All recommended sites & everything else can be located & checked out with a few clicks - most have 10 photos showing views, food, beds, scenery, facilities, goods - everything you need to make an informed decision & links to all of them.
Just click on any marker, then on the traffic arrow and a 2nd location for instant detailed public & private travel information including routes, distances, times, frequency, transfers & stop locations.
December to March is Winter and cold and unpleasant.
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STAY -Most hotels are available onBooking.comunless otherwise stated. It's best to get bookings with free cancellation and pay on site when you get there. Hotels chosen are usually 3*** or 4 or 5 if they are good value. They are chosen firstly for their location, value for money, positive testimonials regarding cleanliness and service and features like rooftop terraces and great views.
Since the end of Covid a lot of prices have gone through the roof. So if the selected hotel is out of your price range click on the location map and choose something cheaper nearby. Or you might prefer something else but try to stay in the same area.
Charles De Gaulle Airport (Roissy Airport) (CDG) - has direct flights to 266 airports in 110 countries in all continents except Australasia so it will be a simple matter to find a connecting flight.
Beauvais is another airport the cheap airlines use which is over 100 kms north of Paris.
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AIRPORT TRANSFER - Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG) 24 km / Orly (ORY) 15 km
Paris has two airports CDG is South and ORY is North.
CDG to the city takes about an hour and you have the choice of Taxi, train, bus or Uber. Orly was the first airport and is only 15km from the centre. There is train, bus, taxi, shuttle​
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Once you've bought your tickets get some travel insurance to cover yourself.
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​As the #1 attraction in the world's most popular tourist destination you would expect it to be busy. Have a look through these tours which will take the hard work out of it.
Eiffel Tower Tours
Eiffel Tower ToursEiffel Tower Tours
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​The same goes for the #2 attraction in the world's most popular tourist destination.
Louvre Tours
Louvre ToursLouvre Tours
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​The Seine River makes a huge contribution to Paris's beauty so you'll need to get out on it. You'll have sightseeing, sunset and dinner options to think about.
Seine Tours
Seine ToursSeine Tours
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Try the Papaline d’Avignon - a rare chocolate truffle treat
Visit Château d'If the prison immortalised by Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo
You haven't been to St. Tropez until you've eaten a Tarte Tropézienne
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1 Paris - 3N (Montmartre)
Make your way from the airport to Montmartre in the lively area by the Moulin Rouge with cafes, bars everywhere. Try to not book the hotel breakfast so you can go to a different café each morning and have something special.
Hotel Du Beaumont ****- one minute away from the Moulin Rouge and Metro, 24 hour desk, cafe - may be cheapest to book just before the stay
Citadines Montmartre Paris *** - apartment studios with kitchen area, rooftop terrace, cafe, 200m from Moulin Rouge and Metro
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Once you've checked in, relaxed and freshened up head out and explore your neighbourhood, it's quite famous. If you're short on time you could take the "Little train of Montmartre". If you don't make it to the Dali Museum make some time later to go and have a look.​
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Nomade - Antibes
Be around the Sacre-Coeur Basilica an hour or so before sunset for amazing views over the city. You'll have plenty of other people to share the experience with you, hopefully including a few street musicians.
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Continue to enjoy Montmartre for the evening. Visit the Moulin Rouge for a show and dinner if you like. You could save a lot of money by just seeing a show, there's one at 9 pm and 11pm. Another famous and more pocket friendly cabaret is the Lapin Agile. Here's a few suggestions on some places to eat and drink.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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Montmartre Tours
Montmartre ToursMontmartre Tours
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Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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Versailles Tours
Versailles ToursVersailles Tours
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Because Paris is so popular and has such major attractions you can spend a lot of time standing in queues. There are ways to get around this and I think it's worth paying extra for skip the queue tickets. So have a look through the Versailles tours above and pick something that works for you.
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Some tours include lunch otherwise there are a few options available. There are five restaurants at Versailles of differing standards and prices.
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Get them to drop you back to Marin D'Eau Douce at Bassin de la Villette (see map below). Pick up a few supplies along the way for a waterside picnic dinner. You can also pre-order hampers and champagne etc. Hire a boat for 2,3,4 hours and have your own DIY cruise in your very own electric boat. No license or skills required. They are open until 10 pm so you'll be able to watch the sun go down and the lights come on. The fresh air and space will be pleasant after the crowds at Versailles.
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When you've had enough time on the water you can do a little DIY bar crawl in the hip new area along the Canal St Martinheading south and finishing up at the Bastille with some of Paris's best bars and nightlife. You could also head down Rue Oberkampf on the way through. The Metro runs until 1.15 am on weekdays and 2.15 am on weekends.
