by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:13th March 2018
We are not finished yet.
If there is one country that Gary and I bore people to death about it is probably France. We’ve lost count of the number of road trips we have taken through this wonderful country.
Touring through tiny villages, driving amongst stair-banked vineyards and along the twisting mountainside passes of the Col de Turini…..and don’t get us started on the La Corniche d'Or along the French Riviera.
It was quite tricky narrowing this list down, as anyone who has visited France will understand that there are so many beautiful places.
Well, here they are, in no particular order.
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Our first 16
We'll be discovering the following;
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Whenever I think of Avignon, I think of lavender. It’s wonderful that a smell can transport you back somewhere, with sunshine pouring down on to the banks of Rhône River.
The Pont d'Avignon
Avignon is in the Vaucluse region of southern France and in the heart of Provence; you'll undoubtedly recognise it by its famous bridge, Pont d'Avignon.
The Pont du Gard
It's a great base to discover nearby Nîmes, Arles & don't forget the Pont du Gard.
In Avignon, we chose to stay at the charming boutique hotel La Banasterie. It's just a short stroll to the historical centre of town.
Check out this post for more on 'Pont du Gard, Southern France'
Now, with Lyon, the memories are of food, which is handy, really, as it is often known as "the belly of France".
Lyon in the autumn
There's some beautiful food, and great restaurants to try. However, make sure you have your gastronomy dictionary in hand. Gary loved his quenelles de brochet, which were pike quenelles, but my Tablier de sapeur (tripe in breadcrumbs) was not my finest choice.
However, Lyon is a delightful city brimming with so much ancient history dating from the Romans. For our visit, we stayed at the Hotel Carlton Lyon. A wonderfully traditional hotel in a central location.
Did you know?
That Avignon, Lyon, Strasbourg, Paris are all inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
We have created a post on all the 12 UNESCO sites we have visited in France if you are interested.
We are now in the region of Alsace, and Strasbourg is a beautiful city to visit any time of year.
However, I would highly recommend you visit it in the lead-up to Christmas.
Image Caption
The illuminations and little Christmas cabins enhance this city even further.
Even outside Christmas, this is a wonderful city to visit. We have stayed at both the Régent Petite France & Spa and the Mercure Strasbourg Centre. We can recommend both; it's just a choice of budget and availability.
Looking over Petit France in Strasbourg
Try and grab a tarte flambée you won’t be disappointed.
You can read more on our Christmas trips in posts 'The Glittering Streets of Strasbourg, France' and the 'An Alsatian Christmas experience'
If like us, you love visiting different regions of France then this Michelin guide will definitely assist in your planning.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our eastern France road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
There is no way that Paris would be left off the list. Gary and I have visited Paris a few times, and we discover more and more about the city every time we go. It’s always good to try and find something a little less obvious to do.
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
You’d struggle to beat some of Paris’s iconic views, but to rejuvenate those tired feet after a long day strolling through the cobbled streets of Montmartre and along the tree-lined boulevard of Champs Elysees, why not take a boat trip along the Canal Saint-Martin.
A Parisien cafe
For us, a croque monsieur and a vin rouge at a café on the left bank of the Seine is a great way to watch the world go by.
We choose to stay at the Melia Paris Notre Dame, which, as the name suggests, is just a short walk away from Notre Dame. However, it's a quiet little oasis hidden away from all the bustle of central Paris
Why not check out our posts, 'Paris, whatever the weather, or 'Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris'?
If you've yet to discover the beautiful architecture in Paris, and the pleasure of strolling along the River Seine at sunset, then you're in for a treat.
I find DK Eyewitness travel guides invaluable, they're extremely informative, easy to follow, and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Paris adventure, now you can grab the revised copy.
Yes, I know another town in Provence, but this such a beautiful area of France.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a fairly small town, and it was such a lovely place to stay.
Along the lanes of St Remy-de-Provence
Where is everybody?
It makes an excellent base for a few nights to tour the region. It had plenty of restaurants to choose from, and for the history buffs amongst us, it is also home to the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum.
The Mausoleum at Glanum
We always stay at the Hotel Gounod. It’s a wonderful hotel with fantastic service and very friendly staff, with offsite secure parking at a cost, which makes it ideal for a road trip.
