Hi,
We are travelling from Paris to Marseilles this june and would like some input on routes, small town experiences and castles. We have spent the last couple of years mostly in provence and languedoc regions. We love flea/food markets, local history but most of all the experiences with people. We will be travelling with via car. We would be appreciative of any advice you may have for us.
Please share....and thank you in advance.
David and Connie
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Are you flying out of Paris (meaning you will have to back-track to get back to Paris)?
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
If you have not traveled to the Carmague that might be an option. It is so different from the surrounding area and if you like nature and the sea it has a lot to offer. Saint Marie de la Mer was a charming town and across the way in a sort of lagoon there were hundreds of flamingos. It was stunning. The images of the white horses running wild however were not as we imagined. The term 'wild horses' in France apparently meant something different... from how it was eventually explained to us, it simply meant they did not go in the barn at night??? So, visions of pink flamingos and beautiful white French horses remained in our dreams. We did see a number of the white horses, but they were fenced in, not running wild. There are any number of nature tours you can take there and also horseback riding. One time we had dinner in a barn where they literally brought a horse in and walked it all around while some of our group rode it! Lots of fun. It was an interesting diversion. One time we only saw 3 flamingos... so it's definitely not predictable.
Posted by
OP
Vacaville, california, USA
15 posts
Hi ,
We will be picking up a car after our 5 day visit to Paris and then dropping it off in Barcelona upon our flight back to the US on July 11th. We would like to include some castles/chateaus and cozy villages to spend the night.
We appreciate any and all input you may have on our trip.
Thank you in advance for your time!
David and Connie
Posted by
Bay Area, Callifornia
7 posts
You mention you have stayed in Provence before but don't specify where.
I would definitely make a one night stop in Lyon - arguably the best food in France.
I would also make a stop in St. Remy de Provence. Nice little town. I spent a few days using it as a base for exploration but even a one night stop is worth it.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Spend several days exploring the chateaux of the Loire Valley, staying somewhere in or near Tours.
This is a good list ... http://www.frenchmoments.eu/top-10-most-beautiful-chateaux-of-the-loire-valley/
Then on to Lyon for a few days of gastronomy before down to Marseille.