France for a week in October
Discussion
We are heading over to France for the RWC in Lille, first week of October and have 2 games to go to on the weekends. We thought we would have a little holiday, take in some wine, food etc. in the near (or not so nearby) countryside and towns.
Broad question, but does anyone have an recommendations on where to go, what to see etc? We would like to visit some winerys, but aren't too fussed about specific ones. Tours seem very expensive per person for the day. We just don't know the areas or much really, so any advice would be welcome.
We are 4 adults, no kids and will be driving.
Broad question, but does anyone have an recommendations on where to go, what to see etc? We would like to visit some winerys, but aren't too fussed about specific ones. Tours seem very expensive per person for the day. We just don't know the areas or much really, so any advice would be welcome.
We are 4 adults, no kids and will be driving.
I'm a Francophile, can't get enough of the place. Have been well over a hundred times but I guess in common with most Brits have bypassed the north. Have recently started exploring around St Quentin & further up towards Belgium - on a dry day it's stunning! St Quentin is a small & interesting town & pop in to the old town & cathedral of Laon Le Quesnoy with war-related New Zealand history is worth a stop off.
As for wine, your best bet is to take a tour to the champagne region - the capital is Reims but I prefer a wander down the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, where many of the most famous brands have their HQ. I believe it is Mercier that has a guided tour of the cellars on little car-train (like you avoid at the seaside!). Of course being a PHer, whilst you are in Champagne it's the law to visit the old Reims-Gueux circuit.
Do a search on the above and time will fly past.
Enjoy the rugby too!
As for wine, your best bet is to take a tour to the champagne region - the capital is Reims but I prefer a wander down the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, where many of the most famous brands have their HQ. I believe it is Mercier that has a guided tour of the cellars on little car-train (like you avoid at the seaside!). Of course being a PHer, whilst you are in Champagne it's the law to visit the old Reims-Gueux circuit.
Do a search on the above and time will fly past.
Enjoy the rugby too!
If in Epernay (which I also prefer to Reims) a number of the house on Avenue de Champagne will do tours.
I recommend a visit to C la Nautique - successor to C.Comme- where you can try a number of smaller producers. My favourite is Thierry Bourmoult but they’ll have about 40 available.
I recommend a visit to C la Nautique - successor to C.Comme- where you can try a number of smaller producers. My favourite is Thierry Bourmoult but they’ll have about 40 available.
Lots of WW1 sites in that area of France (and just across the border into Belgium).
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/french-flanders-artois/f...
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/french-flanders-artois/f...
I lived in Lille for a few years. You're close to Flanders and places like Ypres and the Tyne Cot cemetery are well worth a visit. The Dunkirk beaches are also worth seeing, and you get some good walking along the extensive coastline and sands. If you want to travel further afield, consider Strasbourg.
For wine tours, I'd echo the recommendations for Epernay or Reims, ideally the former.
For wine tours, I'd echo the recommendations for Epernay or Reims, ideally the former.
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