We have a couple of posts with more information for you, the first is 'Our little secret, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France', we have more on the 'Ancient City of Glanum, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France', and finally the sanatorium that house Vincent van Gogh in 'Visiting the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France'
If you love Provence as much as we do, you'll want to start planning your visit now.
I so enjoy using the DK Eyewitness books, as they are extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Provencal road trip, now you can grab the revised copy.
We are now in the southern end of the Champagne region. We've stopped at Troyes more than once. Around 250 miles/400km from Calais, it makes an ideal stopover for those venturing to the south or a great base for a tour of the Champagne region.
Old town Troyes
Troyes has a lot of history amongst its cobbled streets; there are some beautiful examples of 16th-century half-timbered homes that have survived the test of time.
However, what we loved about Troyes is that it was such a pleasant town to stroll around, particularly around the quayside that runs along the Canal du Trevois. Also, enjoy sitting amongst the dancing water features and the attractive sculptures.
La Carousel, Troyes
Word of warning: beware of Andouillette de Troyes (local sausage). It's not for the faint-hearted.
On our last stay in Troyes, we enjoyed the Maison M. A delightful 19th-century guesthouse situated along the quayside, so just a short stroll to the centre of town.
Onsite parking is free, so an excellent base to explore more of Champagne.
You can read more in 'Troyes, a heart in the Champagne region.'
We are back south again, and this time, we are going to the beautiful Riviera town of Villefranche-sur-mer.
The view over Villefranche-sur-Mer
Admittedly, it is relatively small, but it makes up for that with its charm; take a wander along some of the little lanes that pass underneath the houses; it’ll feel like you are in a maze.
Head up above the town to capture the stunning view of the harbour and across the rooftops.
The underground walkways of Villefranche-sur-Mer
You can even pop along to Nice from here, or head the other way towards Monaco. There is a wonderful train route that you can pick up in the bay, but for Gary the roads heading towards Eze & La Turbie are to be driven.
We love a little extravagance, and so we chose the Welcome Hotel. If it was good enough for Winston Churchill, it's good enough for us.
To find out more check out our post 'Charming Villefranche-sur-Mer, France'
An incredibly historic city we discovered last year, it’s in the Normandy region of France, with plenty of apples and cider.
Not only was Rouen the place where Joan of Arc met her untimely end, but the impressive Gothic Cathedral, consecrated by William the Conqueror, also houses the heart of Richard the Lionheart in a tomb.
Cathedral of Notre Dame, Rouen
An incredibly historic city we discovered last year, it’s in the Normandy region of France, with plenty of apples and cider.
Not only was Rouen the place where Joan of Arc met her untimely end, but the impressive Gothic Cathedral, consecrated by William the Conqueror, also houses the heart of Richard the Lionheart in a tomb.
Rouen is also a great city to use as a base to discover other parts of Normandy; Claude Monet lived close by in Giverny; you’ll see the iconic lily pond or yourself.
The lily ponds at Giverny
When you return for a bite in the evening, head to Rue Eau de Robec for some great restaurants.
We chose the Mercure Champs de Mars, which is about 10-12 minutes’ walk to the centre of the town, but secure on-site parking - perfect for our Normandy Road Trip.
There's more info in 'Amongst the historical lanes of Rouen, France', 'Monet’s Giverny, France' and 'Our itinerary for a Normandy road-trip via Rouen, Caen & Alençon'
We love visiting France and each region so different from one another. I find the DK Eyewitness Guides really helpful in planning a trip and so often find interesting little snippets of info.
Take a peek at this revised Top 10 Pocket Travel Guide and see what you can discover.
You're in the north of France here, in French Flanders. A short hop from the UK, either by road (70 miles/115km from Calais). Or you can take the Eurostar from London (St Pancras) and be there in as little as 1 hour 22 minutes - yep, that's right.
Place Charles de Gaulle in Lille
So why Lille? The food is different - try the Flemish carbonnade in winter (a Beef and beer stew). You'll notice more people drink beer at the bars and cafés.
Le Carnot restaurant, Lille
Once you head south, the vino ratio increases. Lille has a different vibe to the south, and we 'Vive la difference'
You can find out more in our post 'A visit to Lille in northern France'
Let us know
What is your favourite French town or city? We’d love to add them to our list. Leave us a comment below.
Picture postcard perfect - that's Colmar. In it's very Alsace way. You'll notice the local wine is different too, and who cannot love those green stemmed wine glasses.
