I will be on a trip through Europe with my granddaughter next month. We will have a rental car and be visiting the Swiss alps before we return the car in Lyon. I think at this point we are going to be ready for some down time. What We are looking for is someplace out of the way that is quiet beautiful and friendly (good food would be a plus ;-)
Preferably in the hills somewhat between Geneva and Lyon.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Marty
Posted by
31 posts
You could check out the Annecy area. I don't think it is quiet as it is a popular tourist place but maybe there are some small villages are there.
The issue at this point is the World Cup is in Lyon for the first week of July so the area will most likely be pretty crowded for the first few weeks of July.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
Annecy comes to mind but Perouges might interest you. Perouges is such an ideal medieval town, however, it may have be packed with tourists in summer. You may find something a bike ride from the center of Annecy (there's a bike trail around the lake) that would allow you to relax but still get into town for dinner/shopping.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you. I guess I hadn't done a very good job of planning if I had no idea that the World Cup was in Lyon the week I was planning to go!! We will eventually end up in Paris so I'm going to try to return the car someplace closer and skip Lyon completely. If anyone knows of any fabulous places between Geneva and Paris, I am rerouting now. Thanks again :-)
Posted by
Washington DC
28085 posts
Don't feel bad. So far on this trip I've hit some sort of soccer game, a bike race and a classic-car race. All had the expected effect on room availability and rates. Very annoying.
Posted by
106 posts
If you've decided to ditch Lyon, which is probably a good idea because of the World Cup crowds, a couple of suggestions are:
If you're leaving Geneva later in the day and want a place not far along the way to Paris, try the Gothique Café in Baumes-les-Messieurs in France, about 2 hours NNW of Geneva. The town is a pretty cool village in a dramatic valley, and the place is a former Cluniac abbey originally constructed in the 9th century but taking on its current appearance in much more recent times: in the 16th century. Despite the "café" name it's a chambre d'hôte. There's a nice waterfall and hiking trails just outside town (Cascade des tufs).
If you're leaving Geneva earlier in the day and want to make more miles before bedding down, consider stopping in the historic hill town of Vézelay (about 4 hours NW of Geneva), which has a pretty spectacular Benedictine abbey that was the location from where two of the Crusades were launched, though both probably could be characterized as disasters for France and the Pope. There are several places to stay, including hotels, gites, and Airbnbs. You and your granddaughter might appreciate walking the quiet streets after dark in a profoundly medieval hill town.
Posted by
59 posts
Grenoble We had a great time there. Visit chartreuse. Lots to do. Not many tourists