dwdvagamundo

I think you would make a big mistake if you omitted touring Amboise Chateau, particularly if you are staying in Amboise. We stayed in Amboise and spent an entire day seeing the Chateau and the Clos du Bois, where Leonardo da Vinci (who is buried at the Chateau) lived his last years. Overall, Amboise was the most interesting and beautiful chateau we toured in France, in part because of its site next to the Loire River and in part because of the incredible history of the place. We did not take a guided tour but would do so if we were to do it again--which we hope to do one day.

dwdvagamundo

You can't tour three chateau in one day--two yes and maybe a drive-by for the third. You have to factor in driving time and lunch.

One thing I'd do is find out what time these close and go late in the afternoon when there will be few people there. We had Blois almost to ourselves when we arrived around 3 p.m.

dwdvagamundo

With reluctance, I second Dugi's suggestion to use I second using ASt-Remy as a base, as it would be difficult to find overnite parking for your car there. Arles is my wife's favorite place in France, and one of my favs. So take enough time to see it.

No idea on how to cut down drive time to Paris from Colmar.

Paragkash

dwdvagamundo, Thanks for the suggestions. Am planning to stay at Blois, and if i can stretch my stay from 3 to 4 days, will try n visit as much as I can. I agree with you that I can see max 2 chateau in a day. I plan to see 4 in 2 days. have also done a bit of study and found out that Chambord is best seen in the 2nd half as all the best pictures are clicked before sunset. Chenonceu can be seen in d morning or evening.
Shall use expressways. Only sometimes, the inner roads are more beautiful.
Unfortunately, I am geting good connecting flights which land at 2 pm in the afternoon.
I may have to stay somewhere closer. Wont do justice to Chantily in that little time.
Will try and rent some gite near St Remy.

Paragkash

dugi_otok, I am planning to take a Scenic Route de Gentelly which starts from St-Paul-de-Vence TO Gréolières and Napoleon's Route from Digne to Grenobe- and to Annecy on the way back from Nice.
I have another resort at Eze which has a fabulous view and infinity pool. will post the link.

dugi_otok

I like your choice of route Nice/Eze to Annecy. Three years ago I was in Gap (you will drive near)to watch the Tour de France. I made a stop in Sisteron

https://www.google.com/search?q=sist...on%3B270%3B203

Sisteron is 25 km nw of Digne on the Route Napoleon.If time allows visit the magnificant citadelle which stands as a fearsome sentinal over the city and the bridge across the River Durance., the views from the remparts are breathtaking.The late-medieval chapel, Notre-Dame-du-Chateau, has been restored to its Gothic glory.There is Napoleon stuff in the small historicl museum.

bilboburgler

Ronchamp Chapel by le Corbusier, is up a little road and you will probably find no one there, chill out a bit and get to feel the site before you rush on. The obvious route is around the south of the Vosges to Colmar, which you may have to do for time's sake. However, if you have time try and get up to the Balon d'alsace (which is a large meadow on the top of the ned of the Vsges) from where you can see the Alps to the south, Alsace and Germany to the east. This was part of WW1 line and, if you walk into the woods you will still find barbed wire, a very spectacular place (with a small restaurant for tea etc)

bilboburgler

ned= end

Paragkash

I am constantly revising my itinerary based on the feedback here and study that I am doing. Am close to booking my Air tickets. I have finally managed to stretch my trip to 35 days + 1 day in Paris when I take a flight back home at 11 pm. Have my old 32 days itinerary.
I have 4 days more to add to this.
3 DAYS- NORMANDY
4 DAYS- LOIRE
4 DAYS- SARLAT
1 DAYS- CARCASSONNE
4 DAYS- ST REMY
4 DAYS- NICE
4 DAYS- ANNECY
4 DAYS- COLMAR
4 DAYS- PARIS

32 DAYS- total

Question is..
A) Whether to add these 4 days judiciously to one or some of the existing locations- as it is easier to get a Gite for 7 days..
a. I feel there is a lot to see in Provence around St. Remy.
b. I have identified a wonderful gite on the shore of Lake Annecy with a lake view. Though I feel there is not much to see in that area and 4 days would be sufficient; but am tempted to spend some tranquil time there. I like the lush green Alps and blue lakes in that area.
c. Colmar area is very beautiful too.

Should I add 1 day each to these locations ( In that case my Gite option is out- or I waste 2 days of my rental period)
OR
B) should I add a few places on my journey
a. from Nice to Annecy and
b. from Colmar to Paris
c. spend some time in Burgandy.

Tough decision for me. Please help me to decide.

Paragkash

bilboburgler, Balon d'alsace looks very pretty. I am also interested in WW I & II Trivia. But I don't know if this area is Motor-able or the roads are Motorcycle routes.

dugi_otok, thanks for the re-assurance. I loved Sisteron and is surely on my Agenda. Can you tell me how much time this trip from Nice to Annecy would take along with 3 stops. I intend to leave at 5 or 6 am.
Also tell me if the roads are safe or dangerous to negotiate.

Paragkash

There is also one more option to spend the additional time..
a. Neuchatel area in Switzerland which is en-route Colmar from Annecy.
b. Black Forest Lake Titisee area
I have been to Switzerland Thrice earlier and Germany 4 times realier but have missed these areas. They are beautiful too.
Do I need any Vignettes for entering switzerland or Germany from France?

kja

That's great that you were able to extend your trip.

