Hello. We are going to be in France this October and want to do a 7 day car rental trip after our time in Paris. We originally thought we'd visit the Dordogne, but not sure we'll have enough time. Can anyone recommend places to visit? We have gone to Normandy and Strausborg. We would like to visit a quieter area after Paris. We want to rent a car due to my very limited mobility and suspicions that the weather will be cold/rainy. Thanks!
Posted by
USA
139 posts
You could always take a train to another part of France and rent a car from there...that's what we sometimes do.
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA
2030 posts
I would tour the Loire Valley.
Posted by
OP
seattle
2047 posts
Forgot to say we've seen the Loire Valley too. Sorry.
Posted by
Lebanon
711 posts
Burgundy is lovely in the fall...close to Paris...lots of wonderful villages to explore. We usually get our car at Orly.
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1914 posts
Take the train to Tours, rent a car, spend 3 nights in the Loire, then drive to Burgundy for 4 nights and return to paris.
We loved both regions! Really, really fabulous!
Stay here:
http://www.leclosdelachesneraie.com/?lang=en
And here:
http://www.acarpediem.com
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1914 posts
Oh, just noticed you said you have seen the Loire. Ok, Burgundy it is! We have spent 7 nights in the link I gave you and it is fabulous!! So much to see and do in the area. It is our favorite!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
360 posts
We drove around Burgundy and Provence with a car after a stay in Paris and loved them both for the wine tasting and the scenery. I think you can do both in seven days and it was about a four hour or so drive from Beaune to L'Isle sur la Sorgue.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6533 posts
Burgundy would be a good choice, but why not the Dordogne if that's where you wanted to go? A scenic day's drive will get you to Sarlat. You'll need a car there, and with nearly a week you can see and do a lot. It's beautiful and peaceful and historic and the food's great. If you're flying home from Paris, get back to the city the night before, or all the way to the airport if it's a morning flight. Don't be racing on the highway to the airport on the day you fly.
Posted by
OP
seattle
2047 posts
Thank you all for your ideas! We're now planning on Burgundy. Becky
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2026 posts
Check out the wonderful Carpe Diem Guesthouse in Massangis. Really a great place, terrific hosts, beautiful room...truly...and the price was right. We stayed several nights about 2,3 years ago and it was a highlight on one of our best jaunts ever.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Extend your 7 days by taking the train.
For instance: Take the train from Paris to Burgundy and get your care there. It's faster. Use the car to go to the places the train doesn't.
Consider making you way down to Lyon (about 2 hours from Beaune) and returning the car there. Lyon is fabulous. Worth 2 or 3 nights at least.
We ended our last trip in Lyon after driving though Burgundy. Then we took a fast train from Lyon directly to CDG and flew home. These trains are frequent and we allocated extra time; we made our flight with time to spare despite a 40 minute train delay. It was a 2 hour train ride.
I know this strategy is controversial; it only works if you schedule an afternoon flight.
By using the trains in this way we added 2 days of sightseeing (versus logistics) to our trip.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3167 posts
A great sight to visit off the beaten path is Guedelon Castle. It's a fascinating exploration of a medieval construction project using authentic methods and materials.