Hi! I am hoping for suggestions on how to best use my 6 days in France (I’m going in early Sept) and don’t want the pricey, toursisty thing. I’d like to see real culture and am not sure if I should spend all of the time in Paris or just a few days there and then travel to the coast (I love the ocean). Appreciate any thoughts you can share. Thanks!
2New to France..
May 22, 2006
By francecom
2 Comments On New to France..
Many things do see in France.
You can try
– Normandy and the D-Days beaches and museum
– Loire Valley palace.
– Versaille palace (near Paris)
– Burgundy (if you like wine)
– Britany for the beaches
etc..
Have fun in France
Jean Pierre, from Lille North of France
If you only have six days, I’d skip the D-Day beaches for another trip. It’s mostly World War II / American / British / war type stuff. Yes, it’s French history but it doesn’t give you a feeling for France as much as a feeling for the wars they suffered through early in the 20th century.
Spend most of your time in Paris because it’s a fabulous city and there is so much to do there. Take a couple day trips on the train. Service is excellent and reasonably priced. Stay nearby so you don’t spend the day on the train. My two favorites would be first, Chartres. There is, of course, the famous Cathedral and it is an experience all by itself. There is also a very nice art museum behind the cathedral and a stained glass museum just down the street. You can also stop at the nearby tourist info center and get a "Chartres Walk" that takes you into the medieval city and a couple other spectacular churches that no one ever seems to mention.
Secondly, I would agree with the Loire castles suggestion. You should probably book a chateau tour leaving from Paris since there are so many and getting between them could be a problem. My favorites are Villandry (for the marvelous gardens), Azay-le-Rideau because it’s a perfect little chateau, Chenonceau is the one built across the river Cher and is absolutely beautiful as are its gardens, Chinon is a wonderful medieval ruin and there is Joan of Arc history there. Amboise is in a lovely town with a medieval centre so is fun to visit for both castle and town. There are many others, most beautiful and interesting for some aspect of history. A tour would make it easier to cover several in one day.
This will be more than enough for six days. You want to relax and enjoy yourself too . . . and plan that next trip to France. Perhaps you could try Provence the next time?!
Have a great time!