Where to stop between Paris and Bordeaux?
May 19th, 2003, 02:10 PM
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Where to stop between Paris and Bordeaux?
Any intersting place to stop for one night between Paris and Bordeaux? We will be driving from Paris to Arcachon and it is a long drive so we would like to stop for one night in some scenic little town/village. All suggestions are welcomed. Thanks
May 19th, 2003, 02:32 PM
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La Rochelle would be a good place to stop. It's just under 300 miles southwest of Paris, and 100 miles from Bordeaux. The city is a historic Atlantic port, and is sometimes called, "The Geneva of France." It has a really nice old town, with arch-covered streets and outdoor entertainment in the summer. And it hosts a film festival every July. You can take a lantern-lit tour of the city at night, led by costumed actors, something we very much enjoyed when we visited a few years ago.
Have a great time!
Have a great time!
May 19th, 2003, 02:43 PM
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Tours is probably the city closest to mid-way and on the most likely motorways. We found it interesting with a center filled with quaint, half-timbered buildings. Who knows you might run into Mick Jagger who has a chateau nearby. If you prefer smaller places, you could stop in Amboise, Langeais, Chinon--all have their requisite castles and hostelries and restaurants for those passing through.
May 19th, 2003, 03:06 PM
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I second the suggestion to stop in La Rochelle. A quaint village it's not, but it's a very pretty place with some interesting museums and architecture and great restaurants. You might even have time to drive out over the bridge for a short visit to Ile de Ré.
As an alternative, and particularly if you are looking to stay in a small town, you might consider Chauvigny, outside Poitiers on a promontory overlooking the Vienne river. There are ruins of four castles there. We stayed there in a B&B just underneath one of the castles. At night the castle was lit up and a falconer released enormous falcons that swooped down over the back yard of the B&B then back cup to the glove of the falconer. It was a memorable evening.
As an alternative, and particularly if you are looking to stay in a small town, you might consider Chauvigny, outside Poitiers on a promontory overlooking the Vienne river. There are ruins of four castles there. We stayed there in a B&B just underneath one of the castles. At night the castle was lit up and a falconer released enormous falcons that swooped down over the back yard of the B&B then back cup to the glove of the falconer. It was a memorable evening.
