Cannes to Vichy Route Help
Discussion
In may I need to drive from Cannes to Vichy (en route to Le Mans), staying somewhere overnight for 2 nights. I am looking for interesting roads and nice places to stop enroute.
But I have some constraints
1. Travelling with my wife, which broadly means 4 to 4.5 hours max in the car each day
2. I have to avoid the greater Lyon area because my car does not meet the Crit'air restrictions
3. I don't want to go via Annecy as I have been there and done that
My initial thought are Route Napolean then divert to Briancon (spend 2 night there). Briancon to Vichy is where I hit a problem of the Crit'air zone.
Alternative is
Cannes to Italian Lakes say Como (most autoroute to get there), Lakes to Thonon les Bains (2 nights there) then ditch Vichy and find another route to Hotel du France.
Note that on the way down on my own I am doing the full route Napoleon so dont want to duplicate too much.
Its looking difficult!
But I have some constraints
1. Travelling with my wife, which broadly means 4 to 4.5 hours max in the car each day
2. I have to avoid the greater Lyon area because my car does not meet the Crit'air restrictions
3. I don't want to go via Annecy as I have been there and done that
My initial thought are Route Napolean then divert to Briancon (spend 2 night there). Briancon to Vichy is where I hit a problem of the Crit'air zone.
Alternative is
Cannes to Italian Lakes say Como (most autoroute to get there), Lakes to Thonon les Bains (2 nights there) then ditch Vichy and find another route to Hotel du France.
Note that on the way down on my own I am doing the full route Napoleon so dont want to duplicate too much.
Its looking difficult!
omniflow said:
How about Avignon the first night and then Le Puy the second.
Gorges du Verdun is a good shout, you'll then be near the L'Occitane factory and shop which was a favourite stop for my wife! https://maps.app.goo.gl/KkDsPL3qdHsd76ER9Depending on how long you have Avignon is a nice stop but you want plenty of time to explore the city. Also Mt Ventoux is in the area...
You can then head to the Gorges de l'Ardèche which is also stunning (and quiet roads!), then through the Ardeche up to Le Puy or dependant on budget Chateau de Saint Vidal https://maps.app.goo.gl/SGmwq2GS32rPa6em9 is nice. The other place I know in the area is Domaine Le Prieuré Hôtel https://maps.app.goo.gl/VjeZzcfW8Ew82EdbA which is nice but more basic.
We were in Vichy last year and we thought it was a lovely city, we stayed here which was nice https://maps.app.goo.gl/4rtXacqydjmCur9E7
Metric Max said:
I have driven the Route Napoleon and enjoyed it although I did start to wonder whether I would ever see a straight bit of road again.
My wife didn't enjoy the twisty road so if yours is like that something to bear in mind
As they say, happy wife, happy life
I am doing napoleon on my way down on my own! Well in convoy with a mate. Wife is flying into Nice and coming back to UK with me. My wife didn't enjoy the twisty road so if yours is like that something to bear in mind
As they say, happy wife, happy life
The fixed rules for return with the wife are:
No more than 4.5 hours driving per day
Needs at least one place for a 2 night stay
Needs things to see/do en route and at each days end location
Have to avoid Lyon
I can change Vichy and Hotel du France (Le Mans). I can change return ferry
Leaving Cannes on 18 May. Need to be back home in UK 23 May
If Avignon / Provence area is an option and of interest, then Seguret is a beautiful little hillside village with plenty of things to do / see / visit / drink in the local area.
If you were then still heading to Vichy, you could cut off the A7 through the Pilat regional park (some of the roads look promising on Streetview) towards Saint-Étienne and then use the A72 to head north.
If you were then still heading to Vichy, you could cut off the A7 through the Pilat regional park (some of the roads look promising on Streetview) towards Saint-Étienne and then use the A72 to head north.
Harpoon said:
If Avignon / Provence area is an option and of interest, then Seguret is a beautiful little hillside village with plenty of things to do / see / visit / drink in the local area.
Interesting..... I don't know Seguret and will be very close for one day (with a few hours in hand) en route to the Cotignac area. I may visit!Thanks folks, very useful.
Trip now goes
via Verdon Gorge to Salon de Province and a very pleasant looking hotel fairly high up with stunning views
Then on to a hotel (a Chateau/Fortresse) near Puy
Then to Vichy, on to la Chartre sur le Loir, then Honfleur and the ferry home from Ouistreham
Trip now goes
via Verdon Gorge to Salon de Province and a very pleasant looking hotel fairly high up with stunning views
Then on to a hotel (a Chateau/Fortresse) near Puy
Then to Vichy, on to la Chartre sur le Loir, then Honfleur and the ferry home from Ouistreham
blueg33 said:
On road trips I try to make the hotel a destination in its own right. Some examples of previous destination hotels on road trips:
We do the same on our annual pilgrimage to Provence - 3 nights down and 4 back.... I hunt down interesting chateaux or boutique type places. It's all part of the adventure... last year (memorably) we stayed at a small chateau where the owner was also the chef - no menu choice, which was fine by us and a delicious dinner on the terrace.It has meant that we're often in the middle of nowhere which can be tricky on a Monday night (when France is shut) or if the place doesn't have a restaurant - however, I do like doing a bit of research including StreetView etc.
Roll on summer!
NDA said:
blueg33 said:
On road trips I try to make the hotel a destination in its own right. Some examples of previous destination hotels on road trips:
We do the same on our annual pilgrimage to Provence - 3 nights down and 4 back.... I hunt down interesting chateaux or boutique type places. It's all part of the adventure... last year (memorably) we stayed at a small chateau where the owner was also the chef - no menu choice, which was fine by us and a delicious dinner on the terrace.It has meant that we're often in the middle of nowhere which can be tricky on a Monday night (when France is shut) or if the place doesn't have a restaurant - however, I do like doing a bit of research including StreetView etc.
Roll on summer!
I am a bit worried this time though, this is the first time my wife has joined me on a road trip, she is not a fan of long car journeys, finds the Ferrari noisy and uncomfortable and, isn't a fan of mountain roads. The hotels I choose have to be spot on to mitigate the grief I am bound to get.
blueg33 said:
Agree - its a massive part of the pleasure.
I am a bit worried this time though, this is the first time my wife has joined me on a road trip, she is not a fan of long car journeys, finds the Ferrari noisy and uncomfortable and, isn't a fan of mountain roads. The hotels I choose have to be spot on to mitigate the grief I am bound to get.
Mrs NDA has been remarkably stoic over the years and has managed the same long trip in a variety of cars - for years in a Morgan Aero +8. A car with all the comforts of a medieval ox cart... she persuaded me to buy a 911, which is now our summer cruiser. Your Ferrari is a very comfortable car, the perfect barouche for such a trip. I am a bit worried this time though, this is the first time my wife has joined me on a road trip, she is not a fan of long car journeys, finds the Ferrari noisy and uncomfortable and, isn't a fan of mountain roads. The hotels I choose have to be spot on to mitigate the grief I am bound to get.
First World problems.
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