My husband are going to France arriving 8/31 returning home 9/23.
We are flying into CDG ,Paris. Renting a car and driving to Fontainebleau for 3 days.8/31,9/1,9/2 departing on 9/3. Need suggestions for where to go next. Staying in Loches from 9/8-9/15. Then to Sarlat 9/15 to 9/21. Also where to stop between Sarlat and the airport.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5716 posts
You could stop in the Loire. I like the city of Amboise for their cute downtown with restaurants and for the chateaus in town. Other Loire chateau are pretty convenient to Amboise. There is also wineries to visit.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5716 posts
Chartres would be a good stop on the way to the loire. They have a beautiful cathedral and typically a light show in the evening. We enjoyed walking along the stream (?river) thru town.
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
I would also recommend the Loire Valley and a visit to Chateau Chenonceau. We spent an afternoon in Amboise and enjoyed walking through the town & visiting Da Vinci's residence. Chartres is well worth an overnight stop to visit the Cathedral and view the light show. As far as Sarlat, they have an unforgettable Saturday market. One of our favorite areas in France. We were there in the month of September. The weather was delightful.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6563 posts
So you leave Fontainebleau and have five nights before you're due at Loches. Good problem to have. And I take it that you don't want to spend time in Paris on this trip. And you don't necessarily want to park for all five nights in just one place -- ?
Chartres is a good candidate. So are Orleans and Bourges. Auxerre and Vezelay in the other direction. Guedelon, where they're building a castle the old-fashioned way. You could venture further, to Dijon/Beaune or Autun. You'd have time to get a good taste of Burgundy (geographically and oenologically) before heading west.
I don't mention the Loire because with a week in Loches you'll have time to see a lot of chateaux and caves and whatever you want in that area. Loches is very nice but you'll run out of things to do there after a day, unless this is a visit with friends or family.
As for the trip from Sarlat back to CDG, Via Michelin calls that a 6-hour drive (make it 7 or 8 with stops and traffic). Stopping places might include Limoges, Bourges, or Orleans, all close to the fastest route. Or Tours, if you missed it during your Loire week.
This sounds like a great trip. Rent a big car and I'll come along to entertain you! ;-)
Posted by
OP
Massachusetts
38 posts
We are staying in Loche for a week as a base to visit Loire Valley. Then a week in Sarlat. That is confirmed. Looking for ideas for the week between when we get to France and when we go to Loire Valley. And a one night stop to break up the drive from Sarlat and Paris airport