The canals of Colmar
It's another 'Little Venice', and you really should take a trip on the canals.
Oh, and make sure you try the regional dish of Tarte Flambée.
For our stays in Colmar we have chosen the Hotel Le Colombier. An excellent location and a fantastic hotel, well worth the expense.
Crit'Air vignette required for driving in France
If you’re heading to France from the UK with your own vehicle, you’ll need a Crit’Air ‘clean air’ car sticker.
Just like our low-emission zones in the UK, France now legally requires the display of a Crit’Air vignette. The good news is, these stickers are readily available and affordable online through the official French government website.
The Crit’Air sticker lasts the lifetime of the vehicle, so it’s a one-off purchase. The RAC website offers an in-depth guide to everything you need to know and your requirements.
We're in the Lorraine region of France; yes, of the quiche variety. Head to the Place Stanislas, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a great place to relax and watch the world go by.
La Place Stanislas, Nancy
This town has some fantastic Art Nouveau architecture, great restaurants and bars. It's well worth checking out.
We stayed at the Hotel Des Prélats, a charming, classic hotel just 100m from La Place Stanislas.
In our opinion
We love embarking on road trips, so our preferred mode of transport is always jumping in a car. We find it’s the best way to discover a country. Rental Cars searches multiple well-known car hire brands and discovers the deals that suit you the best.
You're in Burgundy country here, and this place takes it's wine seriously. You'll notice that by the shops dedicated to all things of the grape.
Place Carnot in Beaune
It's a great base to go out and explore the local vineyards, but if you want to stick to the town, check out the Hospices de Beaune. Once a charitable almshouse, it is now home to a museum and the annual wine auction held in November.
The vineyards of Burgundy
Oh, and this is the place to try the boeuf bourguignon.
We stayed in the centre of Beaune at the Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa Beaune. This beautiful hotel, with onsite parking, was a delight to return to in the evening.
We've jumped to the south and the Spanish border. You are now in Basque country, and the regional flag's Red, White, and green colours appear frequently.
The harbour at Saint Jean-de-Luz
In our time here, we found the welcome so warm—lovely people (not that any other regions are not, of course). You're a short hop from Biarritz and Bayonne.
On the food front, you can't leave here without trying the Piperade, a regional dish of onions, tomatoes & green peppers (bell) - The colours of the Basque region. For once, we recommend a dish all can enjoy - no meat.
Doesn't the name conjure up something special? It sounds like it should be a location in a romantic French film (I'm sure it has been)
The new port of La Rochelle
This historic part of France is riddled with many stories of the Knights Templar, the Huguenots and the Romans, to name but a few. But stroll along the water's edge, and it's just a romantic little town with some fantastic restaurants.
It'll come as no surprise, given its proximity to the Bay of Biscay, that seafood is the order of the day, all washed down with local white wine.
I love nothing more than planning a trip through France and so often I use the DK Eyewitness books. I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our French road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
The City of Kings. This city was where the Kings of France were crowned. Now it's the King of the Champagne region, (Okay, it may share that title with Epernay & Ay), so your drink of choice is sorted.
Place Royale, Reims
It's a great place to explore the history of Champagne, why not visit a Champagne house? We did.
Our accommodation for the 3 nights in Reims was at the Best Western La Paix. Very centrally located and parking was €14 per night.
The full pit complex from the Circuit Reims-Gueux
And for the petrol heads, and that includes Gary, there's the Circuit Reims-Gueux. Just on the outskirts of the city are the remains of a classic race circuit.
Interested in more? Have a look at 'Where Kings were crowned, Reims, France', 'A tour of a Champagne cellar' and 'A piece of history – Circuit Reims-Gueux'
We'll finish with the iconic. Mont Saint-Michel is a joy, and a tourist trap. It gets really busy, and the prices are a little higher than nearby, but should you avoid it - hell no. Plan to arrive early, or better still, stay close by and make your trek to the top. It's well worth it.
The view of Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy
As you would expect, we have a post on our visit if you'd like to know more about 'Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France'
Why not?
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Or alternatively, catch a Brittany Ferry and tour through France under your own steam.
Would you like more inspiration?
As we said, the story doesn't end here; we have travelled through a lot of France (and there's plenty more for us to see), and this is what we have so far.
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