We will be travelling through the Loire Valley from Mt.St. Michel on our way to Paris by car this fall. We expect to leave the Mont on a Wednesday morning, staying at Saumur for a night and going onto 1 more place before turning in our car and taking a train into Paris. I was looking at Vendome as the 2nd stopover for the night.

However, after searching this forum, I could not find any comments on Vendome, but plenty on Amboise & Blois. Has anyone been to Vendome and could they give me an opinion as to the appropriateness as to this town as a stopover. We need a town that is on the train route, so Amboise would not be appropriate. for us.

Thanks for your help.

Why Vendome, aside from the old song: Nos amis que reste-t-il etc.? The distances are not that great, so I would stay overnight in Blois and then drive to Orléans for a direct connection to Paris (or you might get a train in Blois).

Vendôme's a lovely place, even though it's a popular town now for Parisian commuters. It has a nice old castle ruin perched high over the Loir tributary, a nice abbey church, some half-timbered medieval buildings, and a beautiful park where you can walk long the river past dams and mills. Go for it.

Thank you StCirq for your encouragement. Michael, to quote the Eyewitness Guide, " One of France's most scenic towns, Vendome is built over a group of islands in the Loir, its bridges, water gates, and old stone buildings forming a delightful tableau."

We want to spend the non-Paris part of our trip in small towns.Blois seems too big for me when I consider that I will be spending a week in Paris after this last night.

This is the primary reason. So, back to my first question, can others provide 1st hand assistance on Vendome. What would be helpful is experiences with hotels. Thanks.

topping

did you consider tours as a stopover?

Hi

Vendome is a nice old town with picturesque areas in the centre (I have family there).

You need a taxi to the TGV station unless your rental Co has an office there.

Peter
http://tlp.netfirms.com

To: mpprh
Thank you for your encouragement. I am having difficulty locating hotels for Vendome on the web where I can view the premises. Also, no past experiences seem to be had. How sad.

I will have a car and was intending to drive to Chateaudun or Orleans to turn it in (whichever has the appropriate agency desk),before taking the train into Paris. We have not booked the car as of yet.

I can't give you a personal recommendation, but the Guide du Routard recommends the Hôtel-Restaurant l'Auberge de la Madeleine, place de la Madeleine. (from the USA: 011-33-2-54-77-20-79; fax: 011-33-2-54-80-00-02)