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3
Put on your walking shoes and get an early start today (like 7.30 am). Firstly have breakfast at the oldest patisserie in Paris - Stroher since 1730. It's a half hour walk from the hotel you're off to the Louvre Museum. The most famous museum in the world. Try to avoid weekends. Wednesday and Friday have late closings which can also be less crowded. Get your skip the queue ticket and try to get down there around 8.30am. You could also take a guided tour which includes the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
Next stop is the big one. They don't have skip the queue tickets for the Eiffel Tower but buying an E-ticket on line2 months before will save you a lot of time. There are a couple of other tricks like booking a meal here and taking the steps. This guide should help you work out how much you want to spend.
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By now it must be time for cocktails. Why not have them in the famous bar that they were invented. Like a Bloody Mary, White Lady, James Bond, Blue Lagoon, Side Car and others. All at Harry's New York Bar which was dismantled and shipped over from 7th Avenue Manhattan and reassembled here in 1910. Jump on the nearby Metro or grab a cab. If you're a Hemmingway fan have a quick drink at the Hemmingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel on the way through. He personally liberated the hotel from the Nazis when the Americans marched in to Paris during WWII. Pop in and have a look at the famous Ritz Hotel anyway.
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Head down to Saint-Germain-des-Pres for the rest of the night. From here you can make your way through Odeon and then to the Latin Quarter. When you get hungry there are plenty of places to get a meal and there are lots of cheap bars around.
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4 - 6Lyon - 3N
Make your way to Gare de Lyon and take the fast train to Lyon. It will take around 2 hours. Lyon is a major food destination and was the capital of the resistance during WWII. The surrounding countryside is full of natural and cultural treasures.
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STAYat or near Hôtel Des Artistes *** a short walk from from Rue Merciere the restaurant and bar street and across the bridge to the old town
Day Trip - time to get out of the big cities and check out the countryside. Get an early start so you don't have to rush. Organise your car hire the day before so all you have to do is pick it up. As long as you're not here in the winter, the day should be nice and long. Four and a half hours driving plus a similar amount of time at stop offs.
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La Demeure du Chaos - Museum of contemporary art, huge open-air museum with controversial themes
Perouges - the prettiest medieval village in France
Aix-les-Bains - the Riviera of the Alps with thermal waters
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EAT -
Must try - the traditional restaurants / bistros here are known as Bouchons. There are only 22 certified Bouchons in this city of over 4,000 restaurants. This was the hometown of the famous French chef Paul Bocuse. Not to mention being the food capital of the world (claimed by the original Michelin food critic named Curnonsky back in 1935). So a bit of time and effort should go into where and what you eat.
Bernachon Chocolate - thought by many to be the best chocolate in the world! - And there are others which need to be tasted​
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Lyon is the food capital of France. Which is really saying something in a country that loves food so much and does a pretty good job preparing it. Here's a bunch of serious food experiences.
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Off to the French Riviera staying in the sunny city of Nice. Thetrain will take around 4½ hours.
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Nice will be home base on the Riviera to explore Menton, (head up to Saint-Agnes a member of the most beautiful villages of France club) Eze, Monaco (walk the F1 Grand Prix Track), Antibes (Musée Picasso), Cannes (go for a segway tour) and St. Tropez (for Tarte Tropézienne the best cake on earth and Gassin another member of the most beautiful villages of France with great views over Saint Tropez). Head for the hills to see the view from Ezeand sniff your way around UNESCO recognised Grasse, the perfume capital of the world and create your own fragrance. Hire a scooter or hop on the trainsto get around. See why it's called the Côte d'Azur(Blue Coast). Spend a day in each area.​
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Hit the beaches, eat the local specialties (Salad Niçoise) and see what the nightlife has to offer. While you're out and about you might get a hankering for a crème glacée.
​Take a daytrip on the mythical Pine Cone train (Train des Pignes) and spend the night in the spectacular medieval village of Entrevaux. There are 4 trains a day in either direction and between May and December a section of the trip is made by steam train. If you catch the first train you could look around the final stop, Digne les Baines and it's healing waters. Have lunch and then catch the early afternoon train back to Entrevaux where you will be spending the night. Or spend the night in Digne and catch the train down to Entrevaux the next day and have two nights out here. Or you could stop at any other village and do the same thing. Or you could just go to Entrevaux and back. It's a pretty interesting area with a lot to do. Including a very steep climb up to the citadel with some amazing views.
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It's a very scenic trip with 28 stops and many beautiful villages between Nice and Digne. Most shops and restaurants are closed on Mondays so pick another day. The train leaves from a small station called Gare de Nice CP at 4 bis rue Alfred Binet. Not the main station. Take your day pack and leave the main one back at the hotel.
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Stay at or near L'Orbitelle - a 2 bedroom apartment across the bridge in the village. It has a kitchen, washing machine and minimart on site. There are some wonderful restaurants and bars on both sides of the river. There are a few other choices as well if you click on the map link.​​
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Entrevaux - a walled and moated medieval town
13 - 15 Marseille - 3N
A train trip around the coast will bring you to Marseille, a city with a reputation but like all big cities use a little common sense and you won't have any problems. There are fast trains and regular trains to pick from. Stay in the picturesque old port area and do a spot of boat watching while enjoying a few sundowners. Try the famous seafood soup, bouillabaisse. Grab a boat out to the island prison which featured in the Count of Monte Cristo. There's lots too see and do in France's second city.​
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Marseille is famous for it's French soap. Pick some up but watch out for poor imitations on sale to tourists. Pastis, the national drink is another specialty of Marseille. It was created to fill the gap when Absinthe was banned.
