I am planning a 2 week vacation around May starting in Paris. But I would love to see quaint villages and countrysides. Which area of France can provide this. This is my first visit outside Paris so any area will be new to me. We will be driving. I am all confused and don't know where to begin.

You can drive out of Paris in any direction and see quaint villages and countryside. A good first foray might be into the Loire Valley. You could visit the chateaux and stay in the quaint villages. We've stayed in Azay le Rideau twice and enjoyed it.

You could go north and visit Giverny (a quaint village), Rouen (a city with a quaint center), and on into Normandy with lots of quaint villages and much lovely countryside.

You could go east and visit Burgundy. We stay in Beaune there. It's a little larger than a village, but it has a quaint center section. There are lots and lots of beautiful quaint villages in the Beaune area and if you want to visit a city, there is Dijon, one of my favorite cities. If you're looking for quaint villages, don't miss Vezelay and Chateauneuf la Foret in Burgundy.

Is there any particular area of France that interests you? You might try web sites of the different sections of the country and see if anything appeals.

The roads all over the country are fine and you'll have no trouble driving. If you want to see quaint villages, avoid the Autoroutes. The country roads are excellent and there is no toll on them.

You might also try your local bookstore or library and check the different regions near Paris.

Good luck.

Brittany is full of charming villages, and the houses are usually bursting with flowers in window boxes and gardens. It's easy to travel in because it's just slightly off the beaten tourist path, which tends to end at Mont St.-Michel in Normandy. The area around Pont-Aven, where Gaugin painted, is particularly picturesque. Having said that, I would also say that Normandy is beautiful and just loaded with pretty villages and countryside. With both Brittany and Normandy you have the added bonus of fishing villages, such as Honfleur, and medieval towns like St.-Malo, with its ramparts. To my mind the Loire Valley is about the least picturesque area of France we've visited, aside from the châteaux. To each his own...

ALL areas of France offer quaint villages and countryside. I suggest you get a good guidebook and read up on your options. Get one with pictures, like the Cadogan series, so you can see what's in store for you. With two weeks, you can see Paris and at least one other area in some depth.
I agree that the Loire valley, while a fascinating part of France and full of lovely châteaux, is NOT the place to head for the most beautiful countryside - though everything is relative. I'd rather be in the Loire than in central Virginia.

Silly me, I enjoyed Azay le Rideau, Rigny, Chinon, Amboise and driving along the tiny roads following the Loire spotting herons and wild black swans, the new/old bridge at Langeais and the wonderful château there. I thought parking under the lime trees at Villandry and walking through the gardens was spectacular enough to return year after year. The townspeople's gardens at Fontevraud are amazing in the summer and the Abbaye is lovely. Richelieu is a delightful surprise after driving through the rolling fertile countryside . . . and did I mention the wonderful window boxes in all the villages just bursting with flowers?

It was so nice to drive through the Loire without the traffic of the more touristed areas, passing only the occasional bicycle rider.

Ah well, to each his own!

Lol, To each his own, is what travel is, and should be.FLACA:
Any direction will lead you through some countryside. Al of us have different tastes , and none of us is right until YOU find it's for you.

How about a loop starting in Paris - Reims - Nancy - Strasbourg - colmar - wine route - Dijon - Autun - Vezelay back to Paris. Has anyone done this trip? Do you recommend - suggest?
OR
The area of Normandy and Brittany?
Thanks!

Sounds like a heavenly trip. We've done the round except for Nancy and it is beautiful. Burgundy is lovely.

If you do the Normandy Brittany route, start at Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, Mt. St. Michel, St. Malo, Quimper, Nantes, back to Paris. The countryside is beautiful. I love Normandy, but Brittany is a bit too "gray" for me, even with the lovely flowers. The coast is gorgeous.

Whichever way you go, read up on it so you pick the highlights that interest you.

Missing one area is always a good excuse to go back!!

In May there couldn't be a pretty place in the world than the coast of Normandy.

In May there couldn't be a prettier place in the world than the coast of Normandy.