My husband and I are planning to visit France for the first time in September.
Our neccessities in this trip are: good food, good wine, beautiful architecture (chateaux, churches) and just plain beautiful countryside/landscape.
We figure we'd fly into Paris, stay about 3 nights (i realize it's not nearly enough…for the Louvre itself!), and then travel to Normandy for a couple of nights to see the beaches and experience the villages, and then down to Burgundy for the food and wine.
I'm not sure of the travel times in between the 3 areas. Is it do-able in a 10 day span?
Knowing what we want, do you have other suggestions? We were looking at the Dordogne region in lieu of Burgundy, but felt it may be too far south.
Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
11 Comments On 1st time visit: paris-normandy-burgundy possible?
SalB
May 9, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Hi. It would be more more practical to start in Normandy, visit Paris and then go to Burgundy. This is just because of location.
You might consider your Paris stay followed by the Loire Valley (chateaus, churches, architecture and great wines) followed by a trip to Burgundy right next door. If you only have 10 days, you would have more time for sightseeing this way. Paris-Loire-Burgundy would give you a great trip and a good feel for France.
You could save the D-day beaches for a future trip and then perhaps visit Brittany and/or drive south along the Atlantic coast on that trip.
If you want to find distances, go to http://www.viamichelin.com/ or to http://www.mappy.com/ and you can plug in the start and destination to get a little map, written directions, tolls and distances. The Michelin site is more accurate on tolls but both are good map sites.
Are you renting a car or taking trains? That will make a difference as to where you base yourself.
denisema18
May 10, 2007 at 9:54 am
thanks for your reply! We don't necessarily have to do Normandy at this time. We figured if possible, we could squeeze it in. However, we also wanted this to be a somewhat relaxing trip and not too much running around.
it appears from various people including yourself that it's not recommended to do all 3 in 10 days. That's enough justification for me!
Paris-Loire-Burgundy sounds fantastic.
I'm not sure if we'll do the train or rent a car. I'm leaning more towards the car so we can come and go as we please.
 thanks again for your advice!
Denise
France.com
May 14, 2007 at 9:34 am
Hello Denise,
For sure the best way to visit France is to rent a car. This gives you complete freedom of movement and control over your schedule, something required to really have a relaxing trip.
Also, it's good to keep in mind that in small cities in France shops close at around 7:00 PM and restaurants at 9:00PM.
Don't forget that France is a rural country and nowhere is the French 'Art de vivre' more evident than in the countryside, and the best way to visit the countryside is by car.
SalB
May 14, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Hi Denise. This won't work for your 10-day trip, but in the future, if you stay 17 or more days, you can lease a car. You get a brand new car, full insurance and 24-hour road service. We always do this and love it. We've always used the Peugeot Open Europe plan but Renault also has a lease back program that is highly recommended.
 Something to keep in mind for future trips.
 BTW, if you decide to rent, make the arrangements before you leave home because if you wait until you get to France it will cost more and you may not get the car you want. We always get the smallest car we can fit ourselves and most of our luggage into because village streets are narrow, parking places tiny and fuel very expensive. We usually get a Peugeot 206 for the two of us and once with three of us. It's a great little car and gets super gas mileage.
July 27, 2007 at 8:54 am
We will be in Paris visiting a friend & will rent a car to go to Normandy for a couple of days then return to Paris. will this work? How long is the drive? Joan
France.com
July 28, 2007 at 5:03 am
Yes, that is quite doable. Normandy is about 2.5 hours from Paris so you have plenty of time to go from Paris, stay overnight and return the following day after your visit of Normandy. Of course, there are so many things to do in Normandy that 2 days may not be quite enough, but you will see the most important things in your given timeframe.
SalB
July 28, 2007 at 3:41 pm
If you want to find distances, go to http://www.viamichelin.com/ Â or to http://www.mappy.com/ Â and you can plug in the start and destination to get a little map, written directions, tolls and distances. The Michelin site is more accurate on tolls but both are good map sites.
December 11, 2007 at 7:30 pm
My wife and I are planning a trip to Bayeux in August/ September of 2008. We plan to stay for about 7 days with our main focus on the D day beaches and surrounding areas. Any tips?.Thank you
Hello Danny. August-September is a great time to visit Normandy. Things are still open and tourists have thinned ranks. The French return to work and school the first of Sept. so it's not nearly as crowded on those beaches.
We stayed a month in a tiny town south of Caen and used it as a central location for visiting much of Normandy. Caen is very central but you might enjoy Bayeux as your base of operations. It's a smaller town, very picturesque, equally central and doesn't have nearly the traffic as Caen. Bayeux has a great Saturday market, the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a magnificent cathedral and is a remarkably lovely town with much history and plenty to do and places to eat and stay. It is also easy to visit the D-Day sites from Bayeux.
