Priority is to visit Normandy area in the Fall, including Rouen, Honfleur and then possibly the Loire Valley and/or Bordeaux region (and of course a little Paris, we have visited before).
Flying in/out of CDG. Definitely want to stay in Bayeaux 3 or 4 nights (is that too much?). We would like to minimize personal driving but not opposed some when beneficial. Would also consider private transfer and trains, if we can avoid connections. We can travel 12-14 days so feel like we have a fair amount of time. We are not rush from place to place people but we do like to see things. Suggestions for a doable itinerary appreciated.
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Washington DC
27111 posts
I haven't rented a car in Europe, but Normandy is an area where one would be beneficial.
Bayeux is an excellent base for D-Day tours (I highly, highly recommend at least a one-day van tour rather than the do-it-yourself approach), the local WW II museum, the cathedral and the Bayeux Tapestry. The town has an attractive historic center.
Bayeux is not a particularly good base for trips out of town via public transportation except to Caen, which is a short train ride away. Caen was blasted during the invasion and doesn't have much of an historic center left. It does have four commonly-mentioned sights: The huge Peace Museum (which can take all day), two abbeys and a castle.
Its limitations from a tourist perspective notwithstanding, Caen is a good base for car-less travelers because it is a hub for trains and buses. Accordingly, I split my time between Bayeux and Caen, even though the two are not very far apart. Staying in Caen made it relatively easy to take buses to the picturesque coastal towns of Honfleur, Deauville and Cabourg. I also went to Falaise to see the new museum about the civilian experience during the war.
Rouen is easily accessible by train, but there's enough to see in the city that I wouldn't want to attempt it on a day-trip, especially not by public transportation.
Really, having a car for the days you don't want to simply stay in Bayeux or take a D-Day tour will make you more efficient travelers.