My husband and I have vacationed in France over the past two years. We stayed in Paris and then spent time in Provence and Nice. We enjoy visiting a city and then countryside such as Provence. We are thinking about going back to France again, but would like to visit new areas that are quaint like Provence. We are thinking about Brittany and Normandy and would like some suggestions as well.
We will be going for two weeks in May/June. Driving or taking the train from Paris to another destinatin is our preference, but fly suggestions are welcome as well.

Loire Valley would be one possibility. Castles, vineyards, small towns, village festivals, and not too far from Paris. I did a 10 day driving tour. Add on Chartres and Giverny at the end.

Paris - Giverny - stay near Les Andylys (sp) - fine ruins there

to Bayeux - two days on D-Day area touring

south side of Cotentin Peninsula - Granville - fine old seaside walled town

via Coutances (market town with sweet cathedral)

to Mont-Saint-Michel

then Dinan, St Malo area

Brittany south coast to Carnac area - swell beaches and pre-historic megaliths all over

nice coastal drive then to Nantes

head up Loire Valley and back to Paris

I've done this all on a bicycle.

Almost any area of France will have "quaint" villages. The choice is large: Brittany, Normandy, Dordogne, the Midi-Pyrénées area, Alsace, the Poitou-Charente area. To whet your appetite, here are some albums that are pretty much in alphabetical order:

http://www.photoworks.com/members/mksfca

Brittany and Normandy would make a great combination..and think about the seafood! Here is a site listing the "most beautiful villages" in France; perhaps it will help you, although keep in mind that you will not be the only tourists around:


http://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/

we very much enjoyed 2 weeks 2 yrs ago starting by CHinon in the Loire for lovely chateaus, vineyards etc and then on to Normandy for the battlefields, coast line, calvados etc - all short drives to the sites and not too bad drive out and in to Paris CDG -

last year we combined the Dordogne by Sarlat after flying into Toulouse for a week and then a 3 hr drive to the Languedoc - both very lovely - small villages and the Med for seafood etc

we are back to the Dordogne in May for a another week and moving for another week in the Lot near St Cere to explore that area down to Albi before flying out of Toulouse again

can't go wrong with either areas or
if you enjoyed Provence so much to return, stop 1st in the Burgundy area around Beaune for lovely villages and vineyards and not far from the Provence - easy to take the TVG to either area to and fro

enjoy

My husband & I took three weeks one summer and went to Paris, Normandy, Brittany and the Dordogne. Of Normandy & Brittany, we loved Brittany for its natural beauty: the rugged coastline, the lush forests in the interior regions, and lovely villages. We stayed in Dinan and in Moelan sur Mer near Pont Aven. We are also fond of the Dordogne where there is so much of interest to see & do! Here, we stayed in Sarlat.

On our last trip to France, we visited the Somme and then went on to the Alsace. We were surprised by the beauty of the Alsace region! It also has picturesque villages and vibrant cities such as Strasbourg. We used Obernai as our homebase. We then went onto Provence for a week and ended our trip in Paris.

You will enjoy exploring a different part of France! Good luck with your planning!

2010

Try Menton, its on the border of Italy in the south of France. Its the lemon capital of the world and I think its beautiful.

We spend 6 days in the Loire - and it could easily have been double that. Normdany is also charming - we loved Mt St Michel, Bayeaux and the invasion beaches.

For something quite different you could do Strasbourg and from there drive the wine road and stop at Colmar - a very pretty town. Then there's the burgundy area - with some pretty towns great wineries - plus we loved Vezelay and stayed at the adorable Moulin de Ruats nearby. (Many Parisians visit for the evening or for weekend just for the meals.)

Hi A,

I think that you would like

Alsace and Burgundy or

Dordogne and the Lot River Valley

We also plan our French trip as you do. Time in Paris, then train it and get a car for some more time elswhere.

After going South many times and enjoying it, we wanted a new place to explore.

Last Sept. we trained it to the Loire Valley, stayed just outside of Amboise, and visited some gorgeous Chateaus. We stayed 4 nites, but felt we would like more as there is so much to see. We will return again. Then after that the next time Normandy.

Certainly Burgundy, where there are enough quaint villages for a month's exploration. Burgundy also has excellent cathedrals and churches (especially Autun and Vézelay), Roman ruins, and some of the best food and wine anywhere. You can take the TGV to Dijon, explore that interesting city, and then rent a car. the Michelin Green Guide to Burgundy gives suggested itineraries as well as fine descriptions of places to visit.

Hi A,

Alsace, Burgundy, Dordogne