HELP: 3rd trip to France - where should I go?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm spending 4 days in Vienna in September but I have to spend 4 days in France as well because that's the country where I got my Schengen visa from.

I've been to Paris twice already
What places in France would you recommend for a 3rd visit?
I'm torn between going back to Paris and doing day trips to Rouen, Giverny, Chartres. Or maybe Nice, with its day trips? But people on this forum don't seem so enthusiastic about the French Riviera.

I'm open to suggestions. Appreciate your help.

There are hundreds of places to visit in France that would enthrall: Normandy, Brittany, Alsace, Burgundy, the Pays Basques, the Périgord, Languedoc...pick up a few guidebooks and see what appeals to you.

It being a 3rd visit doesn's really weigh into the equation. If it were the 43rd, maybe one could narrow it down a bit. You still have the whole country to explore,and only 4 days, so work from there, following your instincts and interests.

While the Riviera is ok, it is a bit "international" and bland. St C has the list of places I'd go.

Choose one with good train links and that satisfy your interests.

You could check and see where you can get to on a direct flight from Vienna to narrow down your list?

Big considerations for me would be:

Where is it simple and cheap to get to from Vienna?

Where will I be going next, and is it simple to get there from this destination?

Sounds like if you went to Nice you'd prefer to spend your time visiting cultural sights as opposed to laying on the beach. There are a lots, but they are of most interest to people who enjoy 20th c French art -- which includes Monet, who loved to paint in the area, but is also about Matisse, Man Ray, impressionists, cubists, surrealists. There is of course other things to see in the area that pre-date that, castles and some (but not many) historic churches, but probably the people who enjoy the French Riviera most who are not beach bunnies are people with a lot of interest in French art culture from late 19th c. through 1960s.

I've done my homework and I'm familiar with the different regions in France. However, I was hoping for some "subjevtive" feedback from people who have travelled around France.

I'm mostly interested in the Provence, Dordogne, and Normandy but I think these deserve longer time and are better done by car.

I'm thinking Paris with a few day trips to new places like Chartres and Reims would be a good idea for a 4 day-trip?

Offtoeurope - if that is the idea that excites you then it is a fine idea!

I personally prefer not to do a lot of day trips out of Paris as it takes so much time to commute to the place and then the extra cost etc. But that is not to say it cannot be done if you don't mind that! I would like to get to Saint Denis cathedral one day!

For such a short time period of 4 days I would want to go somewhere and spend my time in one place.

We spent 4 nights in Nice last year and thought it was a very nice place (this was in April though). We actually did do a day trip to Menton on the bus/train. The rest of the time we spent wandering around Nice.

I would only go somewhere that had a direct flight from Vienna so I use my preciously short time of 4 days experiencing where I am rather than trying to get to it. Too many logistics sucks up valuable time!

But this is your holiday so go with what excites you!

When I visited the French Riviera I focused on 20th c. art sites, and really enjoyed that. I was less keen on the beach in Nice and in places like Antibes, where the show-off tourist vibe is intense. Also, a great deal of the French Riviera is overloaded with modern "Mediterranean-style" condos, or block towers like in Monaco for the wealthy, and it can be off-putting to say the least.

I had a car, which enabled me to go up into the low hills and see some particular historic sites of modern art. I understand they can be reached by public transportation, but don't know how pleasant the option is.

Nice itself is a mixed bag for me because I think port cities on the Italian Riviera are more colorful and fun in and of themselves (and get the impression Marseilles is more intriguing too). But the art museums in Nice have no real equal and I am sure there are many sights I didn't see that I would have liked.

I've been to France often. At least every other year. If I were fortunate enough to live there I would choose a village in the Dordogne. For short visits I love Nice.

By the way thanks to everyone for your help so far.

Jamikins, there is a direct flight from Vienna to Nice. Hmmm might be worth considering.

By the way, I also visited Giverny in September and while I found it thrilling because I have a lot of interest in Monet's work and have seen his late summer & autumn paintings of Giverny, the flower gardens in September do not have the abundant blooms of spring and early summer, and there are few water lilies (at least the year I was there).

To me Chartres & Reims are easy day trips out of Paris, especially if you pick a hotel with that in mind, and of course the sights are spectacular. World wonders. If you have never seen St Denis in Paris, visiting all 3 churches during a 4 day visit would really be something. Makes sense to me if you are leaning that way.

Brittany is one of my favorite areas. The countryside is gorgeous and fascinating, there are seascapes, the competition between parishes for building unique structures offers up opportunities to just wander and absorb the fascinating edifices.

You could fly to Bordeaux which many consider a mini-Paris in ways. Tkae the train up for an overnight in la Rochelle.

My wife & I retired early in 1999 so we could travel more. We now spend 2 months in Europe (85% in France) each year, and travel to different regions. Our favorite regions are:

1. Provence & the Dordogne

2. Cote d'Azur (including the Nice Hinterlands), Brittany, and Languedoc/Roussillon

We've been to Chartres several times - and it's not one of our favorites. Reims is OK - but Toulouse, Dijon, Rouen, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon, Aix en Provence, Montpellier, and Avignon are much more enjoyable for us.

Stu Dudley

Stu, you sound like a France expert. If you had to spend 4 days in the Cote D'Azur where would you go?

Thanks to Micheline, Julies, and especially Massimo for your suggestions.

Nice. With a day trip to either:

- Menton or Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild by bus

- Antibes by train

- "Loup loop", St Paul, Vence, Tourrettes, Loup Gorge, Gourdon by car.

depending on what kind of stuff you like to see. If 4 days is really only 3 1/2 days - you could easily just stay in Nice the entire time.

Stu Dudley

I'm thinking Paris with a few day trips to new places like Chartres and Reims would be a good idea for a 4 day-trip?>

Perfect - Fontainebleu is another easily reached by train or a day-trip to Loire Valley - train to Tours and pick up minibus tours to a couple of famous chateaus.

Trains - check www.voyages-sncf.com for schedules and online booking with discounts available if booking early enough to get these limited in number discounted ducats. www.seat61.com is an expert on advising on this -for general info on French trains also check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

If not taking long-distance trains just buy tickets once there.

I like Nice and have spent several days there several times and easily got around by train and bus - lots of neat sights in small radius.

4 days stick to one base.

I'd take a car and drive the "Calvados and Camembert" trail.
Visit Giverny and the towns along Lower Normandie.
You'll really only have 3 days' travel time, so won't be able to do too much in France.

"While the Riviera is ok, it is a bit "international" and bland"

You must lead a tremendously exciting life to write that.

I would forget the Dordogne with only 4 days. It will take you a day to get there, and then how will you get to Vienna? Another whole day at least.