France Cathedrals tour--please help with itineraries

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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