France recommendations
-
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:25 pm
- Been Liked: 313 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
France recommendations
I'm driving down to the South of France at the end of the month and have decided to do a couple of overnight stops on both legs. Just looking for some remommendations for places to visit. I havent looked at a route yet. Thanks
-
- Posts: 3748
- Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:49 am
- Been Liked: 927 times
- Has Liked: 716 times
Re: France recommendations
I stumbled on, and loved, Nîmes. Beautiful little city.
This user liked this post: piston broke
-
- Posts: 1042
- Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2016 9:14 pm
- Been Liked: 364 times
Re: France recommendations
The Tarn region. Beautiful.
-
- Posts: 5548
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:40 pm
- Been Liked: 1448 times
- Has Liked: 1229 times
- Location: Ferkham Hall
Re: France recommendations
Where are you crossing?
Are you banging on, on autoroutes or touring?
Are you banging on, on autoroutes or touring?
Last edited by piston broke on Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 693
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 6:29 pm
- Been Liked: 192 times
- Has Liked: 107 times
- Location: Pie in the sky
Re: France recommendations
Tours is halfway-ish. Beautiful city.
-
- Posts: 15260
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:47 am
- Been Liked: 3164 times
- Has Liked: 6759 times
Re: France recommendations
My favourite French town is Bayonne, not everyone's cup of tea though.
-
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:25 pm
- Been Liked: 313 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
Re: France recommendations
Nothing set in stone but auto routes for the majority i guesspiston broke wrote:Where are you crossing?
Are you banging on, on autoroutes or touring?
-
- Posts: 693
- Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 6:29 pm
- Been Liked: 192 times
- Has Liked: 107 times
- Location: Pie in the sky
Re: France recommendations
Avoid Paris at all costs. We always drop into the south via Picardy and Normandy.
Re: France recommendations
Provence is great
Nice is a beautiful city
Within an hour or two from Nice loads of little villages which are fantastic- we were near Gorge de Verdon which is spectacular
Nice is a beautiful city
Within an hour or two from Nice loads of little villages which are fantastic- we were near Gorge de Verdon which is spectacular
-
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:25 pm
- Been Liked: 313 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
Re: France recommendations
Looks superb. That's in, thanksHollandsPies wrote:Tours is halfway-ish. Beautiful city.
-
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 7:48 pm
- Been Liked: 100 times
- Has Liked: 294 times
Re: France recommendations
Troyes is awesome if you like medieval timber frame buildings
This user liked this post: FactualFrank
-
- Posts: 7312
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 5:06 pm
- Been Liked: 1827 times
- Has Liked: 3964 times
Re: France recommendations
Tunnel is usually cheapest and quickest. Then onwards to Reims, (Champagne region) for an overnight stop. It's less than 3 hours from Calais so very driveable on day 1.Rumbletonk wrote:Nothing set in stone but auto routes for the majority i guess
Then onwards with any of the following being well worth a stop. Troyes, Dijon, Lyon, Orange, Avignon and Nimes.
Lyon is a bit busy with traffic, but a magnificent city (if you like cities). The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[If you're not a frequent traveller to France, then ensure that you are up to date with the current driving regs. Make sure your yellow high vis jackets are inside the car - not in the boot, and if you are stopped by the police and asked to get out make sure you put your jacket on first otherwise you are technically committing an offence].
I'm sure you'll have a great time though. Driving is a great pleasure in France.
-
- Posts: 5548
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:40 pm
- Been Liked: 1448 times
- Has Liked: 1229 times
- Location: Ferkham Hall
Re: France recommendations
Driving in France this is worth a read.
https://www.drive-france.com/checklist/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.drive-france.com/checklist/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
These 2 users liked this post: nil_desperandum Rumbletonk
-
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:25 pm
- Been Liked: 313 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
Re: France recommendations
Appreciate the advice, thanks.nil_desperandum wrote:Tunnel is usually cheapest and quickest. Then onwards to Reims, (Champagne region) for an overnight stop. It's less than 3 hours from Calais so very driveable on day 1.
Then onwards with any of the following being well worth a stop. Troyes, Dijon, Lyon, Orange, Avignon and Nimes.
Lyon is a bit busy with traffic, but a magnificent city (if you like cities). The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[If you're not a frequent traveller to France, then ensure that you are up to date with the current driving regs. Make sure your yellow high vis jackets are inside the car - not in the boot, and if you are stopped by the police and asked to get out make sure you put your jacket on first otherwise you are technically committing an offence].
I'm sure you'll have a great time though. Driving is a great pleasure in France.
