My husband and I are trying to nail down our plans for June 21-28 in Brittany and Normandy. Both of us have been to other parts of France, but this will be our first trip to either region.
We'll be coming from and possibly returning to Paris and trying to figure out whether or not to rent a car for the entire trip, or combine train/ car rental. We know that this is not a lot of time for both regions, but we're hoping to visit many of the places suggested by others in similar posts.
What we're trying to figure out is whether we should begin in Brittany or Normandy, or does it really matter if we rent a car for the entire week or travel by train to a larger city where we can pick up a car?
Here's what we're thinking so far
Brittany 2-3 days
Train Paris to Rennes. Pick up in Rennes. Stay in Dinan visits to St Malo, Cancalle
Normandy- by car
Stay in Bayeux 2-3 days
Mont St Michel, Rouen
The only D Day site we're planning to visit in Normandy is Ste Mere Eglise
Stay in Rouen one night, return car there and take train back to Paris
Or should we begin in Normandy and end in Brittany?
On another note, thanks to those of you who responded to my earlier post about the Carte Advantage Senior discount for SNCF. We purchased them and have already received great discounts on tickets for another part of our trip!
Posted by
1343 posts
We did something similar last spring. The reason we went Paris to Rennes was because that was closer to MSM; so I would include MSM in your visit to Brittany rather than when you are staying in Bayeux. (Or perhaps you plan to visit MSM on your last day before heading to Bayeux. Otherwise you are backtracking.
The only real consideration for flipping the itinerary would be whether arriving back in Paris (at Montparnasse station) from Rennes is more convenient than arriving back at which ever station you come into from Rouen. You don't mention if you are going back to the city or CDG, but I think you can take the train right to CDG from Rouen. (We returned the car in Lille and headed to Belgium, so I'm not sure the details on Rouen to Paris train.)
Posted by
USA
430 posts
We did a little longer version of your trip in the same direction. Rennes is an under-rated city, we enjoyed it. Visit Parc du Thabor if you have the time. The car rental places are right by the train station and it's on the TGV line from Paris. If you're spending a full day in Rennes then you can take the train there and then pick up the car when you leave the following day.
We dropped the car off in Rouen as well. It is a bit tricky; the car rental return locations are underneath the train station, the train station is ringed by one-way roads, and only one of the car entrances into the area under the station leads to the rental car dropoff. To add to the fun there is no exterior sign showing which is the right ramp, or at least there wasn't when we were there; you could only see a sign for rental car return once you're partway down the ramp.
The only change I'd suggest is with MSM which it sounds like you may be doing as a daytrip from Bayeux. We stayed one nite at a hotel across the bridge from MSM. That way we could park our car in the hotel lot. As the RS book suggests we arrived in the late afternoon when daytrippers were leaving and it was not too crowded. MSM from a distance is amazing to see at nite!
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you Bill G and KD! This is all really helpful in helping us nail down our itinerary and we're really looking forward to our trip! What is still not clear is the next phase of our trip. We will be visiting friends in Zurich after we leave France and trying to figure those logistics as well.
Posted by
2 posts
We also could use some help with a similar itinerary. We fly in on a Tuesday to Cdg at around 10 AM. We would like to have a visit that includes Normandy, including some of the historic battlefields and cemeteries as well as a visit to Mount Saint Michele. If we had time we would like to include either Rouen or BAYEUX. We need to be in Lyon by noon at the latest to begin a bike and barge trip. Perhaps the safest plan would be to arrive late at night into Lyon to be sure we get there in time. We expect to be renting a car while in the region, but turn it in before taking the train to LYON. It seems like the limits of our itinerary would be the first day. We will be traveling to CAEN and then have Wednesday and Thursday to visit the area and train back on Friday. Any thoughts anyone has would be helpful.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2090 posts
John,
Do I understand you correctly? Arrive CDG Tuesday am. Train to Caen same day, pick up rental car. Stay in Caen that night? Drive to Bayeux Wed., tour DDay sights that day. Return to Caen for the night and drive to MSM on Thursday. Go back to Caen, drop car and leave for Lyon Friday? Or drop car Thursday and take a late train (if possible) to Lyon. The train from Caen to Lyon takes about 5-5 1/2 hours, with a train change. If your tour check in time is late in the day, you could take the earliest train on Friday and have some leeway in case of track work.
I recommend looking at a map and note the distances between locations, then check SNCF (French train website) to see what trains are available and when. Don't underestimate moving around times, or distances, or getting in and out of cities, or finding parking, or limited open hours at car rental places, especially outside of the big airports (long lunch closures).
I know I sound like a Debby Downer, but being prepared goes a long way to making your vacation more relaxed and enjoyable.
Posted by
2 posts
Hi Judy,
really looking for suggestions as to what we can realistically fit in.
Arr CDG 1010 Tues and thinking of getting a fast (TGV) train to Caen. Then not sure. I hear we need a car there for that area.
I have heard Bayeux is beautiful , MSM worthwhile and some time at the Normandy battlefields/ American cemetery. We have to be in Lyon On Saturday midday . So we have evening of Tues, all day Thursday and Friday. Dropping the car Friday pm.
Some of our fellow travelers will be taking a 0959 TGV Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon That day . Wondering if it is possible to leave the Caen area by train really early that day to connect in Paris for that 0959 tgv or just travel Friday night to Paris and go on to Lyon Saturday
Posted by
Middletown, RI
1370 posts
I have both rented a car in Paris, and rented one from somewhere closer. You definitely need a car in those rural areas (Particularly the Sainte-Mère-Église area), but if I were you, I would take a train to either Rennes (if starting in Brittany) or Caen (if starting in Normandy). This is what I usually do these days, although I have picked up or dropped off cars in Paris proper, CDG, Caen, Bayeux, Cherbourg and Rennes. Be aware that you often have to pay a drop off fee if picking up and dropping off in different locations—although the fee isn't prohibitive.
BTW, re-reading the previous comment. There is no TGV to Caen. Just local, suburban trains. There is a TGV to Rennes however.