Medium sized August French road trip

[Robmarriott]

I originally planned to do this in 2020 but obvious global circumstances prevented that so it was postponed. Fast forward to this year and I've bought a new car, which means not trying to tackle a 2500 mile loop in an 18 year old Clio 182...

The plan is;

Day 1. Down to Folkestone, hope the queues aren't horrendous, train to Calais, then stop in Saint-Quentin overnight.

Day 2. Swing by Reims-Gueux and try not to get a telling off from the Gendarmes for grabbing a picture, to the Reims Automobile Musuem, then off to the Nurburgring for a lap, possibly via Spa-Francorchamps although it's closed that week so I might not bother, then finally, down to to stay Sarrebourg overnight.

Day 3. Drive to Mulhouse to the Musee National de l'Automobile, possible the Cite du Train, then off to the Musee de l'Aventure Peugeot in Sochaux and then overnight in Auxerre.

Day 4. A leisurely amble down the Loire valley to Orleans for a bit of a rest day.

Day 5. Romorantin-Lanthaney for the Matra museum, maybe a visit to Poitiers if there's time, then overnight in Nantes.

Day 6. Manoir de l'Automobile in Loheac, and a day of sightseeing around St. Malo and Mont St Michel, before driving to Le Mans.

Day 7. 24hr Le Mans museum, maybe Chartres, maybe Rouen, a coastal drive past Dieppe and the final overnight stay in Amiens.

Day 8. Calais, tunnel, home.

This route has taken a lot of juggling around already and that's the final plan, I've booked hotels now so no changing, but if anyone has suggestions for places to eat in Saint-Quentin, Auxerre, Orleans, Nantes, Le Mans and Amiens they would be gratefully received (the food in Sarrebourg is already decided), as would suggestions for things to do in Orleans, or if there's anything I absolutely must see on my routes between places?

Also, is there anything I need, or need to know? I've paid for Crit'air just in case, I've got a toll tag coming so there's no faffing around jumping out and running around the car at the toll booths, I've got warning triangle, hi-vis etc... but I'm sure there's probably something I'm not thinking of.

[illmonkey]

Given my last road trip (ended up in my 182) cost me a new gearbox, I suggest you take one of them and someone to fit it, otherwise it'll be popping out of 5th every 5 seconds!

[Doofus]

There's a lot of driving in there. Not much time for 'sightseeing'.

Plus, not much variety.

[Robmarriott]

Doofus said:

There's a lot of driving in there. Not much time for 'sightseeing'.

Plus, not much variety.

Hey, I know what I like!

Re the driving, yeah, it's a fair amount but it's a(nother) solo holiday and every one I've been on in the past, I've been bored out of my mind if I've stayed in the same place too long. Finding things to see or do all day every day for a week is exhausting.

If anything, I'm dreading the 'off' day in Orleans but it's there as a firebreak just in case I'm knackered from the previous days.

[Truckosaurus]

Robmarriott said:

.... a coastal drive past Dieppe ....

I recommend Etretat as somewhere scenic between Rouen and Dieppe to check out - famous chalk cliffs and arches.

[Pistonsquirter]

I reccomend crossing Poole/Portsmouth to Cherbourg or nearby, perhaps down the west coast to Spain, anything to avoid the Dover crossing really

[Robmarriott]

Truckosaurus said:

I recommend Etretat as somewhere scenic between Rouen and Dieppe to check out - famous chalk cliffs and arches.

That day is pretty flexible and every point mentioned was just to kill time, so that might work, I'll have a look.

Thanks.

[Robmarriott]

Pistonsquirter said:

I reccomend crossing Poole/Portsmouth to Cherbourg or nearby, perhaps down the west coast to Spain, anything to avoid the Dover crossing really

It has to be Eurotunnel, I can't do ferries otherwise I spend 2 days recovering from seasickness and 2 days worrying about how I'm going be get seasick on the return leg. It ruins a holiday more than sitting in traffic would for me.

[plenty]

I did 2,500 miles around France in November in a 16-year-old Clio 182. Couldn't think of a better car to do it in, although my example has had plenty of love lavished on it to ensure it's tip top.

[Robmarriott]

plenty said:

I did 2,500 miles around France in November in a 16-year-old Clio 182. Couldn't think of a better car to do it in, although my example has had plenty of love lavished on it to ensure it's tip top.

Mine might have been ok but on the other hand it could have bankrupted me somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

[Pistonsquirter]

France is probably the best place to break down in a Renault to be fair

Edit: *When you break down

[NDA]

Robmarriott said:

Day 2. Swing by Reims-Gueux and try not to get a telling off from the Gendarmes for grabbing a picture, .

There was nobody there a couple of weeks ago - doubt you'll get pulled.

[Robmarriott]

I thought that might be the reality, I don't think I've seen any actual reports of people getting in trouble despite the articles at the time.

[Robmarriott]

Final thought - do I absolutely need to take some Euros as cash?

[plenty]

Most larger stores and all fuel stations will accept card payments but it's always advisable to have a little bit of cash on you. 200 Euros should be enough.

If you don't already have a Monzo, Starling or Revolut account or similar the forex rates for these digital banks are superior to High Street brands.

[Truckosaurus]

When I was in Normandy in May everywhere took cards, the one cafe I paid in cash (a 5 Euro note for a 3 euro coffee) they moaned that I didn't have the correct change.

One of the few positives of the Covid era it seems.

[NDA]

Robmarriott said:

Final thought - do I absolutely need to take some Euros as cash?

Worth taking £20 pounds worth I think... buying a coffee, a croissant, baguette etc? Some of the little out of the way places prefer cash.

[Rosscow]

I wouldn't waste a night in Amiens personally, much better off spending the night somewhere else like Chartres and then you've just got a final 4 hour jaunt back to Calais.

[anonymous-user]

I've done a very similar trip in a 182, I have very fond memories of feeling like I was in an exotic such was the attention it got at the time.

Your day 3 goes past not tooo far from this crazy place. I appreciate you have your itinerary but just in case you thought visiting a chateau filled with racing cars and fighter jets acquired by a rich french bachelor might appeal. You may have been, it's quite famous.

https://www.chateau-savigny.com/

[Doofus]

If you get stopped for speeding and you don't have cash for the fine, you'll be escorted to a cashpoint. The fine is income related.