| 24
Day Drive - Barge - Rail Itinerary - Start and Finish in Paris Includes Somme, Normandy, Brittany, Charente, Dordogne, Basque Country, Toulouse, Pyrenees, Languedoc, Provence and Lyon |
|
| Note:
This a guide only. Routes and distances are recommended by www.viamichelin.com
and typically involve Autoroutes.
The French Autoroute system is one of the best in the world, but is a
toll system (look out for the Peage signs) so you pay at regular intervals.
The five digit number listed with each town is its post code which makes
calculating distances and finding places on maps easier. Accommodation
and touring options are only suggestions and are your own responsibility
to book. |
|
| Day One – The Western Front | |
| 0800 | Take the RER
to Charles
de Gaulle Airport (Paris CDG) to collect your hire car. This avoids having to drive in Paris and gives easy access to the north and west. |
| Drive to Fromelles 59249 southwest of Lille. | |
| Roissy-en-France — Aéroport Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle 95700 to Fromelles 59249 is 201km including 184km of Autoroute | |
| The Battle of Fromelles took place on 19 July 1916 and was the first action on the Western Front for the First Australian Imperial Force. Intended as a diversion from the main battle of the Somme it ended as a victory for the Germans and cost thousands of Australian casualties. Adolf Hitler was thought to be in action in this sector with the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment.Fromelles (59249) is the site of VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial. | |
| 1200 | Drive to Pozières 80300 |
| Fromelles 59249 to Pozières 80300 is 86km including 57km of Autoroute | |
| 1030 | Arrive at Fromelles |
| The Canadian memorial at Vimy (south of Lens) is very impressive and worth a visit if you have time. | |
| 1300 | Arrive at Pozières |
| The Battle of Pozières lasted from 23 July to 7 August 1916. The village of Pozières lies on the Albert-Bapaume road and was where the Germans had dug in. The task of capturing Pozières fell to the three Australian Divisions of I Anzac Corps. The midnight attack on Pozières was a success, due to careful planning (a rare commodity in those days) and a devastating artillery barrage. The Germans, recognising the importance of the village to their defensive network, made several counter-attacks with the final assault coming before dawn on the 7 August. The Germans overran Australian position resulting in vicious hand to hand combat in which the Australians emerged victorious. In the fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the three Australian divisions suffered over 23,000 casualties. Pozières, south of Arras, is home to the Windmill Memorial Site. | |
| 1400 | Depart Pozières for Villers Bretonneux via Corbie |
| Pozières 80300 to Villers-Bretonneux 80800 is 34km | |
| Villers-Bretonneux is home to the main Australian War Memorial as well as the Franco-Australian Museum. This small village near Amiens is where around 10,000 Australians were killed or wounded resisting the German advance on Amiens. There are two war cemeteries in Villers-Bretonneux containing hundreds of Australian dead. The Village includes many memorials to Australian sacrifices such as the Franco-Australian Museum. Perhaps the most poignant is the large sign in Villers-Bretonneux school yard that says ‘Never forget Australia’See the official site for the village of Villers-Bretonneux | |
| Note that Le Hamel near the village of Corbie on the way is the site of a major Australian war memorial. | |
| Overnight: | Amiens -
Express by Holiday Inn 10 Boulevard Alsace Lorraine, Amiens, 80000 www.priceline.co.uk/pcln/location/en/france/picardie/somme/amiens |
| Day Two - Normandy | |
| 0800 | Depart Amiens for Rouen |
| Amiens 80000 to Rouen 76000 is 124km including 114km of Autoroute | |
| 1000 | Arrive in Rouen. |
| Rouen is the capital of Normandy and was William the Conqueror’s home base. During the middle ages it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of northern Europe. Rouen of today is still an important city in France with a well preserved medieval quarter and a large and impressive cathedral. | |
| 1100 | Depart Rouen for Bayeux. |
| Rouen 76000 to Bayeux 14400 is 157km including 143km of Autoroutes www.viamichelin.com | |
| 1230 | Arrive in Bayeux |
| Bayeux in Calvados,
Basse-Normandie (population 15,000) is best known for the Bayeux
Tapestry commissioned by William the Conqueror to commemorate his
great victory over England in 1066. The tapestry is over 70 metres long
and is housed in a purpose built museum in Bayeux. It basically tells
the story of the lead up to the Battle of Hastings. It is one of the most
important and instructive artworks remaining from this period in history.
