Lunch stop recommendation half way to Strasbourg

[Griffith4ever]

Doing a super/sport car trip with some friends in June to Strasbourg. Going to skirt along the top through Belgium, Lux, Germany, route is estimated at around 7 hours, so I'm assuming longer!

Looking for ideas of somewhere nice to stop for lunch - good views, nice parking, good lunch - doesn't have to be fancy, we've got a week of "fancy" planned - needs to be unusual/ pretty / scenic. Something roughly half way in terms of time.

This is the route (not set in stone, but I did something very similar a while back in a van!)

I know it's a bit of a long shot, but this might be a "regular" route for some on here?

[ANOpax]

I guess the lunch location depends on your expected start time.
I’m also surprised that you think it will take longer than seven hours. I find that, barring any traffic hold-ups, the estimated travel times are conservative (unless you’re planning to travel below the speed limit?).

The fastest (but less direct) route is only 5h 20 and clips the champagne region which would be a good place to stop off, stock up and have some lunch. It also has the very big advantage of avoiding Luxembourg.

Edited by ANOpax on Sunday 27th April 16:04

[SmithCorona]

Yer, I agree with above. I wouldn't be taking this route, its boring, average speed camera'd, and passes through nowhere good for lunch. I've driven down it literally hundreds of times.

Take the A26 with lunch in Reims. I originally was going to suggest Le Cabasson, but it doesn't do weekday lunch. I have heard good things about Au petit Comptoir. Bonus points for Reims it has an auto museum.

If you must take the E411 then Leo in Bastonge is a reasonable detour for good bistro food, easy parking outside and a few historical spots.

[Griffith4ever]

Bastogne sounds interesting, thanks - I'm avoiding France as I just don't want to spend hours on motorways and encouraging the Gendarme to take my car off me, we are in no hurry, plus, after 2 days in the outskirts of Strasbourg, are heading to Reams - close to, so want different roads to drive. (It's a champaign drinking tour).

I assumed it would take longer because, traffic happens, people stop for fuel (one is a Maclaren, and mine isn't exactly shy of fuel stops) etc.

We will be in Calais around 10am.

[bennno]

Roads in Belgium terrible, as per others I’d head via Reims.

[ANOpax]

Okay OP. If the Champagne tour is already part of the itinerary and you’re determined not to go south, I’d suggest either an early stop for sightseeing and lunch in f-in Bruges (those who have seen the film will know). Or else, hack through Belgium to Maastricht for an excellent but late lunch on the river at Beluga (secure parking nearby) or Chateau St Gerlach in Valkenburg if you want to avoid Maastricht town centre, and then down to Strasbourg on the E42, 60 and 1 for some great driving in the Eifel and Germany on fast but not motorway-like roads. Bonus points for avoiding Luxembourg once again.

BTW, which day of the week are you planning this trip? Many places in this region are closed on Mondays.

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 28th April 08:47

[Griffith4ever]

ANOpax said:

Okay OP. If the Champagne tour is already part of the itinerary and you’re determined not to go south, I’d suggest either an early stop for sightseeing and lunch in f-in Bruges (those who have seen the film will know). Or else, hack through Belgium to Maastricht for an excellent but late lunch on the river at Beluga (secure parking nearby) or Chateau St Gerlach in Valkenburg if you want to avoid Maastricht town centre, and then down to Strasbourg on the E42, 60 and 1 for some great driving in the Eifel and Germany on fast but not motorway-like roads. Bonus points for avoiding Luxembourg once again.

BTW, which day of the week are you planning this trip? Many places in this region are closed on Mondays.

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 28th April 08:47

Cheers, both the eateries, and the roads sound very interesting ! I'm looking into routes suggested, defo involving the E42, 60 and 1 - most defintely looking for fast non motorway roads

June 3rd, its a Tuesday ;-) phew!

I had no idea Belgium and Lux are so bad to drive through? I guess in a camper it just didn't matter. Are the roads poor? the traffic? or both?

[bennno]

Griffith4ever said:

I had no idea Belgium and Lux are so bad to drive through? I guess in a camper it just didn't matter. Are the roads poor? the traffic? or both?

Belgian roads concrete with lots of huge potholes and bad joins, especially the ones near the French border.

[ANOpax]

bennno said:

Griffith4ever said:

I had no idea Belgium and Lux are so bad to drive through? I guess in a camper it just didn't matter. Are the roads poor? the traffic? or both?

Belgian roads concrete with lots of huge potholes and bad joins, especially the ones near the French border.

And Luxembourg is a traffic nightmare as it’s on major north-south and east-west routes. I avoid it like the plague.

[Bispal]

Make sure you do the route des cretes, near Strasbourg, amazing road. Go through France not through Belgium. Take a picnic and stop at a French picnic site.

[ANOpax]

Griffith4ever said:

Cheers, both the eateries, and the roads sound very interesting ! I'm looking into routes suggested, defo involving the E42, 60 and 1 - most defintely looking for fast non motorway roads

June 3rd, its a Tuesday ;-) phew!

Unfortunately Beluga is closed on Tuesdays
But other restaurants are available (for some reason, Maastricht is a hotbed of fine restaurants).

I can understand your desire to avoid multi-lane motorways but please check the streetview of E42, 60 and 1 to ensure that it’s what you’re after. The best way to characterise them is fast dual carriageway. The derestricted sections in Germany will really give your group a chance to open the cars up which is impossible anywhere else in Europe and provides a thrill like no other.

Theres even a video! (Going the other way but you’ll get the gist of it).

https://youtu.be/_WhhaChVbGI?si=NX8JC1F0euVXzjAS


And you’ll have visited four countries in a day!

The alternative country road routes result in a very low cross country speed with a lot of overtaking restrictions and 50/80/100kph speed limits as you slow down for towns and villages. Fine in a campervan but frustrating in a sportscar. And don’t forget - the distance you’re planning to cover is roughly equivalent to London-Edinburgh. Doing that on single carriageway country roads would be madness!

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 28th April 11:16

[Griffith4ever]

Thank you all - loads to consider, and I've certainly taken on board the messages about Belgium and Lux.

Will plan a route and come back here. Also it depends on the wants of the other 5 drivers of course - seeing them all for dinner on the weekend.

[Kyodo]

I'll also vouch for many of Belgiums roads being dire, although not all. We'll be taking our California through soon and contrary to some advice above, we'll be heading into Belgium from Calais and stopping in Luxembourg. It has a nice city centre and probably the cheapest fuel in Europe. The roads can be busy though.

ps. The N40 south of Wellin is an excellent road!
See: http://ferrari360modena.co.uk/European-road-trip-i...

Edited by Kyodo on Tuesday 29th April 09:26

Edited by Kyodo on Tuesday 29th April 09:26

[zbc]

Griffith4ever said:

Thank you all - loads to consider, and I've certainly taken on board the messages about Belgium and Lux.

Will plan a route and come back here. Also it depends on the wants of the other 5 drivers of course - seeing them all for dinner on the weekend.

Based on your plans you'll be coming through Luxembourg at lunchtime. You'll be fine. It's really only bad in rush hours like any other capital city.

Right now

Edited by zbc on Tuesday 29th April 10:01