Place to visit in France

Bourges is about midway between Paris and Sarlat, with IMHO one of France's best cathedrals, including beautiful medieval stained glass low on the apse wall so you can see it up close. Also the Jacques Coeur palace, a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. And a nice walkable downtown. We stayed at the Hotel Christina, near the marketplace, and were pleased with it. But we were there just one night last year, I don't think we would have wanted to spend five days. Another interesting place between Bourges and Sarlat is Nohant, near Le Chatre. Nohant is a very small village with a small old Romanesque church and the 19th century home of the writer George Sand, which you can tour. Chopin spent a lot of time there. There's an inn in the village but we didn't stay or eat there. With five days between Paris and Sarlat, and skipping the Loire, you'll no doubt be venturing farther afield. Good luck!

What about Burgundy? I realize it's not exactly en route, but I loved it and could easily spend more time there.

Take the TGV south and split the time between Provence and Languedoc. Roman antiquities and Cathar ruins. Fast trains make this logistically sweet (even though it is not a straight line), but rent a car at some point.

I ain't so sure cathar ruins exist. Those things are the ruins of stuff built where cathars had built stuff earlier. The cathars had neither the knowledge nor enough people to build a castle.

Susan I agree with Adam. Provence or Languedoc would be perfect. Here is a suggestion: TGV from Paris to Avignon, rent a car, stay in St. Remy de Provence. It is 39 minutes from the train station. Wonderful small town, central area is pedestrian only. Great place to take side trips to the hill towns of Provence. Beautiful! Not that familiar with Languedoc. Have a wonderful time in France! Bobbie

Hi Susan, Bobbie nailed it. In my opinion, if you remove the Loire, then there isn't much between paris and sarlat to spend 5 days. The TGV is quick to Avignon, and you could spend WAY more than 5 days in provence (you'll want a car, though). On my last trip to france, we took the reverse trip (Sarlat, carcassonne, arles, avignon) and the trains worked great for this travel. We rented a car to explore provence, especially Pont du Gard (take a picnic lunch with you).
of course, you could also spend your 5 days in burgundy, but it's even more out of the way.

How about La Rochelle, Ile de Re, Bordeaux, Arcachon, and/or Cap Ferret? The west coast of France is not on the average American tourist's radar but is worth seeing.

Ed, maybe you are thinking of Carcassonne, which is kind of a special case. But the old forts for the most part ceased to be strategic when taken by the French, so they were not built on or maintained. I'm thinking for instance of the chateaux in the Haut Corbieres such as Peyrepertuse. I believe Lastours, which is in near Carcassonne, is similarly authentic, but I could be wrong.

I second Grier's suggestion- add Mont St Michel, St Malo, St Emillion, Rocamador and tons of sleepy little villages in the Dordogne

Burgundy would work. From there you could easily do the overnight in Bourges and on to Sarlat. Grier's idea would work well too for a relaxed five days.