I'm planning a France trip for Sept 2025 that will include Normandy and Paris, which I've visited before, but want to go somewhere new to me for a week. We are food and art lovers, so Lyon will seems like a no-brainer, but I'm trying to figure out a second destination -- perhaps based in a village or smaller town, with day-trips to wineries, sights, etc. Leaning Rhone rather than Burgundy or Beaujolais, but not for any particularly good reason (other than the Cotes du Rhone on our wine rack), so could easily be refocused. Also have been noodling on a short wine-focused bike trip (3-4 days) but it would need to be easy -- for 2 haven't been biking since before COVID 60-somethings. I realize this is a pretty broad query but am open to all sorts of ideas at this point. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7982 posts
Our honeymoon bike trip in September, 25 years ago, was the Champagne region, starting in Paris and reaching Reims and Epernay. That’s the harvest time of year, so it was interesting seeing lots of grapes being cut with scissors (we even got to cut some), and tractors coming and going with wagonloads on small wine roads. Yes, ours was more than 4 days, but you could arrange your own timeframe. Granted, it was hilly in places, and we took the bikes on trains in some steeper places. We were 25 years younger, of course (now both over 60), but now there are also e-bikes, which might make some difference.
When staying in Avignon on another trip, with the Rhône passing alongside the city, it was all about Cote du Rhône, Bouche du Rhône, and Chateneuf du Pape wines. Good base for making daytrips around Provence (by car), but then we later had a base in Saint-Remy-de-Provence on a subsequent trip.
Canal du Midi, slicing through southwestern France, is flat and has a bike path alongside it. Might make for a good bike tour, but now you’re looking at Bordeaux at the western end and Languedoc-Roussillon wines farther eastward.
Posted by
Irving
3274 posts
There are direct trains from the Lyon Part Dieu station to Colmar (4h) if you’re interested in the Alsace wine region: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/.
Posted by
British Columbia
5 posts
Just returned from my 4th trip to France. I second Colmar which is a lovely town and is surrounded by other very attractive towns and villages.
On this most recent trip, we spent time in Provence ans other adjacent regions. Our favourite places were Vaison-la-Romaine and Uzes. I think either might fit what you are looking for. We managed easily with public transportation (neither has a train station so we took the bus, which went very smoothly) but having a vehicle would make these stunning towns even more accessible.
Posted by
Vacaville, Ca
1450 posts
Maybe Beaune for your wine-focused bike trip.
Bourgogne Randonnees: https://www.bourgogne-randonnees.fr/en
Cycling in Burgundy: https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/where-to-go/cycling-in-burgundy.html
France Velo Tourisme: https://en.francevelotourisme.com
Posted by
OP
5 posts
I think we are turning toward Burgundy, and I'm seriously looking at Beaune and environs. Alsace may be lovely but not my wines of choice. I think we'll keep the Rhone for a southern swing up the road.
Posted by
8 posts
Suggest Montpelier for a culturally rich, modern, easy public transportation oriented city. It has excellent art museums, medieval sections, modern tram, access to beach, close by Nimes, Avignon for terrific side trips and there is a robust tourist office in town. Also, its a college town with the oldest medical school in Europe so attracts an interesting population. We loved it for several day visit. -DR