Paris, Normandy and then?
 

The last time we were in Paris, we we both deathly ill.
So, we are going to have a five day do-over in Paris and then go to Normandy. We will have a car, but I'm totally ignorant on where to go and what to see for the next week after we do the WWII tours.
After Bayeux we plan on having a day in Giverny. We do like to stay in one place and completely immerse ourselves in that area.

We have done the south of France, so we are not interested in repeating that trip at this time.

I've been reading online and no one seems to have a place they rave about in this area. We do love our wine and will be going in May. Any and all suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you.

Not clear about your itinerary. Five days in Paris and the rest of the time (a week?) in Normandy? You do not want a car for Paris. If you plan to go there first, rent your car upon leaving the city. Then drive to Normandy through Giverny. Spend a couple of days in Normandy - Bayeux is the best place to base. Then consider driving south to the Loire Valley. Unless, that is, you want to spend the entire week in Normandy. If that is the case, start with trip reports on this forum and guidebooks.

I recommend the Loire also.

I just answered a question similar to yours earlier today so have a look at this thread for some tips. In brief though, drive out of Paris in the morning and visit Giverny. If you've got 3 or more days to explore then visit some other places on your way between Giverny and Bayeux over the course of a couple of days. And yes, you need to say how many days you'll have to spend outside of Paris. Lastly, there are loads of great places to visit that are in that region.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic....html#54103710

Paris - Giverny - Bayeux by train, get a car with a one-way drop-off contract for dropping off in Orléans, visit Honfleur - then head west to the Bretagne, fabulous views of rough and windy coastline and such, then drive back via the Loire valley where you take in a château or three. Ditch the car in Orléans and take the train back to Paris.

To clarify - train to Giverny: From Paris-Lazare take train to Vernon (on Le Havre line), then either a bus or a 2-mile level-ground pleasant walk to Giverny

I recommend you do a reverse trip. Start out from CDG with your car--go to Giverney. Maybe spend the night there--or we went on to Rouen.
We then went to Honfleur for a night. And then to Bayeux for 3 nights. Did the beaches on our own from Bayeux. Don't forget the Tapestry. You can flat "immerse" yourself in Normandy.
We came back to Paris via Chartres, and returned our car at Orly and taxied to Paris hotel. You could go on to the Loire, but I am not really getting the impression you have
You can tailor whatever about this you like to your number of days, but I think ending in Paris is so much easier--and more satisfying. You just take a taxi to the airport rather than trying to turn in a car and then get to your gate.
It also consolidates your time

I agree with Gretchen. I always like to end my trip in Paris....easy to get to airport and I don't have to carry my Paris purchases all over France.

Michaelhuebeli thanks for the info. It could work either way, like Gretchen suggested. The Loire Valley is very interesting, I think that would give both of us something to see. What woman doesn't like a chateaux?
My dad was in the D Day invasion, so I am also interested in paying my respects to the soldiers and see the area where he was.
I'm probably being lazy and just want someone to say, "Do this and this and your trip will be fabulous". Thanks again, and I'll post an itenarary when I come up with a plan. Still taking any helpful hints and information please.

I would suggest Burgundy. We spent two nights in Dijon on our last trip and took a wine tour from there to the surrounding countryside. Loved the food in that area. I think we would go and stay for two weeks around Beaune or near Dijon if we had the chance. And you can take a TGV from Paris to get to Dijon. Had a wonderful meal at Stephane Derbord in Dijon, and a great Boeuf Bourgignon in Gevry-Chambertin.

Judy, I think you and Gretchen have the right idea. I do believe we will leave Paris until the end of the trip.
Voyager61, I am interested in Burgandy, everyone always speaks so lovingly about the south of France, but I have only heard bits and bobs about the northern area. I am happy to have places to investigate online. Thank you, and for those that understand, ROLL TIDE ROLL!

HOW LONG is your trip. Burgundy is great. Do you have 2+ weeks for this trip?==Normandy, Paris and Burgundy?

We ar thinking about 17 days, including coming and going.

Giverny first, then Bayeux for at least two days. We would like five days in Paris on the tail end of the trip and fly out CDG. That gives us a week, more or less to tour around.
I know absolutely nothing about Brittany, the Loire Valley or anywhere outside Paris except for Versailles. I don't have my France guidebooks or map yet.
I have Paris info., my favorite hotel there and maps and tons of info on Provence. My mind is a blank space when it comes to the rest of France.

I would suggest that you keep heading west and visit Brittany after Normandy. I think Brittany is much more interesting than Normandy. You could end your trip in Rennes, and then take the TGV back to Paris. Rennes is one of our favorite cities in France.

Like others have stated - do you have 10 days for this trip or 3 weeks????

Stu Dudley

Overall about 17 days.

As previously stated Normandy, because of the war and our dad's participation.
Five days on the end for Paris.
Stu, you have sent me trip reports before and I emailed my address to you a few minutes ago for the NormandyI/Brittany information.
I can honestly say we know a good deal about other countries, and thanks to you, parts of France, but this part of France, we know zilch. I'm not ashamed to admit it and ask for help.thanks to everyone.

Just stay north--Normandy and Brittany before going back to Paris. Two days is not enough for Normandy and the beaches, maybe especially since you have a family interest. And if you have a day or so getting to them (giverney and Honfleur?)
See Chartres on the way back to Paris, and maybe do a little of the Loire.

Thanks Gretchen, you have been very helpful.. I trying to check things out online while awaiting my books. I'm like a kid before Christmas.
I allocated two days for Normandy, because that's what I read online. My info. said three days tops.
I'm amazed at how little I know. I haven't read any books about this area, that I remember anyway.
I just need to buckle down and study.driving the coast sounds interesting.

We spent a full week (6 days/7 nights) in Normandy based in Bayeux. We spent two days with a guide doing the British, German and American cemeteries; Pont du Hoc, Longues Batteries, Omaha Beach, Mulberrys etc. Another day in Bayeux itself seeing the Tapestry, Cathedral, Market and some of the smaller, local museums which are scattered throughout the area. We took another day to see Utah beach, St Lo, and St Mere Eglise. We also took a day to see Mont St Michel and stopped in Caen at the Peace Musuem and Giverney enroute back to Paris. I have a special interest in WW1 and WW2 with family members being veterans of those so I could have easily spent even more time exploring the resistance sites, biking through the hedgerows, etc. I would really recommend either getting a guide or a small tour for the WW2 beaches so you can get a full experience with background, battle strategies, etc. There are some excellent restaurants in Bayeux and the surrounding area.

Cmeyer54,
thank you for your response. Getting a guide is exactly what we planned to do, otherwise, I would come out of this trip knowing so little. DH is obsessed with Churchill so we can't wait to see and hear everything a guide has to offer us.
Personally, I find it a waste of my time to wander unknowingly around. I want to understand and know what I'm seeing. Good to know about the restaurants in Bayeux and areas around. Thanks, again.

We also spent a week in Normandy. See if this helps:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-uk-stops.cfm

CMeyer gives a good itinerary, and I now wonder if by your saying "they say 2 days in Normandy, 3 tops" is for the beaches--there is a lot more to "Normandy".
And a guide is fine. We spent 2-3 days doing the beaches with the Michelin Green Guide and enjoyed ourselves immensely, stopping at places on the water for a lunch of mussels, etc. We didn't have your "vested interest" by having a relative actually there. BUT you will be as astounded as we were in actually seeing the beaches and the high artillery views that the Germans had--and wonder how anyone was able to do what they did in establishing those beachheads.
The cheeses and apple cider and calvados of Normandy is wonderful.
The seaside town of Honfleur is charming. Rouen is also.
So maybe your sources weren't considering these as a part of an exploration of Normandy. We did as CMeyer suggested without getting to MSM.

Another vote for spending some time in Honfleur. From there you can explore Etretat and it's cliffs to the North, cheese country to the South and coastal villages like Cabourg and Houlgate to the West. Combine it with the other things folks have already mentioned.

After listening to all of your advice, and finally finding a map on my ipad that I can see, I can totally understand where everyone is coming from. We are not the type of people to rush around and hopping from place to place. I have a much better understanding of the area. I stayed up until
4:30 am reading about this area and Brittany.

It looks so interesting, I'm thinking of scratching Paris for another trip. Thanks everyone for the excellent advice. It's difficult to discern the distances, but right now, I'm thinking five days in Bayeux and then heading north up the coast as suggested.

If we leave off Paris, the possibilities are endless. Thanks again, S.

