, Bandol and the odd little ACs at the mouth of the Rhone.

jeairas, I haven't been north of Cadaques. In fact, I haven't been to France yet but I hope to rectify that this summer. I do remember that a year or two ago someone on this forum did drive from Barcelona north into France, & she stopped at Carcassone & Coillures, which another poster just mentioned, too.

After Cadaques, we spent 2 nights in Girona, then spent a day driving through part of the Pyrenees to Ripoll. I'm not good with directions but I think we headed west from Girona to Ripoll. (I believe Cadaques/Cap de Creus is the easternmost point in Spain.) Anyways, the mountain scenery is beautiful, and we saw LOTS of motorcyclists on the route we took.

I've driven the Costa Brava - Marseilles route a couple of times. Not a huge fan of the Costa Brava myself, but that being said, the roads improve once you're over the French border. There's a lot of traffic along the coastal Med route in mid-summer, the rest of the year not so much. It's a beautiful ride.

"Do you know what the route is like when you continue to Marseille?"

Depends on the road : the coast road via Portbou, Cerbère, Banyuls, Port-Vendres and Collioure is very pretty. When in Perpignan, highway to Marseilles
Or you can drive from Cadequès to Figueres, then the highway across Le Perthus to Perpignan and beyond.

I would certainly stop in San Sebastian, ES where I live. It has a lovely old town with great pixtos, beaches, and is not so large that you can't enjoy it in one day (though you could spend a great deal longer there). My son (age 25) did not care for Valencia that much and I have never been there. I think Madrid, Granada, Sevilla are beautiful and my favorite Spanish cities though those are out of your way. Gibraltar is a hellhole and entirely out of your way. Avoid it at all cost or go no further than the view of the rock if you ever go down that way. Barcelona is wonderful. Pamploma is nice in just getting a feel for a place everyone talks about but not worth much time (IMO). If you were to take the more northern route and go through France, then I would recommend Nice, Toulouse, Aix-en-Provence.