Since you have a week, take your rainy day (you are nearly guaranteed one) and visit the Peace Memorial in Caen. It takes a day and it is quite an experience. When you buy your tickets, opt for the full restaurant lunch. The Peace Memorial is a very intense experience and the excellent meal at noon is a relaxing respite.
The American Cemetery is usually considered a must-see and it is very moving. We were fortunate to have a double rainbow (and some rain) the day we visited. There are cemeteries for other countries too including a lovely Canadian one near Cauvicourt.
The cemeteries and beaches are well marked and you can get maps and information at any local tourist office. If you don't have a car, taking a tour of the WWII sites might be easiest. Although we enjoy traveling independently, it's not everyone's cup of tea, especially if you don't speak any French.
Another must-see is Mont St. Michel. It is just stunning and well worth a visit. It honestly looks like all those posters you see in travel agencies. No matter when you go, there will be lots of tourists. Just think of it as an authentic pilgrimage experience and it's okay to be in a crowd there. At least that's what my husband keeps telling me . . . 8^)
You have lots of options besides WWII sites. You can visit a cheese factory in Livarot or Pont L'Eveque. Get there early since the milk comes in early and the process is nearly over at lunch time. There are chateaus to visit although one thinks of the Loire, in fact there are chateaus all over France including Normandy. Honfleur is an utterly charming fishing harbor with colorful boats, a very unique church and lots of street artists happy to talk to you and to sell you their paintings. North and slightly east of Caen you can visit the resort towns although they are VERY quiet after the first of September. You will have the beach to yourself (and the views) and you may have to walk a few blocks to find an open restaurant. You might have tea at the Grand Hotel in Cabourg where Proust had tea many years ago. Great sea views from the windows!
Do you have any specific interests? For instance there is a Museum of Norman Life and an excellent art museum within the chateau walls in Caen. There is no chateau though.
Enjoy your trip.
January 17, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Thank you very much, I had forgotten I put a post up.How did you do the trip to Mt St. Michel, car, bus, or train, and how was it?
Thanks again
Danny
SalB
January 22, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hi Danny. We usually lease a Peugeot when we go to France. If you are going for 17 or more days, it's a great way to get a brand new car with all insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance.
Hence, to answer your question, we drove to Mont St. Michel. You can do it fairly easily by bus but the train really doesn't go to the Mont. A car is the easiest way to visit. There is ample parking at the entrance and they keep you posted about the tides so your car doesn't float away (or you don't get trapped there overnight). I've never seen the water get up to the car parking lot but have seen the tour bus lot submerged a couple times. The bus drivers all know the tides and are out before it's a problem.
The highest tides are at the solstices and they are well publicized. It would be fun to see it then. If you have a car, drive. Roads are excellent in the area. If you don't have a car, I'd take a bus tour rather than bother renting a car just for that trip.
11 Comments On 1st time visit: paris-normandy-burgundy possible?
SalB
Hi. It would be more more practical to start in Normandy, visit Paris and then go to Burgundy. This is just because of location.
You might consider your Paris stay followed by the Loire Valley (chateaus, churches, architecture and great wines) followed by a trip to Burgundy right next door. If you only have 10 days, you would have more time for sightseeing this way. Paris-Loire-Burgundy would give you a great trip and a good feel for France.
You could save the D-day beaches for a future trip and then perhaps visit Brittany and/or drive south along the Atlantic coast on that trip.
If you want to find distances, go to http://www.viamichelin.com/ or to http://www.mappy.com/ and you can plug in the start and destination to get a little map, written directions, tolls and distances. The Michelin site is more accurate on tolls but both are good map sites.
Are you renting a car or taking trains? That will make a difference as to where you base yourself.
denisema18
thanks for your reply! We don't necessarily have to do Normandy at this time. We figured if possible, we could squeeze it in. However, we also wanted this to be a somewhat relaxing trip and not too much running around.
it appears from various people including yourself that it's not recommended to do all 3 in 10 days. That's enough justification for me!
Paris-Loire-Burgundy sounds fantastic.
I'm not sure if we'll do the train or rent a car. I'm leaning more towards the car so we can come and go as we please.
 thanks again for your advice!
Denise
France.com
Hello Denise,
For sure the best way to visit France is to rent a car. This gives you complete freedom of movement and control over your schedule, something required to really have a relaxing trip.
Also, it's good to keep in mind that in small cities in France shops close at around 7:00 PM and restaurants at 9:00PM.
Don't forget that France is a rural country and nowhere is the French 'Art de vivre' more evident than in the countryside, and the best way to visit the countryside is by car.
SalB
Hi Denise. This won't work for your 10-day trip, but in the future, if you stay 17 or more days, you can lease a car. You get a brand new car, full insurance and 24-hour road service. We always do this and love it. We've always used the Peugeot Open Europe plan but Renault also has a lease back program that is highly recommended.
