Recommendations for a French road trip in 2014.
Discussion
Hi,
I want to do a long weekend, 4 or 5 days to France next year with my wife. We'll probably go with a mate and his wife who has a 964. He wants to do Le Mans but I know that my wife would hate it. She wouldn't mind a race meet of some kind but camping and the 'lads' weekend of Le Mans just won't cut it.
Any ideas most welcome, flexible on what time of year but would like it to be dry... (June to Sept?).
At the moment I'm thinking of the Normandy coast but its just a bit 'samey' as we have done that quite a few times.
Thanks in advance.
I want to do a long weekend, 4 or 5 days to France next year with my wife. We'll probably go with a mate and his wife who has a 964. He wants to do Le Mans but I know that my wife would hate it. She wouldn't mind a race meet of some kind but camping and the 'lads' weekend of Le Mans just won't cut it.
Any ideas most welcome, flexible on what time of year but would like it to be dry... (June to Sept?).
At the moment I'm thinking of the Normandy coast but its just a bit 'samey' as we have done that quite a few times.
Thanks in advance.
thegamekeeper said:
Loire Valley
Has lots of nice places to go and things to do.Have been to the region round Saumur a few times. 6 hours drive from Calais, less from Caen if you cross from the West.
For only 4/5 days, you don't want to spend 2 of them driving too far down South (or do you?)
Just returned from a two week trip (sadly not in the TVR) but we travelled down to the Dordogne near Sarlat which has amazing roads and scenery. On the way home (via Caen) stayed at a cracking hotel in Mortagne au Perche just outside Alencon. Great location for touring around. Head east from there and you get to Blois which is a great place and then the Loire valley.
I'd like to do the Le Mans Classic and then a trip.
I'd like to do the Le Mans Classic and then a trip.
You can use:
http://www.viamichelin.com/
To plan a route (I know a Sat Nav is de-rigeur but that's quite a handy planning tool) I'm using that for a trip to Malta in may... 1800 miles each way :-)
http://www.viamichelin.com/
To plan a route (I know a Sat Nav is de-rigeur but that's quite a handy planning tool) I'm using that for a trip to Malta in may... 1800 miles each way :-)
Epernay, as Snorky mentioned, is worth a look. Believe there is a champagne 'tourist office' in the centre that will organise visits to various 'houses' . Worth trying some of the lesser known brands for bargains.
I'm currently looking at Angouleme over the 2nd/3rd w-end of September 2014. They have 'Le circuit des Remparts' then, essentially a street circuit, but it's not only pre-war stuff, there are some moderns (ish) as well. Angouleme is about 350mls from the Western Channel ports.
Nick
I'm currently looking at Angouleme over the 2nd/3rd w-end of September 2014. They have 'Le circuit des Remparts' then, essentially a street circuit, but it's not only pre-war stuff, there are some moderns (ish) as well. Angouleme is about 350mls from the Western Channel ports.
Nick
A900ss said:
She wouldn't mind a race meet of some kind but camping and the 'lads' weekend of Le Mans just won't cut it.
How about the Le Mans Classic ?Lot less crowded than the 24 hour race, easier to get a hotel or Chateau or join us at Flexhotel where I run the bar with another PH'er
You can even get on the "parade" laps.........although last year once we realised there was no pace car it got quite interesting
nawarne said:
Epernay, as Snorky mentioned, is worth a look. Believe there is a champagne 'tourist office' in the centre that will organise visits to various 'houses' . Worth trying some of the lesser known brands for bargains.
I'm currently looking at Angouleme over the 2nd/3rd w-end of September 2014. They have 'Le circuit des Remparts' then, essentially a street circuit, but it's not only pre-war stuff, there are some moderns (ish) as well. Angouleme is about 350mls from the Western Channel ports.
Nick
Office is on the Avenue de Champagne, although you dont need to visit them to get in the caves. Most houses are open to the public and do tours - some even have trains to ride on in the cellars!I'm currently looking at Angouleme over the 2nd/3rd w-end of September 2014. They have 'Le circuit des Remparts' then, essentially a street circuit, but it's not only pre-war stuff, there are some moderns (ish) as well. Angouleme is about 350mls from the Western Channel ports.
Nick
Castellane, Mercier, Gonet all good...but there are loads of small houses slightly outside Epernay where you can buy good quality (ie better than the crap you buy in Tescos ) champers at cut prices direct from the guy who made it.
I can help. I travel to France a lot (wife is French). For what it is worth it is all bloody good driving. If you need to cover ground then autoroute is best. Lazy cruising is best on route nationales.
Personally above the Loire valley is a bit too much like UK southern home counties for me. Loire is impressive if you take in a few Chateaux.
Swerve Paris and the North east (congested and industrial).
The South, Provence and Cote D'azur is just too far for 4/5 days.
Burgundy is great for food and wine and some of the towns (Dijon, Beaune) are brilliant and doable in a day. You can also hit alpine towns from there (Annecy, Geneva).
Bordeaux is a long trip for 4/5 days but getting to the Dordogne is worth it. Towns like Riberac, Angouleme, Bergerac, St Foy Le Grande, Cahors are all worth driving to.
Personally to stop your missus from getting cabin fever I would do the Loire. Chateau Chambord has a great little 3* hotel overlooking it and the food/wine/setting is magical.
Personally above the Loire valley is a bit too much like UK southern home counties for me. Loire is impressive if you take in a few Chateaux.
Swerve Paris and the North east (congested and industrial).
The South, Provence and Cote D'azur is just too far for 4/5 days.
Burgundy is great for food and wine and some of the towns (Dijon, Beaune) are brilliant and doable in a day. You can also hit alpine towns from there (Annecy, Geneva).
Bordeaux is a long trip for 4/5 days but getting to the Dordogne is worth it. Towns like Riberac, Angouleme, Bergerac, St Foy Le Grande, Cahors are all worth driving to.
Personally to stop your missus from getting cabin fever I would do the Loire. Chateau Chambord has a great little 3* hotel overlooking it and the food/wine/setting is magical.
DonkeyApple said:
A900ss said:
Just a quick thanks to all.
I'll look over some of the suggestions and see what wifey wants to do.
Alsace is worth a look. Reachable easily in a day or via somewhere like Epernay. Good hotels. Great good. The best roads. Seriously perfect TVR roads. I'll look over some of the suggestions and see what wifey wants to do.
tvrtuscans said:
Epernay....fab, fab, fab....
It's a place you have to stay at if in the vicinity but it is a little too small to stay too long vibe always thought of it as the perfect weekend break on a road trip or the massive boozy night passing through. Great little town. And perfect for transient Brits in fun cars.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff