We will be traveling in France from 29 Aug to 25 Sept. The trip plan follows: 29 Sept - 31 Sept, Paris (5th trip). 1 Sept - 12 Sept, Provence, Petite Luberon (3rd trip). 12 Sept - 22 Sept, the Dordogne (2nd trip). 25 Sept, Paris. So that leaves the time spent driving from the Dordogne on Saturday 22 Sept through Tuesday 25 Sept without a set plan. Any ideas? I have been thinking about the area around Rouen.

oops...Petit Luberon

Rouen has a very pretty old town.

If you will be in that area, I would suggest St. Malo and Mont-St-Michel.

On my last trip in that area, my wife and I spent 2 nights in MSM, with a day trip to St. Malo. Worked out perfectly.

We drove from MSM to CDG, stopping for lunch and a walk through Rouen's old town.

Even "fifteenth trip" more time in Paris.

from the Dordogne to Paris, you could go up to the Loire for a few days [we liked Saumur, but others speak highly of Amboise or Chinon as bases] or head up the coast to Cognac, La Rochelle and Nantes.

or spend a couple of days wandering around in the Vendee - the area north of La Rochelle is very interesting and little visited. if you want something completely different head for le puy de Fou at Cholet near Angers - a theme park, but not as you know them.

Hi A,

You cold drive back to Paris via St. Emilion - spend the night there.

Drop the car off in Libourne and take the TGV to Paris.

Fill in the extra time in Paris.

Drive to the Loire, visit several Chateaux and a few villages & cities, then take the train into Paris.

Most cities will be dead on Sunday, & Monday am - including Rouen. Plus it's at least a 7 hr drive to Rouen.

La Rochelle is interesting, but things might be winding down there for the summer around late Sept. We were in La Rochelle for 1 1/2 days and that was enough time to see all we wanted to see in there. We spent two half-days in Rouen last year - and that was enough time also. We didn't think Nantes was as interesting as other cities we've visited in France.

Chateaux in the Loire don't close on Sundays & Mondays and many of the cities are touristy enough so that some shops may be open on Sun & Mon. The Chateaux in the Loire are quite different from Dordogne Chateaux.

Stu Dudley

Actually , I have a few different thoughts. We love the Aveyron area to the east of the Dordogne.If you drive east to the area around Rodez you have 2 alternatives.....Belcastel which on the Most beautiful villages of France list......the Vieux Pont hotel and restaurant is incredible and the village and surrounding area is stunning...close to Najac and my second suggestion which is Sauveterre de Rouergue and ancient bastide also close by...about 10 miles.Le Senechal hotel and restaurant is also very very nice.
We drive north to Paris and stay near Charolles in St. julien de Civry at the Chateau Vaulx. You really should look up the TA reviews. they are all true and you will think you gave gone back several centuries. marty, one of the owners, will cook for you.website is www.chateauvaulx.com From there only about 3-4 hours to Paris.This is an area that many tourists know little about and that is a good thing....

I think that this is the right link, kathryn:

http://www.chateaudevaulx.com/

it looks delightful.

Thank you all for your suggestions. After some additional research we have decided to stay at Chateau des Sablons in
Bourgeuil, near Tours, based on a recommendation. This has the benefit of showing a friend some of the beautiful chateaux in the Loire and to experience some night life in Tours.

Don't expect much night life in Tours on a Sunday night or perhaps a Monday night also. We're not big fans of Tours - too much destroyed by WWII & rebuilt too quickly.

Stu Dudley