Flying into Paris on Sept 5. We want to take train to either Loire Valley, maybe city of Tours or choose Avignon area for a few days. We are interested in the chateaux, any sightseeing, relaxing and wine tasting at a few vineyards. Could anyone help us decide which we should choose? We are aware of the length of the train trips. Have been to Paris before but not south of it.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
The first item on your list is chateaus. The place in France best known for chateaus is the Loire Valley.
The Loire Valley and the "Avignon are" (a vague term) are very different places.
You mention trains but not a car. In the Loire Valley, the trains will only get you to the train stations, which is not where most of the chateaus are located, some of the best ones that you'll want to see are in the country (except for Amboise).
You also mention visiting vineyards, and of course the vineyards are not located near the train stations.
And so, if you don't have a car, you'll have some extra work to do, arranging to get transportation from the train stations to the chateaus and vineyards that you want to see. I suppose it can be done without a car, but is an extra planning thing you'll have to deal with.
Whenever I've gone to chateaus or vineyards in France, I've driven a rental car, because of the flexibility it gives you.
And while the city of Avignon is best reached by train and explored on foot, you mentioned the "Avignon area" and to see locations away from the city, a car's flexibility would be an advantage.
However, if you should go to the Avignon area, I recommend that you don't rent the car until after you have seen the sights you want to see that are in the city of Avignon. A car is not an advantage within the city of Avignon, and you don't want to stay in a hotel in the city of Avignon if you have a car.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7885 posts
Superbly encyclopedic reply by Kent. It would help if you put your home in your profile so it displays. We don't know if this is part of a larger holiday, or a weekend by expatriates or Eurozone workers on a weekend. Perhaps the difference is whether you're reading "Toujours, Provence" or "The Plantagenet Saga" on the plane.
Although a car is helpful in exploring Provence, it is, as noted, almost essential in the Loire Valley. People post here about van services that go to a few Chateaux a day, but are you backpackers or comfortably situated professional adults?
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Just interested In what we can see in each place. Not backpackers, we are professionals. Looks like Avignon is more accessible if we don't want to rent a car. Hoping there is wineries to visit.
Posted by
Chicago
8551 posts
for me it is the Loire hands down; I was distinctly underwhelmed by Avignon. But you really do need a car to get around to the many wonderful chateaux and villages in the Loire.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Hoping there is wineries to visit.
There are a number of wine regions in the Rhone Valley, to the north, east, and south of Avignon. But they are not located in Avignon or the other cities where the train lines run.
To visit, you will need a car or to sign up for a wine country tour.