PalenQ

Why Beaune for 4 nights - I assume because of wine touring along the marked Route des vignobles (sp?) road or the Burgundi Wine Road that runs north and south of town - head along it to Macon when leaving as you'll then be fairly close to Lyon.

dijon is a neat larger city to visit from Beaune and places like Alesia - the ancient battle site of Gauls and Romans is not far either. But Beaune itself though a nice city has not too much to offer if staying just in that one town.

Vezelay may be a slight detour off the straight Strasbourg-Beaune trajectory but to me is the most awesome site in this part of France - well worth the extra time - many people rave about staying in nearby Auxerre or Avalon.

Vezelay is one of the most ancient pilgrimage meccas in France and in the medieval days was as hopping as any.

Lovingly built draped over a hill the grand basilica drew zillions of pious pilgrims who came to see some icon from some Saint or Mary or whatever - but when the icon was exposed as a medieval fake (as so many were) the town's pilgrimage trade suddenly dried u and the town stagnated along in ruins until uncovered in the 1800s I believe and restored to its medieval splendor.

anyway I found Vezelay to be a very special place.

dugi_otok

>>Paris 6 nights
Alsace ( Strasbourg, Colmar or Riquewihr) 3 nights
Beaune 4 nights
Annecy 3 nights
Provence[possible St remy) 6 nights
Nice 4 nights
What do you think?<<

Looks great except
Gites in Provence are Saturday to Saturday. Can you start your trip such that you arrive in Provence on Saturday?

>> Another question: Bearing in mind we are from South AFrica and thus used to heat, how essential is a pool in Provence? Does it get really hot there or not so bad. Compared to Rome say?<<
Weather is comparable to Rome.Can be very hot.Pool is not essential to me. But ask your kids.Pool is a good activity for kids when returning from a days activity or when you are hanging around the rental.

simjay

Thanks. We do arrive on a Saturday and are allowed to leave on the Friday and whilst we don't have a private swimming pool , we do have access to a pool, so will hopefully work out well.