Suggestions for France, 2 Weeks

I've been to Strasbourg - only had a short time there but I would love to go back...I was researching Reims/Dijon/Lyon for a friend and they looked nice as well - Dijon really appealed to me in a 'Strasbourg-looking' kind of way...am going to South of France this Sept - but you stated you weren't really interested in 'Roman' France...

Thanks Nicole and Terry. Just googling pictures of Uzes, Arles, Nimes, and Avignon has made me consider them. Oh how many the places and how little the time.

Hi Matt, We are planning our 2nd trip for 2013 and the whole country sounds wonderful again but we are going back to Brittany for a week then Paris for another by request of my kids! On our first trip we based for a week in Brittany. Medieval castles, coastal walled cities, Celtic history and stone circles (think Stonehenge only smaller), lots of farms and beautiful country drives. We visited Mont St Michel and Fougeres as well as Dinan, St Malo and surrounding areas. Great food including crepes and moules (mussels). My kids ate them everyday for lunch. Very easy to get to either direct from Paris to Rennes on the train then rent a car or you could be crazy like us and land in the AM and drive the 4 or so hours on the first weekend of summer vacation for France!

If it's history you're looking for how about all the Roman ruins in Southern France? So much to see and only two weeks, good luck.

Thank you for your reply. Having been to Rome (and loved it!) we wanted to experience more "French countryside" instead of French towns with Roman architecture etc.

Why not take the fast train from Paris to Avignon, then pick up a car and explore the south of France and the coast. The coast cities on the Med. are more than just the beach. Also, all the villages and towns within driving distance from Avignon are wonderful. You can then drop the car back in Avignon and take the train back to Paris to fly home, unless you can take a flight out of Marsailles. All of France is beautiful, but there is something so special about the south.

The Dordogne, with a car, is a spectacular choice, though it is a long haul there and back from Paris. Can you change your plan to fly home from Toulouse or Bordeaux? Provence is justly popular, though to me a good bit of its kick (though by no means all) comes from its Roman antiquities and history. In some respects I think your wish list describes Burgundy perfectly: la France profonde, a region that feels far from Paris, with some wonderful small towns (think Beaune, Semur, Vezeley, and the Serein valley) and a bucolic rural tilt. I would say, though, that there is less to see and do in Burgundy than in these other places. You've picked a great time to visit France, and as for your dilemma, you really can't go wrong. Have a blast!

I'd suggest the Burgundy region. Besides Beaune and Dijon, there's a lot of wonderful little towns. You can also add in trips to Vezelay, Guedelon, the Abbaye de Fontenay and other nearby sights.

Matt, having been to most of the areas suggested, I would concur with Terry's suggestion. Take the TGV to Avignon and rent a car at the TGV station. You could stay in Avignon as it is convenient to travel to other areas. Other possibilities are Nimes, Isle-sur-la Sorge, etc. Uzes is very small and to the far west of the area of interest. St. Remy seems to be a favorite on this board. Get Steves' book and use it as a guide to the Cotes du Rhone area to the north and Luberon to the east. It is also a doable drive to the Cote d' Azur from about Frejus west to Cassis. However, you might want to split your time, spending about 4 nights in Provence and 2 or 3 in Nice or somewhere closeby. Then drive back to Avignon, return the car, and take the TGV back to Paris. Dordogne is fine for a couple of days; Normandy is of primary interest for D-D beaches and Mont St. Michel. Provence and Cote d'Azur seem to have more to offer you.

As an alternative - we had a similar trip in 2010. Although this does not meet your criteria of having a base, it does allow you to see and experience the countryside feel. We had 9 days in Paris, then rented a car on the outskirts of Paris for a one week driving trip. We visited Normandy and Brittany, staying in Honfleur, Bayeux, Mont San Michele, Dinan, Vitres, and Chartres before returning to Paris for one night. While on our driving trip we were able to see the picturesque towns of Cancale, St.Malo, Dinan, Fougeres. The towns we stayed in are small and close in distance and one day was really enough to see the sights which included many castles, cathedrals, the Bayeux Tapestry, etc. Our route was a loop leaving from and returning to Paris making our 7 day trip enjoyable. We loved driving through the countryside and visiting the small towns along the way. But whichever region you choose, you're bound to have a great time!

Thanks everyone! Carol, I did look into this exact route and it's still on my radar to check out.

Based on your description, I would say you would love the Dordogne region. We spent a week in Sarlat last September and loved it. The only draw back, as someone mentioned is that it is about a 6 hour drive from Paris. I think Normandy is wonderful too, although for me, the WWII sites are a huge plus. I would like it without them, but I can't imagine going to Normandy and skipping them. Brittany is also lovely. I have not been to any of the other regions in France, but hope to get there some day. Hope you have a great trip!

You might want to check out the weather in the locations suggested at the time of year you will be there. That might influence your choices for this trip.