Bayeux is the closest large town to the D Day beaches and as such is a
popular base for visitors to Normandy. Omaha Beach of Saving Private Ryan Fame is located by the town of Colville-sur-Mer. Nearby is the US military cemetery. |
|
| 1500 | Drive to Arromanches and spend the afternoon exploring the Calvados Coast, the site of the D Day Landings in June 1944. |
| The Battle of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord was the Allied invasion of Normandy, part of the Normandy Campaign. It began on June 6, 1944 (commonly known as D-Day), and is held to end on June 30, 1944, with Operation Cobra. As of 2007, Operation Overlord remains the largest seaborne invasion in history, involving over 156,000 troops crossing the English Channel from England to Normandy. Operation Neptune was the codename given to the initial naval assault phase of Operation Overlord; its mission, to gain a foothold on the continent. | |
| Overnight: | Hotel
Arromanches |
| Day Three – Normandy and Brittany | |
| Spend the morning further exploring and visiting the various museums in the area. | |
| 0800 | Depart Arromanches for Grandcamp-Maisy further along the Normandy Coast. Spend the morning visiting the various D Day related museums that dot the area. From Grandcamp-Maisy head south for Avranches then Mont Saint Michel. |
Arromanches-les-Bains 14117 toLe Mont-Saint-Michel 50170 via Grandcamp-Maisy 14450 is 180km including 109km of Autoroute |
|
| 1300 | Arrive at Mont Saint Michel. |
| Perched on a rocky islet in the Gulf of Saint Malo, Mont Saint Michel is one of France’s most visited historical sites. This Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael was built between the 11th and 16th centuries and is a technical and artistic marvel. Mont Saint Michel and its village are linked to the mainland by a causeway. | |
| 1500 | Depart Mont Saint Michel for Brittany’s Cotes d’Amor coast and the town of Perros-Guirec. |
| Le Mont-Saint-Michel 50170 to Perros-Guirec 22700 via Paimpol 22500 is196km including 21km of Autoroute | |
| Overnight: | Hôtel
Les Sternes - Hotel Perros-Guirec Rond-point de Perros 22700 PERROS-GUIREC www.hotel-sternes-perros-guirec.federal-hotel.com |
| Day Four - Brittany | |
| 0900 | Depart Perros-Guirec
for Le Conquet on the westernmost tip of Brittany via the coastl route
including the Pink Granite Coast. This intriguingly beautiful coastline between Perros-Guirec and Trébeurden is famous for its coppery-pink granite formations. |
Perros-Guirec
22700 to Plouguerneau 29880 via Trégastel-Plage 22560 is 122km |
|
| 1400 | Arrive in Le Conquet, a typical old Breton fishing village. |
| Overnight | Au Bout du
Monde (End of the World) Hotel Place de Llandeilo 29217 LE CONQUET (Brittany) Tel: +33 (0)2 98 89 07 22 www.auboutdumondehotel.com |
| Day Five - Brittany Finale | |
| 1000 | Depart Le Conquet for Vannes, an important and picturesque port city in the Morbihan Department. |
| Le Conquet 29217 to Plouharnel 56340 via Vannes 56000 via inland scenic route is 248km including 20km of Autoroutes | |
| Vannes lies on a large sheltered bay and is a haven for visting yachts. It is also roughly where the village of French cartoon heroes Asterisk and Obelix was located. Spend the day poking around the coastline | |
| Overnight: | Hostellerie
Les Ajoncs d'Or 56340 PLOUHARNEL Tél : +33 (0)2 97 52 32 02 www.lesajoncsdor.com |
| Day Six - Loire | |
| 1000 | Depart Plouharnel for Nantes |
| Plouharnel 56340 to Nantes 44000 is 143km including 115km of Autoroute | |
| Nantes (pronounced
Nont) was originally founded by the Celts in 70BC then conquered soon
after by Julius Caesar. An important port on France’s west coast
it is located on the Loire River about 55km from the coast. Population
of the metropolitan area is over 700,000 making it France’s sixth
largest city. Though not officially part of the Brittany
Region, Nantes has a strong Breton affiliation and many of the city’s
inhabitants identify themselves as Bretons. Have lunch in the historic heart of Nantes then depart for the town of Saumur on the Loire River |
|
| Nantes 44000 toSaumur 49400 is 136km including 6.5km of Autoroute and 37km on scenic roads | |
| Upon arrival in Saumur, visit the Office du Tourisme to stock up on useful maps and brochures of the Loire Valley. | |
