Medium sized August French road trip
Discussion
I originally planned to do this in 2020 but obvious global circumstances prevented that so it was postponed. Fast forward to this year and I've bought a new car, which means not trying to tackle a 2500 mile loop in an 18 year old Clio 182...
The plan is;
Day 1. Down to Folkestone, hope the queues aren't horrendous, train to Calais, then stop in Saint-Quentin overnight.
Day 2. Swing by Reims-Gueux and try not to get a telling off from the Gendarmes for grabbing a picture, to the Reims Automobile Musuem, then off to the Nurburgring for a lap, possibly via Spa-Francorchamps although it's closed that week so I might not bother, then finally, down to to stay Sarrebourg overnight.
Day 3. Drive to Mulhouse to the Musee National de l'Automobile, possible the Cite du Train, then off to the Musee de l'Aventure Peugeot in Sochaux and then overnight in Auxerre.
Day 4. A leisurely amble down the Loire valley to Orleans for a bit of a rest day.
Day 5. Romorantin-Lanthaney for the Matra museum, maybe a visit to Poitiers if there's time, then overnight in Nantes.
Day 6. Manoir de l'Automobile in Loheac, and a day of sightseeing around St. Malo and Mont St Michel, before driving to Le Mans.
Day 7. 24hr Le Mans museum, maybe Chartres, maybe Rouen, a coastal drive past Dieppe and the final overnight stay in Amiens.
Day 8. Calais, tunnel, home.
This route has taken a lot of juggling around already and that's the final plan, I've booked hotels now so no changing, but if anyone has suggestions for places to eat in Saint-Quentin, Auxerre, Orleans, Nantes, Le Mans and Amiens they would be gratefully received (the food in Sarrebourg is already decided), as would suggestions for things to do in Orleans, or if there's anything I absolutely must see on my routes between places?
Also, is there anything I need, or need to know? I've paid for Crit'air just in case, I've got a toll tag coming so there's no faffing around jumping out and running around the car at the toll booths, I've got warning triangle, hi-vis etc... but I'm sure there's probably something I'm not thinking of.
The plan is;
Day 1. Down to Folkestone, hope the queues aren't horrendous, train to Calais, then stop in Saint-Quentin overnight.
Day 2. Swing by Reims-Gueux and try not to get a telling off from the Gendarmes for grabbing a picture, to the Reims Automobile Musuem, then off to the Nurburgring for a lap, possibly via Spa-Francorchamps although it's closed that week so I might not bother, then finally, down to to stay Sarrebourg overnight.
Day 3. Drive to Mulhouse to the Musee National de l'Automobile, possible the Cite du Train, then off to the Musee de l'Aventure Peugeot in Sochaux and then overnight in Auxerre.
Day 4. A leisurely amble down the Loire valley to Orleans for a bit of a rest day.
Day 5. Romorantin-Lanthaney for the Matra museum, maybe a visit to Poitiers if there's time, then overnight in Nantes.
Day 6. Manoir de l'Automobile in Loheac, and a day of sightseeing around St. Malo and Mont St Michel, before driving to Le Mans.
Day 7. 24hr Le Mans museum, maybe Chartres, maybe Rouen, a coastal drive past Dieppe and the final overnight stay in Amiens.
Day 8. Calais, tunnel, home.
This route has taken a lot of juggling around already and that's the final plan, I've booked hotels now so no changing, but if anyone has suggestions for places to eat in Saint-Quentin, Auxerre, Orleans, Nantes, Le Mans and Amiens they would be gratefully received (the food in Sarrebourg is already decided), as would suggestions for things to do in Orleans, or if there's anything I absolutely must see on my routes between places?
Also, is there anything I need, or need to know? I've paid for Crit'air just in case, I've got a toll tag coming so there's no faffing around jumping out and running around the car at the toll booths, I've got warning triangle, hi-vis etc... but I'm sure there's probably something I'm not thinking of.
Doofus said:
There's a lot of driving in there. Not much time for 'sightseeing'.
Plus, not much variety.
Hey, I know what I like! Plus, not much variety.
Re the driving, yeah, it's a fair amount but it's a(nother) solo holiday and every one I've been on in the past, I've been bored out of my mind if I've stayed in the same place too long. Finding things to see or do all day every day for a week is exhausting.
If anything, I'm dreading the 'off' day in Orleans but it's there as a firebreak just in case I'm knackered from the previous days.
Pistonsquirter said:
I reccomend crossing Poole/Portsmouth to Cherbourg or nearby, perhaps down the west coast to Spain, anything to avoid the Dover crossing really
It has to be Eurotunnel, I can't do ferries otherwise I spend 2 days recovering from seasickness and 2 days worrying about how I'm going be get seasick on the return leg. It ruins a holiday more than sitting in traffic would for me.plenty said:
I did 2,500 miles around France in November in a 16-year-old Clio 182. Couldn't think of a better car to do it in, although my example has had plenty of love lavished on it to ensure it's tip top.
Mine might have been ok but on the other hand it could have bankrupted me somewhere in the middle of nowhere.Most larger stores and all fuel stations will accept card payments but it's always advisable to have a little bit of cash on you. 200 Euros should be enough.
If you don't already have a Monzo, Starling or Revolut account or similar the forex rates for these digital banks are superior to High Street brands.
If you don't already have a Monzo, Starling or Revolut account or similar the forex rates for these digital banks are superior to High Street brands.
I've done a very similar trip in a 182, I have very fond memories of feeling like I was in an exotic such was the attention it got at the time.
Your day 3 goespast not tooo far from this crazy place. I appreciate you have your itinerary but just in case you thought visiting a chateau filled with racing cars and fighter jets acquired by a rich french bachelor might appeal. You may have been, it's quite famous.
https://www.chateau-savigny.com/
Your day 3 goes
https://www.chateau-savigny.com/
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