My opinion: Do NOT add any more locations! WHERE to add the time really depends -- as I have said before -- on what YOU want to see and experience, and ONLY you can decide that.

Noting that your allocation of days doesn't seem to take transportation into account, I, personally, would make it a priority to add time to Normandy and the Dordogne, but that's just me. YMMV.

Paragkash

kja, you are right. I have taken 1st day of each destination as travelling time along with beautiful sights enroute.
I look at the journey as destination. I also plan to leave very early taking advantage of more daylight hours in spring ( 5 to 6 am) on the day when I am travelling close to 300 km. of course we sleep early on that day and the day before that, so that we get minimum 7-8 hours of sleep daily.
I agree that there are personal favourites. Most fodorites seem to favour Dordogne, Luberon-Provence area. I find them a bit more rugged and rocky. I liked Alsace and the Alps a lot (from the photos I saw) Not sure what to do.

jamikins

You can't go wrong and you will enjoy all the areas. I would add a day to Normandy, a day to Sarlat, a day to Provence and a day to either Annecy or Colmar.

I wouldn't add any more locations.

Don't stress too much over a day here or there. Look at what you want to see in each area and allocate based on that.

Like I said above, you will enjoy whatever you choose.

bilboburgler

"I don't know if this area is Motor-able or the roads are Motorcycle routes"

Well if you go on google those roads are and not even "very" steep on the Alsace side

Paragkash

jamikins, thanks for the reassurance.
I looked for gites which are 200 or 300 years old and have a lot of character. That's the unique part of travelling in France. There are very few places in the world where one can get such heritage places. It also makes an economical choice to rent one for a week. Most of them are not available for 5 days.
Distance between colmar and Paris is a lot and am thinking of taking a break in-between.
bilboburgler, thanks for the info on the roads.

jamikins

Why not drop you car in Strasbourg and take the fast train to Paris rather than add more locations?

dugi_otok

I will first answer an easy question.

<<Do I need any Vignettes for entering switzerland or Germany from France?>>

Use of Swiss motorways (first and second-class motorways) has been subject to tax since 1985. The tax is levied in the form of the motorway tax sticker, which costs CHF 40. The motorway tax sticker is valid from 1 December of the year prior to that printed on the sticker through to 31 January of the year following that printed on the sticker.
A motorway tax sticker correctly affixed on the vehicle serves as proof of payment.

Germany has no requirement for a Vignette.

dugi_otok

As of Oct 18, 9:53PM (my time- Pacific Daylight Time USA)
Your current thinking is:
<<I have 4 days more to add to this.
3 DAYS- NORMANDY
4 DAYS- LOIRE
4 DAYS- SARLAT
1 DAYS- CARCASSONNE
4 DAYS- ST REMY
4 DAYS- NICE
4 DAYS- ANNECY
4 DAYS- COLMAR
4 DAYS- PARIS

32 DAYS- total >>

If you are a follower of Rick Steves, from his 1993 book, "2 to 22 Days in France" he calls his Itinerary efficient, enjoyable, and diverse 22-day adventure.Here it is:
4 DAYS- PARIS
2 DAYS- NORMANDY (1-Honfleur,1-Mont St Michel)
2 DAYS- LOIRE (Amboise)
2 DAYS- DORDOGNE (Sarlat)
1 DAYS- CARCASSONNE
2 DAYS- PROVENCE (Arles)
2 DAYS- COTE d' AZURE (Nice)
2 DAYS- FRENCH ALPS (Chamonix)
2 DAYS- BURGUNDY (Beaune)
2 DAYS- ALSACE (Colmar)
1 DAY PARIS

22 DAYS- total
The only destination you have omitted is Burgundy.I went to Burgundy for the 1st time last year. I wanted to see Vezelay, Fontenay,and Hotel-Dieu in Beaune. If my grandsons would have been with me I would have seen Guedelon. If these are of interest to you,or the renowned vineyards of the Cote d'Or,indulging in the food of Burgundy, the city of Dijon, more villages and castles you should consider adding Burgundy to your itinerary.If not, other options may be better. I found the villages of the Dordogne "cuter".

dwdvagamundo

The trip we just took included Burgundy. I liked it a lot, my spouse not so much. However, you have four days so you have a decent period to see things. I'd add to dugi's list of good sites in Burgundy the Ducal Palace in Dijon with its art museum, and an archaeological museum also in Dijon.

It looks like you're trying to get a good look at all of France on this trip. You'll be close to Burgundy, you have time to see some of it, and you're looking to break up the long and winding road from Colmar to Paris, so I'd advise you to add Burgundy for all four days rather than adding a day here or there to your other locations. Your interest in architecture clinches this for me, IMHO, as the Hospital, the Abbeys, the Palace are all interesting architecturally, as is Auxerre in the north with lots of half-timbered houses and a great abbey church with Merovingian crypt.

Paris is an easy drive from Dijon or Beaune at right around 3 hours and all by expressway. I'd do it that way rather than "Rick Steve's way" as adding Burgundy last solves the long drive problem. Driving to Burgundy and then to Colmar does nothing for it. However,as Jamikins suggests, you could drop the car in Colmar or Strasbourg and train back to Paris.

BTW--four days in Annecy is, for me, two too many, but I see your logic. You'll probably need a Vacation from your vacation.