Pat_Albion
New member
Thinking about going to france maybe very early august. Just me and the Mrs but the problem is, she doesnt want to fly. I wanted to ask if anyone has any good ideas, places they would recommend etc. any ideas are welcome..
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France
- Thread starter Pat_Albion
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Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
Alsace is the finest part of Northern France in my humble opinion.
A mixture of German and French culture. Beautiful area. I would recommend paying a visit to Struthof - The only German Concentration Camp on French soil.
You can even do a day trip into Germany if you wish. The Black Forest is not overly far from Alsace.
A mixture of German and French culture. Beautiful area. I would recommend paying a visit to Struthof - The only German Concentration Camp on French soil.
You can even do a day trip into Germany if you wish. The Black Forest is not overly far from Alsace.
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The Large One
Who's Next?
Do NOT drive in France in the first week of August. Really.
Aside from that, a ferry to Dieppe, then train to Paris via Rouen, then TGV to the south is good fun.
Aside from that, a ferry to Dieppe, then train to Paris via Rouen, then TGV to the south is good fun.
pishhead
Well-known member
Can go from Pompey to Caen, Beautiful place that is full of history.
No need to fly - Eurostar to Paris and then TGV to all points - Avignon, Rennes, Toulouse wherever you fancy really.
If you can avoid August it might be good - the legend that all of France goes on holiday then still has some truth.
If you want heat maybe try Languedoc (SW corner) which is the same kind of temperature as the Cote D'Azur but not so busy, wanky, expensive.
I'm no expert on France but most of the country has something going for it - Brittany and Normandy very green but with great coasts and historic cities for example. Also full of English people.
I think the Atlantic coast from Biarritz, up through Bordeaux to La Rochelle is also quite under-rated.
If you can avoid August it might be good - the legend that all of France goes on holiday then still has some truth.
If you want heat maybe try Languedoc (SW corner) which is the same kind of temperature as the Cote D'Azur but not so busy, wanky, expensive.
I'm no expert on France but most of the country has something going for it - Brittany and Normandy very green but with great coasts and historic cities for example. Also full of English people.
I think the Atlantic coast from Biarritz, up through Bordeaux to La Rochelle is also quite under-rated.
The Large One
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The Mediterranean coast by the Spanish border is fabulous.
Hatterlovesbrighton
something clever
Finistere
Finistère - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ferry from Portsmouth to Saint Malo and then 2.5 hours drive.
Finistère - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ferry from Portsmouth to Saint Malo and then 2.5 hours drive.
The French Mistress
New member
- Jun 24, 2007
- 1,279
When were you last in the Languedoc, not exactly hot.
Norman Potting
Well-known member
La Rochelle is a very picturesque port with the equally lovely Ile de Re (an island but with a bridge joining it to France) next door. Think you can TGV to La Rochelle (or even fly - Southampton I think and it has got an airport) though you would probably need to hire a car to do any long distance exploring.
NSC sent us to Carcassonne and the Pyrenees, quite some distance without flying, but a mighty fine recommendation, we loved it.
BensGrandad
New member
Wife and I have driven to South of France a number of times it is great if you avoid the motorways and stick to the N roads. Unlike our roads very few hold ups and you pass through some lovely villages, and hotels/motels in France are very cheap and plentiful. The one word of warning is if driving a car with UK number plates stick to the speed limit because it is expensive if you dont.
Well not for a few years but I distinctly remember it being warm. Isn't Languedoc the bit round Perpignan, Carcasonne etc etc?
The Large One
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Carcassonne is in Languedoc. Perpignan is in Roussillon.
I've found it's hot on the coast, but up in the midi-Pyrenees, it's a lot cooler. And wetter.
Man of Harveys
Well-known member
Despite all those wanky 80s books written about it, Provence takes a lot of beating: fantastic countryside and huge amounts of ancient history everywhere, generally in gorgeous old towns, like Arles, Orange, Nimes etc. Mount Ventoux, where Tommy Simpson died on the Tour de France in 1967, is pretty cool too .
aftershavedave
Well-known member
take the ferry to dieppe, or if you're east or west then the tunnel or portsmouth-le havre. driving on that first weekend in august is not advised, as said above, but if it's your first time then you could always stay in normandie, which is beautiful. anywhere down to brittany or vendee will be traffic hell, as will paris (as ever) and the routes south. move your hols a week or two and it's all a lot easier. atlantic coast is fabulous, as is nearly all of the south. if you're looking at the seaside, la rochelle, arcachon, biarritz/st jean de luz, corbieres, cassis, the camargue, oleron or re all take some beating. fabulous place, enjoy!
Spiros
Well-known member
Take the tunnel to Calais and get the French motorail down to Narbonne in the west or Nice in the east. Not totally cheap but good fun and saves a day's worth of driving in each direction. We used it to take our car to Spain a few years ago and loved it.
bathseagull
New member
love you
Uncle Spielberg
Well-known member
St Omer is SUPERB. 30 minutes from the Ferry. A lovely Town and area with a square surrounded by bars and resturants with friendly locals and a good atmosphre. France pisses all over the UK imo.
