Driving around France (Top Half) - Where's good?
Discussion
I am about to start planning our family holiday to France in September.
We are driving down and want to take in rural France, stopping at some beautiful and historic small towns and villages / chateaus etc.
Does anyone have any suggestions of places / towns to visit? We are not wanting to head too far south (around half way down I guess), and will be doing it in stages so no long journeys for little one.
Any tips or suggestions much appreciated.
We are driving down and want to take in rural France, stopping at some beautiful and historic small towns and villages / chateaus etc.
Does anyone have any suggestions of places / towns to visit? We are not wanting to head too far south (around half way down I guess), and will be doing it in stages so no long journeys for little one.
Any tips or suggestions much appreciated.
You will have to let us know where you will be heading and where you will be landing in France since "half-way down" the biggest country in Western Europe could mean either the Alps or La Rochelle or any point in between and the "places to stop on the way" will vary enormously depending on your destination and whether you are arriving in Calais or St.Malo.
Bluebarge said:
You will have to let us know where you will be heading and where you will be landing in France since "half-way down" the biggest country in Western Europe could mean either the Alps or La Rochelle or any point in between and the "places to stop on the way" will vary enormously depending on your destination and whether you are arriving in Calais or St.Malo.
No plans as yet. Can cross anywhere and head anywhere. Just getting a consensus of the best places to head for. Other than a ribbon of tarmac that runs from Calais to Le Mans, my knowledge of the French countryside and POI's isn't particularly great! Roger645 said:
Sancerre and Archachon.
Thats fairly random 
Good recommendations though, not exactly rubbing shoulders.Stop in Montreuil sur mer (Which is nothing like sur mer these days! ), or stay over, its lovely and thats only 30 mins in. Reims is a fine city with lots to see and do, and the Champers of course. The Alsace especially Colmar is fabulous. Prettiest towns you could imagine , great wine and food.
Central loire (i.e Sancerre,) is well worth a visit. have a trip to Chablis too.
Further south you get the warmer it gets of course so if you can keep going get down as far as Lyon and its surrounding area thats well worth it.
Futurescope amusement park is good for kids near Orleans.
Oh and Chateau country, Tours, Chinon, Blois is great.
Diamond blue said:
Roger645 said:
Sancerre and Archachon.
Thats fairly random Good recommendations though, not exactly rubbing shoulders.Stop in Montreuil sur mer (Which is nothing like sur mer these days! ), or stay over, its lovely and thats only 30 mins in. Reims is a fine city with lots to see and do, and the Champers of course. The Alsace especially Colmar is fabulous. Prettiest towns you could imagine , great wine and food.
Central loire (i.e Sancerre,) is well worth a visit. have a trip to Chablis too.
Further south you get the warmer it gets of course so if you can keep going get down as far as Lyon and its surrounding area thats well worth it.
Futurescope amusement park is good for kids near Orleans.
Oh and Chateau country, Tours, Chinon, Blois is great.
As said before Colmar is lovely and it is on the edge of a national Reserve Massif du Ventron. Virtually anywhere in the park is beautiful and the 'D' roads ar very good. Ribeauville and Riquewihr are stunning medeavial towns surrounded by LOTS of vineyards.
If you are looking for some recent history as well then Vieil Armand (or Hartmannswillerkopf auf Deatsch) is a very sobering place to visit. The frontline trenches in some places are only 5 metres apart and none of the site is restricted. From the top you have a view into the Black Forest and the whole surrounding area.
If you are looking for some recent history as well then Vieil Armand (or Hartmannswillerkopf auf Deatsch) is a very sobering place to visit. The frontline trenches in some places are only 5 metres apart and none of the site is restricted. From the top you have a view into the Black Forest and the whole surrounding area.
That's only about 6.5 hours from calais, so no need to stop more than once I would say, unless you want to spend a few days over it. These places are worth a look on the way to Reims:
Vimy Ridge (near Arras)
Laon (+ follow the D967 down to where it bisects the Chemin des Dames and then on to the D925 - v.pretty route with plenty of WW1 sites)
I'd stay the night near or in Reims then push on to Alsace the next day.
Vimy Ridge (near Arras)
Laon (+ follow the D967 down to where it bisects the Chemin des Dames and then on to the D925 - v.pretty route with plenty of WW1 sites)
I'd stay the night near or in Reims then push on to Alsace the next day.
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