Loire Valley or Alsace
 

Hi everyone,

Not to confuse the issue, but although we are booked in mid-September for 4 nights in the Loire Valley before travelling to Paris for 5 nights, we are now wondering if we should travel to Alsace instead for 5 nights and then Paris for 4 nights.

We have heard that the Alsace region is gorgeous and we want to make sure we get the most out of our romantic time away (no kids this time).

Thanks everyone.

Andrea

The Alsace is probably more "romantic" than the Loire because of its scenery and its picturesque villages.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4203582609/

If doing, say, Alsace first, where are you coming from?

My vote would be for Alsace. To me, the topography is much more interesting as well as the culture, cuisine, etc. Very "cute" little villages.

Don't spend less time in Paris, regardless of which region you are staying.

The Loire with its castles is so much! nicer than anything you can see in Alsace. I'd send everybody to Alsace.
But then you'll go there anyway, no matter what they say here, right?

I would also go for Alsace, given that you are just the two of you

The architecture in Alsace looks very German, which made us feel we weren't in France anymore.

If you haven't been to the Loire, I think you'll find it pretty romantic.

I was in Loire Valley in July. I liked it, but I wouldn't go there for the second time, for me it's a bit boring.

Andrea, we have been to both regions and I found the Loire much more interesting than the Alsace. If you haven't been to France before the Loire is so "French" and romantic, all those over the top castles ;;) There is plenty of white wines to enjoy in both regions.

With only 4 days or so you won't have enough time to be bored in either place. You have to decide if it's the castles or quaint villages that interest you the most. I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip whichever you choose.

I'd spend as much time in Paris as possible, it is, afterall, one of the most romantic cities!! Deborah

As I said several times on one of your original posts, the Loire to me is one of the least scenic/interesting areas of France in terms of topography, terrain, architecture, food, etc. I'm not an enormous fan of Alsace, and the German influence is certainly evident and that does influence the "look" and culture of the place, but the Loire can't hold a candle to it in terms of general "prettiness."

From some of the responses here, it appears that you have other posts that I have not seen. So my comments are made without benefit of whatever information you may have given previously.

Are you interested in wine? How will you be travelling? Is this your first time to France?

If you have interest in good wine and will be travelling by car, you could stop by the burgundy region for wine tasting on the way to the Loire. Some of the world's best wines are from this region. There are chateaus that you can stay at and the food is great.

As others have said, Alsace is on the border with Germany, so there is a german influence in the cuisine and culture. You can take the TGV to Strasbourg now in 2 1/2 hours. I found it quite charming and walkable. There is also a wine tradition in this area.

If this is your first time to France, you may want to spend your planned five days in Paris -- more if possible -- and less in either of the other two areas.

<i>you could stop by the burgundy region for wine tasting on the way to the Loire.</i>

That's quite a detour, especially for the better known wines other than Chablis. However, both the Loire valley and Alsace have excellent wines, and the OP might find it interesting to get away from the Burgundy-Rhone-Bordeaux pattern and taste what other areas offer.

I live in Paris and have just bought a house in the Loire Valley and I think it's a lovely region with plenty of things to see in 5 days (don't miss the garden festival in Chaumont!). However, I love Alsace and September is grape harvest time which adds lots of local colour. The little villages are quite beautiful at this time of year. I spent 2 weeks there in September a few years ago. It really depends what your looking for. The Loire is far more historical while Alsace is more picturesque.

I vote for Alsace as well. I somewhat agree with StCirq about the Loire Valley -- it is nice if you are on your way to another destination, but I wouldn't give it more than two days tops, which would include visiting at least 4 or 5 châteaux. By then, most of us have more than reached our limit.

This said, I hope to get a glimpse of the garden festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire before it ends.