Itinerary - 5 weeks in France - advice and a few questions

Posted by rwellington on 12/31/23 01:37 AM

Hello everyone.

We are excited to be travelling around France for 5 weeks in Sept/Oct 2024, and would love some advice on our itinerary. Our interests are art, history and interesting sites - we are not fussed with seeing chateaus, wineries or the French Rivieria (this time). We are in our early 50s, travelling from Australia, travelling between cities/towns on trains/buses, staying in Air B+B (or similar). I have been to northern France (WW1 battlefields) and Paris before, my husband has not.

so .....
- have we missed anywhere/anything you think we'd like which we could incorporate as day trips ?
- are we trying to do do too much ?
- what are train bookings like on friday/saturday/sunday ?
- which way would be best for the route : namely, do we head left or right from Paris ? (I've listed left below)

Paris - 7 nights (day trips : versaille, giverny) - accomm booked
Strasbourg - 4 nights (day trip : colmar)
Lyon - 6 nights (day trips : annecy, vienne perouges)
Avignon - 5 nights (day trips : nimes, arles, pont du gard)
Toulouse - 3 nights (day trip : albi)
Orlean - 3 nights
Bayeux - 4 nights (day trips : d day beaches, mont st michel)
Paris - 3 nights
Airport - 1 night (accomm booked)

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions.

C + R

Posted by Pastelholic

Vermont, USA

12/31/23 02:12 AM

206 posts

We toured France a loooong time ago-in 1994 with a Globus tour. It began in Paris and headed north to Rouen(where I had the very best apple pie in my life, bought from a street vendor), then to Caen, to see the D-day landing beaches, the American cemetery and museum, etc. We went all over, ending up in Paris again.

The World War II sites and D-day locales are a must see. My father fought in WWII, so it had special meaning for me. Even today we remember so well the incredible visit there.

I would also recommend the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. Both are essential. It’s not so much seeing the Mona Lisa or any one particular piece. But making your way through these wonderful museums will allow you to take in so much important art. If you prefer modern art you can choose the contenporsry museums also.

Versailles was so worthwhile. As was visiting le Mont St. Michel, and seeing the Bayeux Tapestry.

Rick Steves has free audio tours.

We enjoyed Pont du Gard. We enjoyed the Loire valley, particularly Chenonceau, though you said not on this trip. The history of that particular one is significant. Chartres cathedral was special. Note Dame was gorgeous.

But you can’t do it all, right?

Bon voyage!! Someone knowledgeable will advise you about the route and the trains.

Posted by Shelly

Charlotte, NC, USA

01/01/24 04:28 AM

380 posts

I think this sounds like a good plan - a diversity of places and not rushed. Presumably you’re planning to take some tours of D-Day sites while in Bayeux? I’d suggest renting a car for even just one day after you take tour, so you can see more. Bayeux is lovely and deserves a day on its own, with the cathedral, D-Day museum, journalists memorial, British cemetery and the tapestry.

Posted by rwellington OP

01/01/24 11:40 PM

10 posts

Thanks so much for the replies and advice above.

Still just wondering if anyone has some advice re :
- what train travel is like on a fri / sat / sun ?
- route - namely left or right out of Paris ?

Thanks. C+R

Posted by Bets

L'Occitanie, France

01/02/24 08:22 AM

10192 posts

Trains high traffic period: Friday and Sunday afternoons and evenings. But all trains with reserved seats are filling nowadays because 10% have been taken off-line since COVID. Local trains on the weekends can be standing room only.

Can't answer right or left.