3 Nights: Bordeaux, Burgundy or other?

Although I don't know what your interests are, I would do the Loire Valley. It's on the way and much to see.

If you are truly indifferent, Bordeaux works much better with your itinerary.

But I'd spend the time in the great places you are already visiting.

Paris, Dordogne especially.

We loved the Dordogne area. Sounds like your trip is very busy. If you would like a calmness before Paris I would recommend this area. Take a canoe trip down the Dordogne river and see the old cities at the rivers edge and castles, its awesome. Would recommend a B&B latourdecause.com Great people and nice location to all the towns, Beynac, LaRoque-Gageac, Sarlat. It was a highlight of our trip to France!

You aren't allowing much time at your already planned locations. Remember that 2 nights in a place only gives you one full day, 3 nights = 2 days, etc. If it was me, I would add those 3 nights to the places you are already going. If you must choose a new place, Bordeaux or the Loire would make more sense logistically. Will you have a car or are you using public transportation?

Thanks for the information and suggestions! We are planning to canoe for sure, looks amazing!Our duration in each town works for us as this is how we prefer to travel. We're thinking about renting a car once we are in France to visit different towns in the Dordogne area and wherever else we decide to see before Paris. We won't keep the car for Paris as the transit there is great. We love food and wine so culinary tours, restaurants and wineries are on the top of our must see list.

We took the train from San Sebastian to Bordeaux and then rented a car before heading to the Dordogne. If you like wine, you may want to consider a night in St. Emilion.

For wine, Beaune and Dijon are pretty much must-see stops. Read Rick's chapters on the wine region and see what you think. I did his recommended south-of-Beaune driving tour and it was very pretty. Also did the Patriarche wine cellars tour and you'll drink a lot of wine.

Dijon is a stop on the major Switzerland to Paris TGV route so it's easy.

As you head north from Sarlat, you can stop at Oradour-sur-Glane, but that is not an overnight stop. If the grand chateaux of the Loire valley are not calling you, then you could consider the town of Bourges and castle-in-progress at Guedelon, which were both added to Rick's book and tour program in the past few years.