Re: France recommendations
Orange is worth considering. There's an Ibis hotel just off the motorway there and the Roman amphitheatre is well worth a visit.
-
- Posts: 3326
- Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
- Been Liked: 1304 times
- Has Liked: 318 times
- Location: Accrington
Re: France recommendations
I've visited many places in the world but Lourdes at the foot of the Pyrenees is by far and away the best for me.
You get extra heart beats when you walk through the gates to the wonderful Churches and Basilicas and the Grotto.
Hotel Panorama. Beautiful and welcoming.
You get extra heart beats when you walk through the gates to the wonderful Churches and Basilicas and the Grotto.
Hotel Panorama. Beautiful and welcoming.
-
- Posts: 3326
- Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 8:21 pm
- Been Liked: 1304 times
- Has Liked: 318 times
- Location: Accrington
Re: France recommendations
Is it a Wetherspoons Roman amphitheatre?Leisure wrote:Orange is worth considering. There's an Ibis hotel just off the motorway there and the Roman amphitheatre is well worth a visit.
This user liked this post: Leisure
-
- Posts: 9473
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2016 10:47 pm
- Been Liked: 1185 times
- Has Liked: 779 times
Re: France recommendations
Orb valleys stunning when I flew to bezier I explored some of surrounding scenery.
Re: France recommendations
Use Hotel F1.. Basic but cheap.
-
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2018 8:47 am
Re: France recommendations
I’m setting off Thursday morning for 3 weeks in St Tropez. As we have a 9 month old baby we are taking our time. First night in Dover, sail over Friday to Dunkirk. Friday night in Reims. Then we usually try and stay somewhere different a few hours away from the riviera. This time a little town called Pont-saint-esprit.
Coming back, Dijon then Lille and a stop over somewhere in the south of England.
Usually do two stopovers but with the little one thought it would be a bit of a push.
Coming back, Dijon then Lille and a stop over somewhere in the south of England.
Usually do two stopovers but with the little one thought it would be a bit of a push.
-
- Posts: 5650
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:25 pm
- Been Liked: 1217 times
- Has Liked: 7197 times
- Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Re: France recommendations
I used to love riding through France on my way to Portugal on my almost annual trip before I moved away from Britain. Since then, 2011, I haven't set foot in the place. It's my only regret regarding leaving England.
I stayed in so many places, but seeing as I was riding solo, cheap accommodation was important. Alencon was fun. I stayed in a couple of the small hotels near the station. Hotel De La Gare being one, not surprisingly. Poitiers was okay. Tours is nice. In the 90s there were any number of Les Routieres places with dirt cheap rooms and great restaurants, also dirt cheap. Real truck stops. Sadly, one by one, they've closed down. Spain is still good for bargain rooms, but that's a different story.
Have fun.
I stayed in so many places, but seeing as I was riding solo, cheap accommodation was important. Alencon was fun. I stayed in a couple of the small hotels near the station. Hotel De La Gare being one, not surprisingly. Poitiers was okay. Tours is nice. In the 90s there were any number of Les Routieres places with dirt cheap rooms and great restaurants, also dirt cheap. Real truck stops. Sadly, one by one, they've closed down. Spain is still good for bargain rooms, but that's a different story.
Have fun.
-
- Posts: 2039
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:00 pm
- Been Liked: 437 times
- Has Liked: 371 times
Re: France recommendations
Agree Nimes is a nice little place to visit.thatdberight wrote:I stumbled on, and loved, Nîmes. Beautiful little city.
Enjoy Cassis on the south coast too.
-
- Posts: 5548
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:40 pm
- Been Liked: 1448 times
- Has Liked: 1229 times
- Location: Ferkham Hall
Re: France recommendations
Another big like for Nimes.
Monaco and Antibes are wonderful on the Cote d’Azur.
Monaco and Antibes are wonderful on the Cote d’Azur.
-
- Posts: 548
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:45 am
- Been Liked: 90 times
- Has Liked: 167 times
Re: France recommendations
Beaune, Burgundy's jewel...en route to the sun and worth stopping for the town and the wine!
-
- Posts: 3603
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:10 am
- Been Liked: 1338 times
- Has Liked: 757 times
- Location: Nantwich
Re: France recommendations
Oradour-Sur-Glane is well worth a visit. It’s about 10 miles to the North West of Limoges.
Re: France recommendations
Say hello to Jean Roch!Phathanded wrote:I’m setting off Thursday morning for 3 weeks in St Tropez. As we have a 9 month old baby we are taking our time. First night in Dover, sail over Friday to Dunkirk. Friday night in Reims. Then we usually try and stay somewhere different a few hours away from the riviera. This time a little town called Pont-saint-esprit.
