Loire or Burgundy region

Great wine and food are everywhere in France. I think you cannot go wrong with either choice. I myself would choose Provence and the main reason would be that I haven't been there, yet. If you want to travel shorter distances then logistically it should be Burgundy. But France has super-fast trains TGV so distance should not matter much.

This is a bit difficult because if you are traveling by train, they don't go to villages. They stop at larger towns, so you'd have to have a taxi ordered before arrival to get driven to the village you choose. RS probably rates the Loire over Burgundy due to the abundance of Renaissance chateau and some monasteries to visit in a small area. It's pretty flat in the Tourraine region where most of the chateau people like to visit are located.

There's plenty to see and do in Burgundy too, but access without a car is more difficult unless you base in Beaune, Dijon, Autun, Auxerre. These are all older towns going back to the Romans. You may be looking for a place like Saulieu or Chateauneuf en Auxois in Burgundy. The former has a Michelin 3-star and several other good restaurants. Chablis, a town in the north of Burgundy near Auxerre, has a lot of good restaurants and excursions into the vineyards. It has some rolling hills (of course, to produce the Chablis).
Could you be more specific as to what you want to do in a village with no car. Are you looking to hike in the surrounding area?

We did the Loire Valley and Burgundy this last summer (as well as Alsace and Paris). We loved both, but for us, we LOVE Burgundy! However, we do rent a car and drive the countryside and visit all the small villages off the path of big tourist sites. I'm not sure if it can be done by train or what villages you would have access to. There are so many small villages between beautiful countryside. Very magical for us.

Of these three regions, Burgundy is my favorite by far. I don't get the appeal of Provence myself. But all of rural villagey France requires a car. With the train you are limited to cities. Beune might work -- but it is a city not a town. We have stayed near Avalon (which is an easy drive to Vezelay and Auxerre and have spent a week in a cottage at the foot of the hill that holds Semur en Auxois and then driven to towns in the region. Chataneuf en Auxois is charming but it is tiny and totally inaccessible except by car.

We would return to Semur en Auxois -- it is one of the prettiest places we have ever lingered. We are also in our 70s.

Thanks I'm leaning towards burgundy and maybe renting a car while there. Or looking into full day wine tours from Beaune.

Maybe take train Paris to Beaune and rent car to drive to a stay in a village. But only have 3 nights for Burgundy area. And after Paris I would hope to relax see beautiful country side and of course drink great wine and enjoy French cooking.

What are the favorite villages and can you drive into them?

Thanks all for ideas

Dot

We loved Noyers-sur-Serein, Auxerre, Semur-en-Auois, Flavigny, Montreal, Chateauneuf-en-Auxois, Tonnerre, the Abby Fontenay, Chablis, and just driving around! Lots of people like Beaune, but we prefer the small tiny villages. Beaune was just ok for us.

Yes, you need to drive to them.

In the fall we were in all three regions you mention. I had been to Provence previously, and enjoyed it again. The Loire was really nice too. But Burgundy, well it is just a really special place. I can't wait to return! I think Burgundy meets your criteria. In any of your choices I encourage you to get a car to really explore the region.

It depends on what you like the best, if you have to choose among the two.
Burgundy = wine and cuisine
Loire = chateaux

I also recommend Burgundy. I was there for my second visit in September for two nights and still have not seen it all. Vezelay was really special for me with a beautiful Basilica. Chautenauf-en-aux is a quaint hilltown with great views and food. The town of Beaune is a bit touristy but nice to walk around and dine in and the Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices is worth a visit. I stayed in the small town of Meursault in a B&B. From there it was walking distance to local wineries (caves) for tasting.

Burgundy it is for 3 nights.

Now to decide the order via train.

Paris (5) first then either Beaune (3) or Colmar (3) or reverse? Then to Bacharach (3), Germany ending in Bremen Germany to visit family.

Any thoughts?

Thanks all

Dot