Suggestions for France
 

We'll be in Blois for 3 days and Burgundy for 3 days. Other than the obvious chateau tours, any suggestions in Loire Valley or near Beaune?

Hi Judy, we shall also be near
Beaune, actually we are going to stay in Dijon. You know we have been twice in Beaune and never to Dijon but after reading Long Ago in France
by MFK Fisher I really want to visit Dijon. Of course a long time has elapsed since Ms. Fisher lived in Dijon as a young Californian newlywed but nevertheless.....:-)
After Dijon we are going back to Paris and I was also looking for a out of the beaten path place before reaching Paris so we are going to be a couple of days in Troyes. I have been told this is a delight , a city of magnificent Gothic churches and charming 16 th century houses.By the way, has anyone been in Troyes?
Blois is a little jewel and I love it but we are not going this year, of course from Blois you must visit Chambord this huge, massive palace of Francois I, terrible cold in winter.......
Good luck. Let me know where are you going after all.

Loire-Wine tastings at Vouvray (just east of Tours) and Bourgeuil; touring the mushroom (champignon) caves near Saumur; taking the tiny narrow-gauge train through the Sologne (a fabled land in France known for its desolate scrubland and unique brick houses) from Villefranche/s/Cher to Salbris; seeing Leonardo da Vinci's house and gadgets in Amboise (or his entombed heart in the local church), the bizarre Pagode de Chanteloup near Amboise (an example of fascination with things Chinese during the 1700s, it's the only remaining thing standing of a once lavish chateau; touring the Nuclear Reactor near Blois (have had tours but not sure post 9-11), stalk sangliers (wild pigs) at Chambord, catch the re-creation of royal hunts at Cheverny; check out the Hanging Cages, where one king hung out his enemies for years in Loches' chateau; stop by a farm with a "fromages" sign out front and see how local cheeses are made, and to buy them fresh, for starters!

Three days in Burgundy will let you see some of the highlights: Vézelay, the Château de Tanlay, the Abbaye de Fontenay, Autun, the ducal palace in Dijon (now an excellent museum), and the Hospices de Beaune. I could go on but will restrain myself.

If you want a link to the two articles on burgundy I wrote for the bonjourparis.com web site, let me know.

Graziella,

Yes---we have been to Troyes and found it very enjoyable. Its "old town" is reiminiscent of Strasburg, without the canals or river. (Could pass for a town in the "Black Forest" with its stucco and wood beam architecture.)

It is definitely worth a full day, and trips to surrounding villages can add on another day or two.

Avoid the "Designer Outlets" outside of town---a waste of time and effort. The stores were crammed with American clothing, rather than any "French " designer merchandise.

Underhill:
Yes, I would like a link to the site on Burgundy, thank you! Any unusual etiquette for wine tasting in France?

Hi Underhill I also would love a link to the site of Burgundy. Thank you.

Georgine thank you for your impute.
Troyes here we come.

Here's the link to most of my articles; just pull up Burgundy I and II. As you can see, Burgundy offers a multitude of things to do, see, eat, and drink.

The etiquette of wine-tastsing in Burgundy is much the same as here, although it's less common to be able to drop in at small vineyards. Many vintners still send their wines away to be bottled, with few available to taste on site. But most of the wine villages (such as Savingny-lès-Beaune and Gevry-Chambertin) have tasting rooms, and the one at Château de Meurseault is in a huge cellar with loads of atmosphere.

For those who didn't know--like me a few weeks back--Troyes is pronounced like Trois.

Uphill, sorry but I did not get it. :-(
How do you exactly pull up Burgundy I and II.?
Merci, and I shall remember you each time I say Trois.

Here's Part II of the article;

http://www.bonjourparis.com/pages/ol...articleId=1392

You can find Part I at

http://www.bonjourparis.com/pages/ol...articleId=1215

(I hope.)

Finally, here's the link I meant to post in the first place:

http://www.bonjourparis.com/pages/se...Jean+Underhill