Paris and then where??

I am in the early stages of planning our trip to France in September of 2008. Travelers are my husband and I. We are thinking of staying in Paris for 5 days and then would like to rent a car to explore one or possibly two regions outside of Paris for 9 days. We enjoy quaint towns, good food, wine, interesting architecture, history, beautiful scenery. Any suggestions on where to go?? Thank you, Diane

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You could visit Provence. That has everything you listed, as well as warm weather (when the Mistral isn%26#39;t blowing), nice people, ocre cliffs, Roman arenas, castles, ports founded by Greeks, a mountain made famous by Cezanne, fresh markets....it goes on and on. I could give you more information if you are interested.

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Provence in September is a nice idea.

If you plan to visit Provence, you%26#39;d better getting there with the TGV (high speed train) and rent the car once there. It is a very long trip, worth doing if you have time to make a few stopover, but you won%26#39;t. Paris / Aix en Provence is a 761 km ride !

You could also visit the Loire valley, very close to Paris, and very nice in September too. Paris / Tours is only 239 km.

The useful website to check any distance and itinerary for your trips outside Paris is Michelin :

http://www.viamichelin.fr

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Thanks for the suggestions. Okay, if we took the TVG to Provence -- would you suggest to Avignon?? Then rent a car, what charming towns would you suggest visiting/staying at for a night or two ?? Then would you suggest flying back to the US from Nice or ?? Thanks again, Diane

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Hi Diane. Southern France is a great suggestion and given the cost of fuel and tolls picking up your car in Avignon makes a lot of sense if you go that route. If you wanted to leave from Paris and then return there for the flight home you could do a loop to the west (Normandy, Brittany and the Loire) or to the east (Lorraine %26amp; Burgundy) and find everything you%26#39;re looking for along with nice weather and harvest time. It%26#39;s all good. Just a thought - you%26#39;re near Edmonds and perhaps a visit and talk with the folks at the Rick Steves%26#39; travel store might be of use.

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There are countless charming towns in Provence. Here is a nonexhaustive list of choices:

Aix-en-Provence - medium-sized town with plenty of activities during the day and at night

Arles - source of Van Gogh%26#39;s inspiration, has Roman arena and amphlitheatre

Marseille - not a charming town, but a great big city

L%26#39;Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - visit on Sunday to see the largest market outside of Paris

Roussillon - famous for its red ocre cliffs (Le Sentier des Ocres)

Gordes - tiny cream-colored town with nearby cloistered monastery

Les Baux de Provence - has the Cathedrale d%26#39;Images, which is indescribable... and castle ruins

St. Remy de Provence - I believe there are wineries near here...

Pont du Gard - site of a Roman aqueduct

You could fly back from Marseille%26#39;s international airport (code: MRS) or take the TGV back to Paris from the Avignon TGV station.

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We spent a week this past September (07) in the Bastide area of France.. drove from Paris via Amboise ( Loire Valley, great Leonardo Da Vinci Museum) stopped overnight at St Leonard de Noblat (very good meal, picturesque small town) then on to Agen for boating.. back to Villereal.. rented a house for a week and used it as a base to visit many small bastide towns.. lots of history, architecture.. did day trip to St Emilion, another to caves at Font de Gaume, Lascaux...this was our third trip to France ( previously in Provence, Burgundy, Alsace) and I would highly recommend this area..we were right on the border of Dordogne, Aquitane .. visited Bergerac, market at Issigeac great history, half timbered buildings etc.. too many wonderful places in France!!!

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Thank you all for your input --- yes, two many choices!!! I am torn between doing the Loire valley, Brittany, Normandy loop or going south to Provence. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm -- decisions, decisions!!! Diane

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Get a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to France for help in planning itineraries and general sightseeing. It%26#39;s a very useful tool.

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