We will be travelling to France in October and I need your suggestions about my intinerary. We will have spent five days in London and a few days in Aachen, Germany before setting out for France so hopefully we shouldn't be dealing with jet-lag.

Day 1 leave Aachen early and arrive Giverny in the afternoon. Spend 1 night.

Day 2 Giverny to Honfleur. Spend 1 night.

Day 3 Honfleur to Bayeux. Stop in Caen on the way to visit Memorial Museum. Spend the night in Bayeux.

Day 4 D-day beaches. Spend 2nd night in Bayeux

Day 5 Leave Bayeux late to miss the crowds at MSM. Spend one night on MSM

Day 6 MSM to Dinan. Spend 1 night in Dinan.

Day 7 Dinan to Loire Valley. Stop in Saumur, Abbeye Fontrevaud. Spend 1 night in Chinon.

Day 8 Chinon to Amboise. Tour Chateau Chenonceaux and Chambord.

Day 9 ??

Day 10 drive to Paris where we will stay one week before heading home.

My questions:
What should I do with Day 9, spend more time in the Loire or add another day to Normandy?

Am I giving the above stops enough time? I realize we will be changing hotels almost every night but I figure this will be fine as we are "staying put" in London before then and in Paris afterwards. We had considered having a "base" in both areas but decided against that idea as we would rather not spend so much time driving back and forth.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Look at a map and you will discover that day 8 makes little sense. Chambord is way out of your way. I also think that day 7 is way too ambitious. You have to count on a couple of hours for each site, travel time from Dinan to the Loire, and a stop for lunch.

We've recently completed a trip very much like the one you're planning. I think you're headed in the right direction and your time allocations seem quite good.

One or two points, from my experience:

The drive from Dinan (we loved this town - try to spend some time there) to Saumur will take the better part of a full day, and it's not that scenic. I'm not sure you'll be able to do Fontrevaud that same day unless you get a very early start.

Chinon is a very worthwhile stop (town and castle ruins); so is Azay-le-Rideau (chateau), Langeais and Villandry. Again, you'll have a full day (Day 8).

Chenonceaux is a must-see 3-4 hour visit, as is Amboise. So I believe I've answered your question about Day 9.

We stayed 5 nights in a wonderful farmhouse B&B near Azay to visit these various places. If you'd like the info on it, please post back.

Looks pretty good for the Normandy portion. Don't forget to stop in Rouen on the way to Honfleur. I strongly recommend the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy--and the normandy map. It recommends several very lovely scenic roads from Giverney to Honfleur.
For your day 9 you might consider Chartres--and even turn your car in there to keep from driving into Paris. Or turn the car in at Orly.
There is also the Bayeux Tapestry--it takes about and hour and a half.
Also Giverney is closed on Monday--just FYI.

Thank you everyone for your input so far. TuckH, yes I'd very much appreciate the info about the B&B farmhouse you stayed at.

It may be a stretch, but I think you have time on day 9 to see Azay-Le-Rideau, Villandry (just see the gardens), and then up to Chartres cathedral. Especially if you spend the night in Chartres, which is a quaint town itself.

All 3 of those are highlights, IMO.

Blois is another good option, close to Amboise.

elinnea,

The B&B I referred to is in the hamlet of Cheille, off D17, just to the west of Azay. The hostess is Elisabeth Minier and she speaks English. She and her husband (both professionals) have tastefully restored this stone farmhouse.

Her website is www.lagrangebleue.com

I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay with her!

Thanks TuckH!

Ref - Day 7.
When you've been to Fontevraud Abbey (impressive) you MUST go to L'Auberge D'Or in Candes St.Martin (about 3 miles away on the Loire). We've been to eat there twice. Christine says it was one of the loveliest restaurants she's been to!
It's worth going past just to look at. It's by the church in the centre of the village. You can't miss it.
It's in an old 16th C. building (all lovely sandstone) and has a lovely ambience and a good menu. It's run by a young couple and only has seating for about 20. You should get in without booking in October.
(Travel from Saumur by the D947 road along the riverside and past the wineries and troglodite(?) houses in the cliff face).
Bon Voyage!
Chris.

If you go to Azay-le-Rideau, two other things to note, both on the rue Balzac just outside the chateau. The store Passe Simple has a delightful collection of gifts and items for the home. And across the street is a perfect French postcard shot: someone in a pretty stone home keeps an old, well-maintained light blue Citroen "deux chevaux" in among a beautiful flower garden. We walked past it about 30 seconds after we finished our last roll of film...it was agonizing!!!

My boys love the Citreon in Azay. We had to make a special trip to see it on our visit to Azay this summer as they remembered it from 3 years ago--thank heavens it was still there.
I think some of your days are pretty ambitious--I too would leave off Chambord. Chenonceau is wonderful, and I would go to Clos Luce in Amboise if I had extra time, rather than Chambord.

We did the Normandy-Loire trip last year in 14 days.
For your trip to Normandy I would add a stop in Rouen on Day 2 if you visit Giverny on Day 1. Or you could visit Giverny as a day trip when you are in Paris.
On Day 4 be sure to visit the St. Laurent American Military Cemetery( a very moving experience).
During your joy riding you might visit a Calvados Distillery and/or a Norman Dairy farm and cheese maker, or at least have some during your meals.
For Loire you should add another night in both Chinon and Amboise. If you have to pick one make it Amboise.You made a good choice of stopping in Saumur, in addition to the castle it is a nice town with outdoor cafes for people watching. In the square in front of the Abbeye Fontrevaud there is a bakery/cafe with pastries to die for. So leave Dinan early as you have scheduled a full day.
While in Chinon see the castle there, another favorite. With an extra night in Chinon you will be able to see the top chateaus in the western Loire-Azay,Langeais,gardens of Villandry, and a Usse driveby and have a farmhouse meal at Etape Gourmande.
The drive from Chinon to Amboise is a little messy when passing near Tours. you might be able to visit Chenonceau on the same day. While in Amboise visit Le Clos Luce, but skip the castle, you have seen better.
With an extra day in Amboise, I would stay at the Le Vieux Manoir ( www.le-vieux-manoir.com ) in Amboise and visit 2 of Chambord, Blois, and Cheverny. Gloria at Le Vieux can make a reservation for you at a local village Michelin 1* restaurant.
On the trip to Paris you might want to visit Chartres.
Have a great trip.

You people are the best! I love this site because everyone has such wonderful tips that you won't find in guide books. Now that I have all these wonderful ideas I am beginning to think I need more time.

I did a similar trip this summer and it looks very doable. I did Chambord and Chenonceaux on the same day. We did Chen in the morning right when it opened and Chambord later in the day.

Just my opinion of course, but I would rather Chambord over the Chateau in Amboise - didn't seem as majestic as the others. Villandry is nice for the gardens - unfortunately it POURED they day we were there so I only got to glimpse the gardens and bought a postcard of them. You might consider visiting the house where daVinci stayed in Amboise. They have some great structures around the grounds that were constructed from his designs. If you like that sort of thing.


Have a great time! I loved Honfleur and MSM was as magical as I thought it would be.