I have run out of energy in planning and re-working parts of our itinerary and we leave in 10 days. Can someone help me with logistics in northern France? We will have a rental car and will see D-Day beaches, American cemetery, Bayeux tapestry and WWII museum the two days prior. July 9 a.m. will drive to Mont St Michel and also want to see Chartres. But need to catch a train from Paris to Cologne the next morning around 10. What time allowances are reasonable to see both places and drive. And where should we stay to be able to get to Paris Nord by 10:00 a.m.? Thanks again.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
You can get to Gare du Nord (Paris) before 10 am from anywhere in Paris. Stay where you want and take the Metro or taxi.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Edit: Disregard orig post since I'm stupid.
From Caen/Bayeux, you're only about an hour and a half from MSM. The only thing that could screw you up is following some gps/mapping progam that would lead you to leave the E401 prematurely -- stick with it until Pontorson and cut straight north to MSN. Even if you get behind the buses, it's only about a five mile run off the freeway. Drive all the way out the causeway to the mont and park on the right -- the lot won't flood.
You need two hours, max, at MSN.
MSN to Chartres is any easy three hours. You'll fly for all except the first fifteen or twenty miles.
You need, minimally, a bit over an hour to see the cathedral.
Paris is one hour away.
You can do it all in one mean day. What I'd do is see the cathedral, eat, and spend the night at Chartres. A 7:00 am departure will get you to Paris Nord in time to turn in the car (if that's where you will do it) and catch the train. Otherwise, drive on into Paris that night and stay somewhere cheap on the north side -- maybe the St Ouen ETAP.
Coming back into Paris for the ETAP, get off the peripherique at Porte de Clignancourt, cross under, and backtrack until just after Fabre becomes Babinsky.
Coming back into Paris for Paris Nord, get off the ring road at PORTE de la Chapelle. Stay on RUE Chapelle (it will change names somewhere, but don't turn) until you cross BLVD Chapelle. The station will appear on your RIGHT (you might notice Gare de l'Est ahead on your left, but pay no attention). As you come to the south end of Paris Nord, hook a right into the car return area. The road might be Rue Dunkerque -- probably is. Another option is that right as you make that last turn there's a Kyriad and either a Mecure or an Ibis. Both are a couple of minute walk from the front doors of the station.
Posted by
OP
Kyle, TX, USA
92 posts
Thanks Ed and Swan. So is driving Bayeux to MSM (tour 2 hours), on to Chartres (tour 2 hours) and on to south of Paris a reasonable day?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Go back and read what I just rewrote. I mislead the hell out of you the first shot --completely missed the starting point and nights available.