Things to see in the middle of France

[jardinec]

Staying here in a week or two (closets big town in Troyes) with a car.

http://maps.google.fr/maps?f=q&source=s_q&...

What can we visit?

Any vineyards / champagne places worth touring?

Anything else nice for a family day out?

Any ideas and suggestions welcome, i've only ever been to Paris before.

[rsv gone!]

Are you based in Troyes?

I'd say;

Colmar - very beautiful
Mulhouse - enormous car collection
Besancon - interesting old town

Any of these is worth a night out.

For reference, avoid the autoroutes where possible and plan your route on a map, with a ruler. Follow the minor roads as lots of those are pretty fast.

[jardinec]

Thanks for those suggestions.

Staying here: http://www.chateaupercey.com/contact-5/

And driving down from Zebrugge so was just going to follow satnav / google maps.

[chard]

rsv gone! said:

Are you based in Troyes?

I'd say;

Colmar - very beautiful
Mulhouse - enormous car collection
Besancon - interesting old town

Any of these is worth a night out.

Hardly on the doorstep!!

[rsv gone!]

chard said:

rsv gone! said:

Are you based in Troyes?

I'd say;

Colmar - very beautiful
Mulhouse - enormous car collection
Besancon - interesting old town

Any of these is worth a night out.

Hardly on the doorstep!!

[jardinec]

rsv gone! said:

chard said:

rsv gone! said:

Are you based in Troyes?

I'd say;

Colmar - very beautiful
Mulhouse - enormous car collection
Besancon - interesting old town

Any of these is worth a night out.

Hardly on the doorstep!!

4hrs51m, 4hrs25m, 3hrs9m -> have you met my kids??

Reminds me of the time SWMBO told me to take her to Cape Kennedy - from the other end of Florida.

[ianash]

If the weather is nice, from Troyes take RN19 east for about 8 miles and go to the Foret Orient. There are three big lakes there, the larger one has a lovely little beach along with a cheapish cafe. Nice safe3 place for children to play and swim.

[SwanJack]

The UNESCO town of Provins in 70km away. Was there a few weeks back, it is well worth the trip. The 'Legend of the Knights' display that is put on the afternoon is excellent. My kids loved it.

http://www.provins.net/index.php/english-version.h...

[Zod]

jardinec said:

4hrs51m, 4hrs25m, 3hrs9m -> have you met my kids??

Reminds me of the time SWMBO told me to take her to Cape Kennedy - from the other end of Florida.

I'm driving 1000 miles to Tuscany over 2 days next month with a five year old, two year old and six month old. Should be fun!

[sinizter]

I am going on a trip to stay about half an hour from your spot on google maps. So will keep an eye on this thread.

[johnnyreggae]

I think Fontainebleu has a huge palace, Chablis area has white wine (eg www.brocard.fr), Epernay fizz, below Dijon for red - all about 100-150 miles (as is Disneyland.....)

Just as an aside why do folk commit to a holiday and only at the last minute ask if there's anything to do in the area !

[sinizter]

johnnyreggae said:

I think Fontainebleu has a huge palace, Chablis area has white wine (eg www.brocard.fr), Epernay fizz, below Dijon for red - all about 100-150 miles (as is Disneyland.....)

Just as an aside why do folk commit to a holiday and only at the last minute ask if there's anything to do in the area !

We know roughly what to do. I am just following this to see if there is anything I missed or would rather do.

[oblio]

Maybe Futuroscope near Poitiers?

Science theme park - went years ago so can't vouch for it now but worth a google

[.Mark]

oblio said:

Maybe Futuroscope near Poitiers?

Science theme park - went years ago so can't vouch for it now but worth a google

Blody marvellous place, but like you, visited probably over 10 years ago - would love to go back.

As an aside, we were camping nearby, when an extremely aggressive storm came in, roofs ripped off buildings etc. I remember high tailing it out of there and looking in the rear view mirror to see a scene from a film playing out behind as signs, posts, small trees were flattened as the storm was following us.

[jardinec]

Word has reached us that there is a drought at the moment and the mayor has ordered no watering of plants and no filling of the swimming pool (gutted!).

Liking the lakes / beach suggestion, thanks, and the nice town within an hour or so is good. My kids are 4 and 1 so trying to avoid Disney just now till they are a little older.

Good places for lunch? Picnics? Parks & Gardens? Places with swimming pools? (the wee fella was all psyched up for a swimfest)

Cheers

Edit > also and specific vineyards that do a nice tour?