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Revised itinerary for Provence and Burgundy

I just revised our Provence/Burgundy itinerary for what I hope is the final time! Thought this version might help others doing a similar trip....
Upon much reflection, I have decided to omit the original 2 nights in Lyon to make for a more relaxed trip. Lyon makes perfect sense location-wise for sure, and I am disappointed to not include it in some ways. But in the end, I was starting to feel that we were both jumping around too much and that everything would feel too rushy! Plus I felt only 2 nights in Lyon would not do it justice either. So, here it is:

Fly into Paris, TGV to Avignon.
4 nights Avignon (no car), day trips to Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Nimes. Perhaps a lunch in Isle la Sorgue when we leave Avignon en route to Luberon area.
1 night Carcassonne. Train back to Arles/Avignon next day and pick up rental car in Avignon.
Drive to Menerbes
3 nights Menerbes (instead of 2), giving us a more relaxing pace in which to see surrounding hill towns: Roussillon, Lacoste, Joucas, Gordes, etc. plus spend some time in Menerbes.
Drive (via Sault and around base of Mont Ventoux to Cotes du Rhone villages.
3 nights Vaison la Romaine (instead of 2) with visits to Cotes du Rhone villages (Seguret, Crestet, Gigondas, Suzette, Vacqueyras...)
Drive north to Burgundy, making a few side stops north of Lyon.
3 nights Beaune (or Meursault)
Drop car in Dijon, take TGV to Paris
1 night Paris. Fly out of Paris.

These changes might seem disappointing to the many Lyon lovers out there, but it perhaps we'll visit it another time in relation to some other eastern places we'd like to see (Annecy, Chamonix, and places further north.)
I have to say I am breathing easier already with fewer place changes and longer stays. Sometimes an extra night can make all the difference. Many thanks to all for the input so far and helping me process it all!

Posted by
6713 posts

I think you may already have heard from others about Carcassonne, a long side trip for just one night in an otherwise worthwhile part of France. That's the one I'd cut out to focus on Provence and Burgundy. Probably I'd add more time to Burgundy (Beaune) with that choice.

One town you might consider adding is Orange, not far from Vaison. I haven't been to this part of France (planning a trip this fall) but it seems worthwhile, especially if you're into Roman sites.

Posted by
10617 posts

I think you’re wise to drop Lyon. We spent 4 nights there last year and enjoyed it. You’re right that 2 nights isn’t enough. Better to ad them for longer stops elsewhere.

Posted by
208 posts

Yes, Dick, I agree Carcassonne is the outlier in the lineup.
But as I mentioned in an earlier post, I debated about it quite a lot and my husband and I agreed we wanted to see it anyway. I did manage to get a train ride there from Arles that is only 2 1/2 hours, as opposed to the majority of the options which were mostly 3 hours or more. Same duration for the train back to Arles. And both were ideal departure times for the rest of our itinerary around those days.
Also, to eliminate Carcassonne at this juncture would mean altering all of the accommodations I've booked, and I've already done that once!
We're looking at this side trip as a (hopefully) very memorable and worthwhile experience. Plus the added downtime on the train isn't something we mind. We'll be renting a car after Carcassonne and driving for the next 9 days, so the respite in preparation might be welcome.:)
Andrea, appreciate the affirmation about Lyon..... I really would want to spend more time there I think!