I am trying to arrange travel between Beziers to Rouen, bypassing Paris on the way if possible. Is train travel available between these cities? Is it possible to rent a car in Rouen and drop off in Paris after touring Normandy?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
1. Yes, but through Paris only. 2. Yes, but Caen might suit your needs better.
Posted by
OP
Bellevue, Washington, United States
13 posts
Thank you for your response, Ed. Are you recommending Caen over Rouen because the city is nicer or just that it is easier to pick up a rental? I'm trying to do the travel from Beziers to the Normandy area in one day and avoid a night in Paris. We are doing a canal trip and will be returning from the boat in Port Cassafrierres by 9 am, taking a taxi to Beziers and hopefully catching a train to some place in Normandy on the same day.
Joy
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Rouen is a bit closer to Paris by train. Toss in the drive from Rouen to Caen/Bayeux and the latter are closer. Caen and Bayeux are smack dab in the middle of what most tourists call Normandy (the WW II stuff) but has no basis in reality or geography. Driving out of Rouen and feeling yourself across the creek can be a pain in the tail - - if you screw up and run the right bank and cut across the new Normandy Bridge, you've really built yourself a pickle. Car rental places are right out the door of the Caen station; they're remote in Bayeux. Caen sucks as a place to stay. Bayeux is pretty good. You can drive between the two in twenty minutes. Bayeux has a much better military museum. Here's the kicker: I once dropped some people we were traveling with at Gare St Lazare because they wanted a 'train experience'. I was waiting for them and had already sucked down a coffee when they came out of the station. Admittedly they'd had to buy tickets, find the platform, and wait for the train - - and I knew exactly what I was doing. I'm not much of a trainer, but I think you'd come in via either the Austerlitz or Lyon stations. It'd be close since you'd have to metro yourself across town, but if think I could repeat the stunt. Just a thought - - it galls me to
pay for tickets the same day I'm paying for a car. Gas and tolls are an additional factor.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Missed the part about what is nicer. I really like Rouen. Bayeux is a good place to stay for WW II stuff. Caen is a train station. That's the order for me.