I am thinking about getting a VRBO in Auxerre, for 6 nights, to use as a home base for day trips to Burgundy and Loire Valley.
We will have a rental car and will be driving from Colmar. Would Auxerre be a good place to do such day trips? Any recommendations for other places for a home base? We will then drive to Normandy to continue on our tour of France. Thank you.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10207 posts
It’s too far as a base for the Loire Valley.
Fine for Guedelon, Chablis, Noyers sur Serein, Fontenay, Vezelay, Avallon, Montreal, etc.
You are hitting 90 minutes each way for Dijon and Beaune.
It’s deviates from the heavy tourist track and gives you a taste of French life. I’ve made many trips to Auxerre and like it.
Posted by
11169 posts
We stayed near Auxerre in Joigny to explore this upper area of Burgundy. Then we drove to
Beaune with a night in Vezelay en route. We spent several more days in Beaune. These two sections of Burgundy each deserve a visit. The villages around Auxerre are charming and less visited. So, use both Auxerre and Beaune as bases for Burgundy. We did not include the Loire rather drove from Beaune down to Provence on that trip.
My father’s Army units liberated that area around Auxerre after fighting in Normandy.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
1981 posts
Think too Auxerre I visited last September is not bad located for the daytrips. The view from the right bank of the Yonne river is stunning. But do not underestimate the distances you have to cover for going to the other places. But with the A6 visiting Beaune and Dijon is well doable from there and add Troyes to Bets list. Not to miss remains as already mentioned Guédelon, the building site of a medieval castle using the original techniques and tools is really unique and fun to see. In case you drive back from there Saint-Fargeau is worth a detour.
I would spend a few nights in the Loire Valley on the way to Normandy.