We returned last week from a 9-day trip to France. Since I previously requested feedback from the forum, I am submitting this summary.
This was the first trip to Europe for 5 of the 7 persons in our group. My wife and I have traveled to France many times. Although the schedule may be too compressed for most people, a trip such as this can nevertheless be very satisfying and memorable if planned well.
Day 1: We took a train from Paris to Lyon, then to Dijon. We rented a full-size 9-passenger van from Enterprise in Dijon and drove to Beaune. We stayed at the Ibis, which was a great hotel, and dined at Le P’etit Paradis, an excellent small restaurant run by a couple. The duck was superb!
Day 2: We drove to Taize to explore this Christian community, 42 miles from Beaune. We walked a portion of the grounds, attended the 12:30 p.m. service, and had lunch at 1:00 p.m. in the canteen. The drive through pastures and vineyards was extremely peaceful and the short time at Taize was restorative and provided an incentive to take a group of younger adults for a longer stay in the future. This was the highlight of the trip for me.
We then drove 265 miles to Chartres. We arrived after dark and struggled to find Hotellerie St. Yves, steps from the great cathedral. Other guests said they had to drive around the area 5 times before they found the former abbey. (Driving a full-size van in a medieval village is not recommended.) Bistro Racines is a seriously great restaurant (more duck and foie gras, and fresh regional escargot). The evening light show vastly exceeded our expectations. I have never seen projections with such saturated colors as those projected on the cathedral. Unfortunately, the temperature was cooler than we were dressed for and we did not explore the town.
Day 3: We had a tour of the cathedral by the famous Malcolm Miller who, at 92 years of age, has been giving tours of the cathedral for 67 years. We plan to return to explore the cathedral on another trip as Chartres and the cathedral deserve at least a two day visit.
We then drove 181 miles to Mont St Michel arriving in time for dinner at Hotel Le Duguesclin. As requested, we had a dinner table with a view of the bay. The lamb was excellent. I believe the restaurant had to close by 9:00 p.m. because employees must get to the mainland before high tide. In the morning, we were treated to the most spectacular sunrise from our room. The views from the rooms are fantastic. We visited the abbey and rushed back to Le Mans (191 miles) to return our van by 2:00 p.m. to avoid late charges. We were back in Paris in time for dinner.
Our go to hotel in Paris is the Hotel Port Royal near the Les Gobelins metro station. I love the proximity to the 7 Metro line, Rue Mouffetard and shops nearby, the less touristy vibe of the area, and the friendly staff. The rooms are small and very basic. The reasonable prices mean that advanced reservations are always required.
Finally, the posted comments about Notre Dame are true. We attended the Sunday mass at 8:30 a.m. and did not have to wait in a long line. (Be sure you stand in the correct line.) The mass included a solo vocalist and organ music. Although we did not understand the French sermon, it was a moving experience. When we left the cathedral, there was a mass of people waiting to enter.