| Overnight | Cristal Hotel 12, place de la République 49400 SAUMUR Tél : +33 (0)2 41 51 09 54 www.cristal-hotel.fr |
| Day Seven - Loire Chateaux | |
| The morning is at your leisure exploring Saumur. | |
| Saumur is an elegant and interesting town that is home to some interesting attractions in addition to the world Heritage listed Chateau Saumur overlooking the town. The Cadre Noir de Saumur Equestrian Centre is France's national equestrian centre and was established in 1763 to train cavalry. Continuing with the martial theme, Saumur is also home to the world's largest collection of tanks (armoured vehicles), the Musee des Blindes. | |
| 1100 | Depart Saumur and follow the trail of chateaux along the beautiful Loire Valley. |
| The valley contains more than 300 châteaux and is one of the best white wine regions in the world. The French kings chose the Loire Valley for its proximity to Paris and soon everyone who was anyone in the French court began knocking up their own chateau. The lush fertile valley made possible the fantastic landscape garden creations that compliment the chateaux. This area was the embodiment of the Renaissance in France and is considered the cradle of the French language. | |
| Links to
some of the best known Chateaux Chateau Amboise | Chateau Beauregard | Chateau Chambord | Chateau Chenconeau | Chateau Cheverny | Chateau Valencay |
|
| Overnight: | Les Hautes
Roches Hotel 86 Quai de la Loire - 37210 Rochecorbon (just east of Tours) Tel : +33 (0)2 47 52 88 88 www.leshautesroches.com |
| Day Eight - Loire Encore | |
| 1000 | Check out and have a nosy around the historic city of Tours |
| Tours is an attractive city on the banks of the Loire River, was a established as a Gallo-Roman settlement around 2000 years ago. The history of Tours is an interesting and turbulent one. It was where the advancing Moors (arabs from North Africa) were halted in 732 by Charles Martel (still revered in France today). It became one of the most important religious sites in Christendom during the middle ages. During the renaissance period Tours was one of the most enlightened cities in France. There was a large Protestant (often referred to as Hugenots) population who developed an important silk industry that saw the city prosper. The Edict of Nantes saw the removal of all protection of the Hugenots in France and massacres followed soon after and the mass exodus of protestants from France began. During the Franco-Prussian War with Paris under siege, Tours became the capital of France for several months. Tours today is rather genteel, priding itself speaking the purest French in the country and having beautiful gardens. It has a reputation as being a little staid, but with a large student population and proximity to a marvelous wine region this is debatable. | |
| Overnight: | Les Hautes Roches Hotel |
| Day Nine - Cognac and Coastline | |
| Tours 37000 to Cognac 16100 is 228km of highway | |
| About Cognac | |
| La Rochelle is a port city of around 80,000 inhabitants located on France’s Atlantic coast between Nantes and Bordeaux. It has a lovely old quarter around the port with a good range of seafood restaurants. Excursions out of La Rochelle include boat trips to Fort Boyard (location from the Lara Croft game and movie). La Rochelle is also a good base for exploring the Cognac and Armagnac regions famous for their brandy. | |
| After visiting La Rochelle drive a short distance to the beautiful seaside resort of Saint-Martin-de-Ré | |
| Cognac 16100 to Saint-Martin-de-Ré 17410 is 122km including 37km of Autoroute www.viamichelin.com | |
| Overnight: | La Coursive
St-Martin 13 Cours Dechézeaux 17 410 Saint-Martin de Ré Tel/Fax:+33 (0)5 46 09 22 87 www.lacoursive.com |
Day Ten - Bordeaux |
|
Saint-Martin-de-Ré
17410 to Libourne 33500 is 207km including 36km of Autoroute |
|
| Saint Emilion is one of the four principle wine regions around Bordeaux. So highly regarded is this area that the vineyards are World Heritage Listed. Saint Emilion is a well preserved medieval town featuring many impressive stone buildings. There is also a network of ancient catacombs and tunnels underneath the town, many of which have | |