Oh, wait, wait. If you have 17 days mentioned above, PLEASE finish in Paris as several have suggested. It just "completes" the trip.
If you rent the car at CDG go north, stop in Rouen, then Honfleur, and then 3-4 days in Bayeux. Then if you are going to Britanny, drop the car there and take the TGV to Paris for 5 days. You already said your last (only?) trip there was awful.
Distances are not great and driving is easy, even on the secondary roads which are so much more interesting and less stress (geez, how do I pay this toll on the "interstate"!!).
Get the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy--and the Michelin map of Normandy.

Gretchen, thanks for the imput. I kept grandkids the last time before we flew out. So my daughter could travel with her husband to Mystic Conneticut.

I visited the Dr. the night before we flew out for three shots and all the medicine I could get.
There mother swore they weren't sick...HA! We took a taxi to the Milliseimie Hotel, and crashed. I stayed in bed for two days and the rest is a blurry memory of walking and digging for Kleenex.

Of course, I gave it to the hubby so there we were shuffling around trying to bleed a bit of fun out of our stay.
When we trained out to Provence, I perked up a bit. I lost my taste and ended up losing 30 pounds. There was no food that could entice me to eat,and I lived on cokes. I considered it to be glucose.

Now? I never keep kids for two weeks before I go anywhere. A great rule! You are probably right. So much to see and so little time!

Good Heavens! Much as I love Normandy and the small part of Brittany we have visited, the thought of not visiting Paris each time we go to France horrifies me. Do end your trip with a few days in Paris. It is the icing on the cake.

Mamcalice... I think you are right. Thanks.

Frenchmystery... Thanks for leading me to the trip advice or tripadvisor, I'm trying to get a perspective on this trip.
I know I seem to be wishy-washy, but I must confess. This is a trip that as Americans I think we should do. I want to carry my pictures that my dad made and my baby shoe. My dad wrote all the towns where he was and the dates on the shoe.... We want to visit those towns and villlages.

I am getting more excited as I read online, but I have had mixed feelings about this trip. In my mind and heart this area of France seems sad. I know it's not.

We can go to Italy, which we love, and it would be all flowers and sunshine, so to speak.
This trip is on a completely different level for us, it will be moving, sad and happy and probably a bit surreal.

That being said, I'm ready to plan it, using all the helpful hints from everyone above. Thanks so much everyone for your patience.

On the contrary, it is so totally uplifting for what was done--and when you see the gliders that were used you will be just amazed at the bravery. The gliders used for the parachutists were made in my home town in Ohio--made of plywood and canvas!!
The American Cemetery IS sad--and raises goosebumps and a feeling of total awe.
But reward your self sacrifice for the first trip by doing Paris "right".
We visited Paris a number of years ago on a tour with a friend who landed at Normandy at 18, and eventually marched down the Champs Elysees in 1945. He was 75, and while he had visited Paris, he had never walked down the Champs again. He did on that trip--it still brings tears.

Read the part of my itinerary that talks about our visit to Brittany when my wife's father joined us for the trip. He also fought in WWII in Normandy. Read the section where the proprietor of the gite where we stayed, thanked him for his efforts.

Also read the story about my wife's visit to Ste Mere Eglise when she was studying in France during her High School days in the late 60s. The mayor of Ste Mere Eglise gave her and all the other American students small pieces of the parachutes that they had saved from the 101st Airborne Division (I think) who liberated their village. We still have that piece of parachute.

The Breton & Norman people love Americans - and they tell you so too. We've visited the landing beaches & cemetery twice (3 times for my wife), and it is quite moving. But the feeling of pride, and the welcome you'll get from most older French people in the region is everything BUT a "sad" experience.

Stu Dudley

With a car you could visit the eastern side of Brittany, dip down to the Loire and then return to Paris. You might be interested in part of my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ummer-2009.cfm

I don't think your idea sounds wishy-washy at all. I don't get a sad feeling from Normandy because it's a huge area with so much more to see and do than just visit the D-Day sites. I think you should definitely do as you planned and visit all the towns where your father was and make sure you allow enough time to accomplish that.

There's so many itineraries you could follow so you'll have to decide which places are most important for you to visit and which ones you'll have to leave out, worthy though they may be of a visit. On your first day after a long flight you should keep driving to a minimum so head for Giverny and then perhaps after go a bit further to see Château-Gaillard and spend the night in the adjacent medieval village of Le Petit-Andely. Next day you could work through cidre and cheese country in the Pays d'Auge on your way to Deauville/Trouville and then to Honfleur for the night. Visit Honfleur the next morning and move on to Bayeux and spend as much time there as you need. Of course there are other itineraries you could follow but this might give you a starting point to research from.

