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France Cathedrals tour--please help with itineraries

Posted by (Chicago, IL, USA) on

Here are three posibilities for a one week trip to see cathedrals in France in November. We will be using trains exclusively to travel between cities, and your advice would be greatly appreciated.

First option:

Fly into Frankfurt, take train to Strasbourg. Strasbourg to Colmar. Colmar to Reims. Reims to Chartes. Fly out Paris.

Second Option:

Fly into Paris, train to Chartres. Chartres to Angers, Angers to Lyon, Lyon to Reims. Fly out Paris.

Third option:

Fly into Paris, train to Reims. Reims to Amiens. Amiens to Rouen. Rouen to Chartres, fly out Paris.

We haven't been to any of these places (other than Paris) and would be delighted to see them all. We are looking with an eye for the most economical and efficient way to go. Thanks!

Posted by
3313 posts

The first and third seem very doable. The second looks like a lot of back and forth through Paris unless you've found direct train routes. You can check on www.sncf.fr.

Posted by
10344 posts

May I ask a question of you first: I take it from your question that you wish to focus on seeing cathedrals? That this is the main thrust of your trip planning? Your answer to this makes a difference in what the advice should be.

Posted by
435 posts

Thank you for your responses. Yes, the main idea is to see cathedrals, but we also enjoy tapestries and alterpieces (and never would turn down a fine art museum).

Posted by
875 posts

I would vote for the 1st option. Be sure to see the altarpieces at the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar. The town itself is lovely, as are some of the nearby villages. Can't speak for Strasbourg as we missed it on this trip. The cathedral in Reims was definitely worth our time there as was the time visiting the champagne caves. Chartres is awesome also. We were there a few weeks ago -- the weather was extremely cold & windy and then in the cathedral it was even colder! Actually the weather reminded me of that cold wind that blows off Lake Michigan in the winter! Also try to see Sainte Chappelle in Paris if you have not seen it.

Posted by
435 posts

Thanks for your reply, Janis. Yes, I've been salivating at the thought of seeing the Isenheim alterpiece.

We always travel in winter, and the wind and cold can indeed feel awfully familiar.

Posted by
10344 posts

Matti: You sound like you've done your homework and research and probably already know this, but the UNESCO World Heritage cathedrals and abbeys in France are:Chartres CathedralAmiens CathedralFontenay AbbeyVezelay BasilicaSaint-Savin-sur-Gartempe AbbeyStrasbourg CathedralReims CathedralCathedrale St-Etienne (Bourges)and of course several in Paris

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