We have a trip scheduled for France in late July/early August and have already done Paris and Normandy. Can someone suggest something worthwhile for 7 days that we can do? We were thinking about renting a car and going south, but not sure if we should go as far as the Riveria or West to the Atlantic? Any ideas?
Ken
Provence or Dordogne/Perigord. Pick one, don't try to do both. I'd probably skip Provence that time of year and come back in spring or fall with more time.
How about the Dordogne and Languedoc areas - shouldn't be too hard to combine the 2 for 7 days. Fly into Bordeaux or Toulouse and rent a car. In the Dordogne you've got Sarlat (gorgeous!), Beynac, the caves, and the fabulous canoe trips. Then you could drive south (maybe stopping in Albi) and see Carcassonne and some of the Cathar castles.
I'd consider adding Lyon as a stopover on your way south.
Fast train to Bayonne from Paris & use Bayonne as your home base to explore Pays Basque (on both sides of the border).
After a 5+/- hour fast train from Paris you're in Bayonne and can then strike out for San Sebastian or Bilbao, Spain; or closer to 'home', St. Jean de Luz and/or Biarritz in France, or head east into the real Basque country. If 'twas me, I'd rent a car in Bayonne and get into the real Pays Basque just a few miles inland (as opposed to the ersatz Basque country that Rick speaks of right on the coast).
Some small towns/villages to think of visiting: Ustaritz, Espelette, Ainhoa (France); Dancharia, Elizondo, Santesteban (Spain). Do a loop from Bayonne through the towns above (did it in September), and you'll easily have a grand time in less than 7 days.
Turn the car back in at Bayonne, and off for a 5+/- hour train trip back to Paris.