In the Pays d'Auge look at your Michelin map and focus on those designated scenic roads near/between Beuvron-en-Auge, Cambremer (both towns worth a visit) and Manerbe. You'll see some châteaux marked on the map you can drive-by, including Crèvecouer-en-Auge. My Normandy Trip Advisor thread has other info about this area and links to a photo album with lots of scenic pictures.

Spend whatever time you've got leftover after Normandy in Brittany and if you have enough time or really want to go there then visit the Loire. I love Brittany so I'd personally spend the rest of the time in Brittany if it were me but everyone has their personal preference.

If you want to learn about what some of the highlight places to visit are in the various départements in Brittany you can have a look at this thread. I also have links in this thread to two photo reports I wrote about visiting Brittany that you can look at if you want:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...-Brittany.html

I think it might be nice to go from Bayeux to Mont Saint-Michel and then spend some time exploring the nearby area in the vicinity of Dinan and Saint-Malo. There's lots to do in that area and there's some rugged, spectacular coastline.

If you want info about MSM here are links to the official websites:

http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en

http://www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com/

If you do decide you want to visit the Loire you can look at this thread, which has links to all the major tourist office websites in the Loire. You'll find out about the major towns, all the châteaux, wine, gastronomy etc.:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-de-france.cfm

I think whatever you do you'll have a good time so now you've got to decide what you're going to do with all your choices. ;)

I'm with many of the others - Normandy is beautiful and Brittany is knock-your-socks off gorgeous. We were in Brittany in June 2006; trained to Rennes, drove to Rochefort-en-Terre for three nights (little village, saw Vannes and the south coast), drove to outside Quimper for three nights (saw Quimper, some of the smaller villages, was surprised at the beauty of Quimper and the museum with folk costumes there, and loved Pont Aven). We returned to car in Quimper and trained back to Paris.

In Normandy, we stayed at the Chateau de Bouceel, not far from Mt St Michel, and it was wonderful. http://www.chateaudebouceel.com/en Rates 165-195E. The Count will show you his father's book of his life - it's on the website.

We had gone from Paris to the Loire, then to Normandy. It was a long drive from the Loire; you might want to stay in the north. From Bouceel, we stayed in Giverny two nights then drove to CDG and home. It has been a while, but we did like the place in Giverny: http://en.giverny-lareserve.com

It's easy to drive in France, BTW. Next time we want to go to Dinan and St Malo. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time!!

Oh my goodness! Such a wonderful wealth of information. Stu,moray off, thank you so vy muchnfornsending me the trip report. I read it and have printed it off. It will be so helpful to us.

Michael, thank you so much for the link. I will start reading as soon as I post this.

FrenchMystique... So much to study. I'm lucky to be a night owl. I'm sure it will all be useful.

Iwanago. You are echoing the others. I truly listen and as I've never been, I will follow all the helpful hints. It is slowly coming together,

Tonight the hubs agreed to rent a car at CDG and drive a short drive into the countryside. Originally, he wanted to "Burn" a day sleeping at the airport, then leave the next morning, I can't bear to waste a day at the airport hotels with a average food. He will sleep like a rock on the plane and we surely can drive two hours out into the country. I've walked around that hotel circuit before while he slept away. I want to be able to keep moving as much as possible the first day. It works much better for me,

So, Petit-Andely I think it will be. A nice compromise.

Thanks so much everyone. Your help has truly been invaluable.

Oh my goodness, I just realized about 3;00 a.m. that it was the D Day anniversary in June. Where's my head? I'm sure y'all assumed I knew that. When I started looking at places to stay in Las Anderly I wondered why everything was booked.

I'm going to change our time to May. Will that make enough difference to avoid the larger crowds?
My Mercy!!!

of course it will.

Are you sure your husband will "sleep like a rock" on the plane and be fully refreshed upon landing to drive for hours? I just wondered as I can barely sleep a wink and your husband himself did not want to do that.

Christina, he sure will, but he won't be refreshed..he wants to go to the airport and sleep more. I can get by on four-five hours for about three days and then I will need more. He's like his dad. They just require a lot. Here, he goes to bed between 9:00-9:30 and gets up at six. He only works three days a week, and still requires a 25 minute map every day. He's in great shape, walks three miles most days, it's just the way he is wired.