| Overnight: | La Tour du
Viex Port 23 quai Souchet 33500 LIBOURNE Tél. : 05 57 25 75 56 www.latourduvieuxport.fr |
| Day Eleven - Bordeaux and Dordogne | |
| Libourne 33500 to Sarlat-la-Caneda 24220 is 157km including 82km of Autoroute | |
| Sarlat-la-Caneda is a beautifully preserved town in the Dordogne area consisting of many fine examples of late medieval architecture and much of the CBD is car free giving it a lovely atmosphere. Sarlat is a fantastic place to eat, boasting many fine restaurants specialising in the local delicacies of duck, foie gras and truffles. It is also an excellent base from which to explore the beautiful surrounding region including Domme, Beynac and La Roque Gageac. | |
| Overnight: | Hostellerie
Maleville 24220 Beynac et Cazenac (10km from Sarlat) Tel. +33 (0)5 53 29 50 06 www.hostellerie-maleville.com |
| Day Twelve - Dordogne to Basque Country | |
| Sarlat la Caneda 24220 to Biarritz 64200 via Dax 40100 is 406km including 303km of Autoroute | |
| Biarritz was originally established by the Vikings in the 9th century. Today it is a beautiful seaside resort and a major centre for France's Basque population. It is also an emerging surfing destination and is on the world professional circuit.Biarritz also has a champion rugby team, winners of several national titles in recent years. | |
| Overnight: | Hotel Val
Flores 48 Avenue de la Marne - 64200 Biarritz Tel: +33 (0)5 59 24 07 94 www.hotel-valflores.com |
| Day Thirteen - Atlantic Coast | |
| Biarritz 64200 to Lourdes 65100 is 170km including 145km of Autoroute | |
| Even if you are not
religious, Lourdes
is worth a visit. This sleepy town at the foot of the Pyrenees was transformed
into a focal point for the world's catholics in 1858 following claims
of apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a shepherd girl. Today Lourdes has
a population of around 15,000 inhabitants but is able to take in some
5,000,000 pilgrims and tourists every season. Lourdes has the second greatest
number of hotels in France after Paris with about 270 establishments. Many visitors are struck by the tacky commercialism of the myriad of souvenir vendors. Good or bad, Lourdes will leave a lasting impression. |
|
| Lourdes 65100 to Toulouse 31000 is 365km including 138km of Autoroute | |
| Return hire car to Toulouse station and check into hotel | |
| Toulouse is capital of the Midi-Pyrénées Region and was born during the Roman Empire. It was a major colony of Roman Gaul 2,000 years ago, becoming a major trading centre for wine. After the Romans it passed from the Visigoths to the Franks and then changed hands between various royal families throughout the middle ages. Toulouse gained prosperity during the renaissance through the production of Woad (a plant from which blue dye was made). This was an incredibly valuable commodity in Europe at the time and the prosperity it brought is reflected in the fine architecture from that period. A cheaper alternative to woad was eventually found and Toulouse went into a slow decline that has only recently been turned around by the aviation industry. Toulouse Blagnac Airport is the headquarters for the giant Airbus consortium who manufacture the A380 Super Jumbo. The high tech revolution has had a dramatic effect on the economy creating unprecedented growth for the city. It is about to displace Lille as France’s 4th largest city (metropolitan area). The city has a vibrant culture, assisted in no small way by the huge student population. Toulouse is synonymous with rugby with ‘Stade Toulousain’ dominating the French championship for many years. Toulouse is served by the TGV and Autoroute, has an international airport and is also linked to the Canal du Midi. | |
| Overnight: | Hotel Le
Clocher De Rodez 14-15 Place Jeanne d'Arc 31000 Toulouse Federal Hotel Chain |
| Day Fourteen - Toulouse break | |
| Spend the day exploring Toulouse. See TimeOut Travel Guide to Toulouse | |
| Overnight: | Hotel Le Clocher De Rodez |
| Day Fifteen - Toulouse | |
| 0900 | Make your way to Toulouse Station (Gare SNCF) and take the train to Castelnaudry. Book online at www.voyages-sncf.com. |
| 1030 | Arrive at Castelnaudry and take a taxi to Crown Blueline canal boat hire base |