 Something to keep in mind for future trips.
 BTW, if you decide to rent, make the arrangements before you leave home because if you wait until you get to France it will cost more and you may not get the car you want. We always get the smallest car we can fit ourselves and most of our luggage into because village streets are narrow, parking places tiny and fuel very expensive. We usually get a Peugeot 206 for the two of us and once with three of us. It's a great little car and gets super gas mileage.
We will be in Paris visiting a friend & will rent a car to go to Normandy for a couple of days then return to Paris. will this work? How long is the drive? Joan
France.com
Yes, that is quite doable. Normandy is about 2.5 hours from Paris so you have plenty of time to go from Paris, stay overnight and return the following day after your visit of Normandy. Of course, there are so many things to do in Normandy that 2 days may not be quite enough, but you will see the most important things in your given timeframe.
SalB
If you want to find distances, go to http://www.viamichelin.com/ Â or to http://www.mappy.com/ Â and you can plug in the start and destination to get a little map, written directions, tolls and distances. The Michelin site is more accurate on tolls but both are good map sites.
My wife and I are planning a trip to Bayeux in August/ September of 2008. We plan to stay for about 7 days with our main focus on the D day beaches and surrounding areas. Any tips?.Thank you
Danny
danielwilkinson69@hotmail.com
SalB
Hello Danny. August-September is a great time to visit Normandy. Things are still open and tourists have thinned ranks. The French return to work and school the first of Sept. so it's not nearly as crowded on those beaches.
We stayed a month in a tiny town south of Caen and used it as a central location for visiting much of Normandy. Caen is very central but you might enjoy Bayeux as your base of operations. It's a smaller town, very picturesque, equally central and doesn't have nearly the traffic as Caen. Bayeux has a great Saturday market, the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a magnificent cathedral and is a remarkably lovely town with much history and plenty to do and places to eat and stay. It is also easy to visit the D-Day sites from Bayeux.
Since you have a week, take your rainy day (you are nearly guaranteed one) and visit the Peace Memorial in Caen. It takes a day and it is quite an experience. When you buy your tickets, opt for the full restaurant lunch. The Peace Memorial is a very intense experience and the excellent meal at noon is a relaxing respite.
The American Cemetery is usually considered a must-see and it is very moving. We were fortunate to have a double rainbow (and some rain) the day we visited. There are cemeteries for other countries too including a lovely Canadian one near Cauvicourt.
The cemeteries and beaches are well marked and you can get maps and information at any local tourist office. If you don't have a car, taking a tour of the WWII sites might be easiest. Although we enjoy traveling independently, it's not everyone's cup of tea, especially if you don't speak any French.
Another must-see is Mont St. Michel. It is just stunning and well worth a visit. It honestly looks like all those posters you see in travel agencies. No matter when you go, there will be lots of tourists. Just think of it as an authentic pilgrimage experience and it's okay to be in a crowd there. At least that's what my husband keeps telling me . . . 8^)
You have lots of options besides WWII sites. You can visit a cheese factory in Livarot or Pont L'Eveque. Get there early since the milk comes in early and the process is nearly over at lunch time. There are chateaus to visit although one thinks of the Loire, in fact there are chateaus all over France including Normandy. Honfleur is an utterly charming fishing harbor with colorful boats, a very unique church and lots of street artists happy to talk to you and to sell you their paintings. North and slightly east of Caen you can visit the resort towns although they are VERY quiet after the first of September. You will have the beach to yourself (and the views) and you may have to walk a few blocks to find an open restaurant. You might have tea at the Grand Hotel in Cabourg where Proust had tea many years ago. Great sea views from the windows!
Do you have any specific interests? For instance there is a Museum of Norman Life and an excellent art museum within the chateau walls in Caen. There is no chateau though.
Enjoy your trip.
Thank you very much, I had forgotten I put a post up.How did you do the trip to Mt St. Michel, car, bus, or train, and how was it?
Thanks again
Danny
SalB
Hi Danny. We usually lease a Peugeot when we go to France. If you are going for 17 or more days, it's a great way to get a brand new car with all insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance.
Hence, to answer your question, we drove to Mont St. Michel. You can do it fairly easily by bus but the train really doesn't go to the Mont. A car is the easiest way to visit. There is ample parking at the entrance and they keep you posted about the tides so your car doesn't float away (or you don't get trapped there overnight). I've never seen the water get up to the car parking lot but have seen the tour bus lot submerged a couple times. The bus drivers all know the tides and are out before it's a problem.
The highest tides are at the solstices and they are well publicized. It would be fun to see it then. If you have a car, drive. Roads are excellent in the area. If you don't have a car, I'd take a bus tour rather than bother renting a car just for that trip.