Suggestions for short (5 day) trip to France in late May

I'm currently planning the next bunch of holidays (bloody EKS, eh?) and
as usual, am looking to disappear to France for a few days around the
late May bank holiday. I usually leave Thursday and come back either
Tuesday or Wednesday so I've got about five days to play with.

Ann and myself have done this a couple of times and so far invaded
Normandy, had a jolly good trip to the Loire Valley and down to
Angouleme.

I'm now trying to work out where to go next year and arrange for hotels
a bit earlier than two days before we leave; unfortunately the first
idea I had requires more time than we have or a lot more cash than I am
willing to part with. Basically, the idea was to use the motorail down
to the Med, spend a few days in the Provence and come back. But not at
the prices that they seem to charge for 2 people + car[1]. I don't want
to do fly+rent for various reasons (plonk space on the plane, for
starters) so I'm looking for a place that fulfills the following
criteria:

- Interesting landscape and/or old piles to look at
- Local wine or champagne industry preferred
- Decent hotel or two
- Decent food, which I take pretty much as a give
- Warm-ish. Normandy was a tad cold for Ann and we did that in August
- Driveable in about a day from Calais

Of course, hotel recommendations with links to Logis de France are very
welcome

[1] Not enough plonk space on the bike

 

1) Enough to keep you interested for 5 days including Oradour sur Glane
(errr - play the Brit card)
2) Pass, but beef and sandre (pike/perch) a speciality. In any case you
will find wine in Casino you won't get at home.
3) Self catering totally out then ?
4) See above, but reasonable restaurants within easy range
5) Respectably warm at Whit this year and quite hot last year.
6) No problem.

Bonus, if you ask nicely and also mow the grass (ride-on) you could have
a go on the WR250.

I refer sir to the spamming sig below (I will be on Pahnd Island if you
mean *late* May)


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OK, keep talking

That's not the point, we like visit a cave or two

Not *totally* but we probably couldn't be bothered to cook everyday.

Sounds good.

Sounds even better.

Heh. With *my* reputation, that may leave you with no mower for the
rest of the year

I do mean late May - late May bankholiday, to be precise as that
usually coincides with Memorial Day w/e in the US.

 

On Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:38:33 +0000, "Timo Geusch"

Not sure how well you know Elsass already, but it would seem to meet
most of your requirements. Feel free to ignore me if you're already
over-familiar...

Check. Quite a few castles, lots of war monuments, pretty villages,
etc. etc.

Hoyuss. Not champage, of course, but some of the Cremants can give
that stuff a run for its money.

Sure, the place is full of them.

Well, they're a bit keen on pork and sausage...

Generally so - this year wasn't so consistent, but July still averaged
30+ daytime maximums. August was the wettest on record.

I can give one or two if you're interested.

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A good suggestion I have enjoyed a couple of short stays in that region
over the years. Autun and Avallon are both worth a visit.

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Well, I went there quite often when I was at uni in Karlsruhe. But Ann
hasn't been there at all so that may actually be a good idea.

Well, why not?

 

I enjoyed a weekend in Reims. Plenty of old piles and champagne houses to
tour. We did the GH Martel one near the Basilique de St Remy which was very
good - just 6 euros for the tour inc. a degustation of 3 champers. Mumm
only give you 1 glass...

I stayed in a Quality chain McHotel a short distance from the cathedral. It
was fine as somewhere to sleep and had off street parking. lenty of other
hotels of a grander nature if you want to be pampered.

Just down the road is Epernay which is in a fabulous location: I love the
view across the valley as you travel south on the N51 down into the town.
About 3km from the town is the village of Moussy. Stick the village name
into the Logis search engine and the Auberge Champenoise will pop up.
Fabulous restaurant. Some of the rooms are basic.
http://www.auberge-champenoise.com/ is their homepage.
1km from the Auberge, so comfortable staggering distance, is Chateau
Pierry. You can have a tour around the Chateau then a degustation. Again,
very generous with the champers.

Finally, just a few km away is Avize. An English woman married a frog. They
now make champagne under the Pierson-Whittaker brand name. They also have a
chambre d'hote. Not much to do of an evening in Avize though. They are in
Sawdays's book:
http://www.sawdays.co.uk/search/display.php?FileID=FBB2384
and this article about them in the Torygraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/28/nalco28.xml

 

Round here (Cahors)

Lot Valley. Dordogne not far, Rocamadour and St Cirq Lapopie within 40 mins
drive plus others

Check - as long as you like reds (although the vdp whites and rosés are
coming on quite well). Loads of vineyard tours etc

Le Balandre (part of Hotel Terminus) is, IMO excellent. Chateau Mercuès is
v good but even more expensive. In fact there are enough very good
restaurants to keep you occupied every lunch and evening...

Late May this year was high 20s/low 30s

It is but depends on how fast you drive and whether you like Autoroutes.
750-800km depending on route.

Plus, of course, there's the option of renting a gite 19 kms east of Cahors
and a DR-Z400 or two to explore the countryside even more.....

Dave