We're (wife, myself, and adult daughter) will be spending 17 days in France this June. After the first week in Paris, we'll be taking a train to Rennes and pick up our car rental. From Rennes, we're going to spend 2 nts in St Malo (going to Mont St Michel) and then to Tours for 5 nts.
Question is, what are some of your favorite places to visit along these routes (Rennes to St Malo and St Malo to Tours)? I know we'll spend some time in Dinan after renting the car and we'll grab oysters inc Cancale on the way back to St Malo from MSM. I'm really thinking of spending time in Saumur after we leave St Malo since our check-in time in Tours isn't until 6pm. Thanks
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2087 posts
From St. Malo to Tours are Fougères and Vitré certainly worth a visit. Further Le Mans has a very lovely historic centre and if car racing is of interest, the museum near the famous 24 hours racetrack is interesting enough for a visit too.
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
Rennes and Dinard.
Fougeres and VItre.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
I suggest Rouen and Lisieux , Spend some time in Saumur, well worth it cuisine-wise and historically, if you're interested. The huge, extensive tank museum is there, Museé des Blindes.
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1406 posts
All I can say is we enjoyed both MSM and Cancale - and based in Amboise during our stay in the Loire Valley.
Posted by
PA, USA
82 posts
Not far off one of the routes that Google offers is the hilltop village of Sainte Suzanne et Chammes. This is on the list of France's Most Beautiful Villages. It would be a nice break in your drive. Once you get off the big road it's an easy drive through quiet countryside. Parking is easy unless there's a big event going on. You walk up the old village's main street where there are shops and cafes. At the top is the old chateau. Every street seems to be charming, with stone buildings and flowers. The village is not that big, so you can have a fairly quick wander around the streets and the ramparts, or you can spend longer to walk down to the old stone paper mill in the valley. Great views from the ramparts.
Sainte Suzanne is one of the first Plus Beaux Villages de France that we saw and when we're in the area we always go back. Actually, we'll go out of our way to see any PBV. We've learned that each village was built from local stone, which varies as you drive through France. There are several PBVs in the Loire area. This links to a map of the PBVs.
https://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/fr/nos-villages/
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7887 posts
Posted by
OP
21 posts
Thank you for your suggestions.