Coming back, Dijon then Lille and a stop over somewhere in the south of England.
Usually do two stopovers but with the little one thought it would be a bit of a push.
-
- Posts: 13267
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5173 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: France recommendations
Have to recommend Montpellier. Genuinely one of the prettiest and most French little cities you'll find.
Although Montpellier doesn't have an amphitheatre but it's far better than Nimes. Nicer bars, better restaurants, better architecture (ampitheatre aside) and far far better nightlife.
Come to Montpellier. I'll give you a discount if you walk into my bar with a Burnley shirt on.
Although Montpellier doesn't have an amphitheatre but it's far better than Nimes. Nicer bars, better restaurants, better architecture (ampitheatre aside) and far far better nightlife.
Come to Montpellier. I'll give you a discount if you walk into my bar with a Burnley shirt on.
-
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:25 pm
- Been Liked: 313 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
Re: France recommendations
Send me a link to the bar Rowls. No promises but if I can squeeze in a visit I will. We'll have to pretend its a coincidence to Mrs Rumble rather than changing our whole route to fit in a beer with an exiled ClaretRowls wrote:Have to recommend Montpellier. Genuinely one of the prettiest and most French little cities you'll find.
Although Montpellier doesn't have an amphitheatre but it's far better than Nimes. Nicer bars, better restaurants, better architecture (ampitheatre aside) and far far better nightlife.
Come to Montpellier. I'll give you a discount if you walk into my bar with a Burnley shirt on.
This user liked this post: tim_noone
-
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2016 5:25 pm
- Been Liked: 313 times
- Has Liked: 285 times
Re: France recommendations
I think we're stopping for lunch in Montpellier todayRowls wrote:Have to recommend Montpellier. Genuinely one of the prettiest and most French little cities you'll find.
Although Montpellier doesn't have an amphitheatre but it's far better than Nimes. Nicer bars, better restaurants, better architecture (ampitheatre aside) and far far better nightlife.
Come to Montpellier. I'll give you a discount if you walk into my bar with a Burnley shirt on.
Re: France recommendations
I have stopped in Clermont-Ferrand and Le Puy-en-velay (where the lentils originate allegedly!) on recent tour de France holidays. I was in my campervan so can't recommend any accommodation, but those were two fantastic places to visit, very welcoming people too. I've not been disappointed with anywhere in the central massif to be honest, lovely area, definitely worth a stopover.
I can only echo the driving info, have a read up on it, I ended up getting an emissions sticker which covered a few cities. I can't remember which cities it applies to but Paris and Lyon were definitely two of them.
I can only echo the driving info, have a read up on it, I ended up getting an emissions sticker which covered a few cities. I can't remember which cities it applies to but Paris and Lyon were definitely two of them.
-
- Posts: 1022
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:17 pm
- Been Liked: 504 times
- Has Liked: 635 times
Re: France recommendations
The area around Nice is lovely. We stayed on a camp site near a small town called Frejus. Beautiful part of the world.
-
- Posts: 21464
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:59 pm
- Been Liked: 8585 times
- Has Liked: 11285 times
Re: France recommendations
Nice is great. Reminded me of an english resort from the 50s.
Mrs wants to go to france by train again soon. so looking at marseille or montpellier.
Mrs wants to go to france by train again soon. so looking at marseille or montpellier.
-
- Posts: 1022
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:17 pm
- Been Liked: 504 times
- Has Liked: 635 times
Re: France recommendations
Yes, pretty certain it was designed as an old Victorian Seaside Town. Promenade des Anglais runs along the front. No pier thoughcricketfieldclarets wrote:Nice is great. Reminded me of an english resort from the 50s.
Mrs wants to go to france by train again soon. so looking at marseille or montpellier.
Didn’t particularly like Marseilles. Felt quite scruffy and a little intimidating. Maybe just visited the wrong places?
If you are in the area though, a trip to Monte Carlo is a must. Amazing place!
-
- Posts: 21464
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:59 pm
- Been Liked: 8585 times
- Has Liked: 11285 times
Re: France recommendations
Done all three before. Loved monaco too.1968claret wrote:Yes, pretty certain it was designed as an old Victorian Seaside Town. Promenade des Anglais runs along the front. No pier though
Didn’t particularly like Marseilles. Felt quite scruffy and a little intimidating. Maybe just visited the wrong places?
If you are in the area though, a trip to Monte Carlo is a must. Amazing place!
Marseille is very rough and ready. But would love to visit again. Mrs hasnt been but has done the others.