| Cruise 160km of the World Heritage Listed Canal du Midi from Castelnaudary all the way to the Mediterranean port of Port Cassafieres. More about the Canal du Midi. | |
| Download Crown Blueline Brochure | |
| Overnight: | Canal du Midi |
| Day Sixteen - Canal du Midi | |
| Cruise to Bram, a village built on a circular pattern, with a gory Cathar history. The surrounding area of Limoux is well regarded for its wine. | |
| Overnight: | Canal du Midi |
| Day Seventeen - Canal du Midi | |
| Cruise from Bram to the fortress city of Carcassonne and spend time wandering around this magnificent site. | |
| Overnight: | Canal du Midi |
| Day Eighteen - Twenty Canal du Midi | |
| Dawdle between Carcassonne and Beziers stopping at the many villages lining the canal such as Trebes, Homps, Colombiers, Capestang, Poihles | |
| Day Twenty One - Languedoc | |
| 1000 | Arrive at Port Cassafieres (34420 Portiragnes) and return the boat. Take a taxi (approx 15km) to Beziers station (Gare SNCF) and a train to Montpellier. There are several trains a day between the two cities. Book online at www.voyages-sncf.com. |
| Montpellier (pronounced momm-pell-yay) is one of Europe's most liveable cities. Located 150km west of Marseille, it has a population of 250,000 and growing fast. Montpellier was founded in 12th century and is a respected university city with around 20 percent of the population being students. It boasts one of the best climates in France with 300 days of sunshine per year and several beautiful beaches nearby. | |
| Overnight | Hôtel
d'Aragon |
| Day Twenty Two | |
| 1000 | Take the TGV to Avignon |
| Avignon is an important city in Provence and once one of the most important in the world as it was briefly the seat of the Pope. In 1309 Avignon was chosen by Pope Clement V as his residence and remained the papal home until 1377 when the residence returned to Rome. Avignon is located at the junction of the Rhone and Durance Rivers and is the prefecture for the Vaucluse Department. It has a population of around 90,000 and is one of the most visited cities in France thanks mainly to the magnificent Papal Palace and because it is the gateway to Provence. | |
| 1200 | Arrive in Avignon and take a taxi to your hotel. |
| Overnight | Hotel le
Medieval 15 rue Petite Saunerie - 84000 Avignon Tel +33 (0)4 90 86 11 06 www.hotelmedieval.com |
| Day Twenty Three - Lyon | |
| Spend the morning taking in the sights of Avignon. | |
| 1200 | Take the TGV to Lyon |
| 1330 | Arrive in Lyon and take a taxi to your accommodation |
| Lyon is like Paris
after a hard weekend. It has its beautiful parts – what better place
to build a city than at the confluence of two of France’s most graceful
rivers, the Rhône and the Saône – and its history stretches
back to Roman times, but France’s second city is best loved for
the here and now: for food, fashion and culture. In addition to its Renaissance
architecture, Lyon has a thriving arts scene, a fine opera house, a slew
of museums and monuments, superb shopping and, best of all, some of the
country’s true gourmet tables.
Lyon and its two rivers, 28 bridges and numerous hills can be difficult to navigate. The centre, or Presqu’Ile, is a thin strip of land where the Saône and the Rhône meet. To the west lies Vieux Lyon, to the east the Rive Gauche and the new business districts. Vieux Lyon (the Old Town) is a designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow cobbled streets buzz with bistros and boutiques. Look out for Lyon’s trademark traboules, alleyways used by silk workers and, later on, the Resistance during World War II. From place St-Jean, with its huge, 16th-century Gothic cathedral and an astrological clock, take the funicular (6 rue de l’Antiquaille) to the landmark Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière, topped by twin turrets. Also in the old town is the Roman amphitheatre. Downtown, the vast and elegant place Bellecour, with its equestrian statue of Louis XIV, is the hub of smart Lyon, with large apartments and elegant shops. La Croix-Rousse is the historic centre of Lyon’s silk industry, now crammed with enticing shops and restaurants. |
|
| Overnight | Hotel
des Artistes |
| Day Twenty Four - Stay another day in Lyon or train to Paris | |