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Stay in or near the Les Appartements du Vieux Port - in the old port close to restaurants and the Metro Station for the Train Station which is only a kilometer away. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars at your doorstep. (La Caravelle is a good one and 5 minutes walking time away). Try some of the local specialties.
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16 - 18Aix-en-provence - 3N
12 minutes on the TGV train will see you in Aix-en-Provence (the City of Water) or Aix (ex) for short. Known as the City of a Thousand Fountains and the City of Counts. Come and see how the art de vivre (art of living) is a way of life here. Artists have been attracted to this area or hundreds of years and it boasts one of France's finest art museums, the Granet. Aix is heaven for foodies with wonderful cafes and markets with local food and drink specialties. Take a walking tour through the old town with the impressive fountains as your guide. Take a tour on the mini-tram. Visit Le Rene Roy Factory the Almond King just 10 minutes from the centre of town. Visit the gardens, museum, sweet shop and do a tour to find out about nougat and other almondy treats.
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For something different head out to the Maison de Nostradamus museum 40 km away in Salon-de-Provence.
30 minutes on thetrainwill see you inAvignon the city famous as the Capital of the Christian world where the Popes fled to after leaving the corruption of Rome in the 14th century. A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Palace of the Popes will give you an idea of the importance of the church in those times. It is one of the largest buildings in the world (the largest Gothic building). You can even check out their private apartments. There are other UNESCO Sites in Avignon including the famous bridge - Le Pont Saint Benezet. Thankfully there is a little train to help you get around to all the sites. Or you could use the bike sharing system, or the e-bikes, or a segway or any of the other forms of public transport if you like. There are some great day trips from here as well so you're going to be busy. Aviation enthusiasts should not miss the Aerospace Museum of Orange 30 km north of the city. It has a wide range of fighter jets. Van Gogh spent time nearby at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in a mental hospital which you can visit. If you go there don't forget to pick up some of the local treats from Le Petit Duc and Joel Durand. Nostradamus was born in this town. You can see a plaque at his birthplace on Rue Nostradamus. While you're down this way a little further along the road is Les Baux de Provence (another most beautiful village) where you can visit the Cheateaux des Baux de Provence (where they have the largest trebuchet in Europe flinging missiles all day) and the Carrieres des Lumieres. Might as well hire a car and make it a day trip. If you want to go somewhere very special for dinner make a booking at L'Oustau de Baumaniere. Bring your credit card.
When you're missing Italy and Gelato head straight to this classy place. You might want to try this local liqueur that was used to fight cholera.
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Stay at or near the Régina Boutique Hotel *** - inside the city walls and close to the Palace of the Popes. Public parking for €15 per day.​
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22 - 24 Montpellier - 3N
It is an hour and a half on the train to Montpellier. Take a day off at the beach. Also check this out. Montpellier is in the largest wine region in the world so there are many options for tasting. This city has a different feel to the other ones you have been to. It has mix of old and modern and has a large student population which gives it a young vibe. The area is famous for wine and food. You will love the medieval streets and the Place de La Comédie the large square (rectangle) that is at the heart of the city with its illuminated fountain. It is like an open air museum and a lot of the action happens around here. Wander around the old town and get lost. There are modern trams which make it easy to get around and they link with buses to take you to the beach. Or try a segway tour of the city.​ If you are into bridges and engineering you could hire a car and go out for a look at the record breaking Viaduc de Millau a hundred kms away.​​
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Try these specialties, cafes, restaurants and bars. The famous white bean stew Cassoulet is the signature dish in the region.
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Stay in or near any of these which are close to both the Place de la Comédie and the train station -
Time to head back to Paris and home. The train will take 5 hours or you can probably get a reasonably priced flight straight to the airport if you get in early. The flight is 1½ hours and saves mucking around getting to the airport. Or you could hire a car and do the World Wars trip below.
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Here are a few more tours for the other cities you will be visiting along the way.
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Depending on where you come from you will have different interests in what you want to see on the battlefields. Have a look through these tours to see what fits into your category. Hearing the stories about what went on from a knowledgeable and entertaining guide can make the whole experience come to life in your imagination. You should be able to slot these tours in with the one you are already doing on your own.
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The Somme - WW1
The Somme - WW1The Somme - WW1
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The Beaches of Normandy - WW2
The Beaches of Normandy - WW2The Beaches of Normandy - WW2
La Route du Cidre - The Normandy Cider Route (Calvados Brandy & Apple Cider)
It's possible to be in Villers-Bretonneux for Anzac Day and Orleans for the Joan of Arc Festival
Villers-Bretonneux - France & Australia together forever in bonds of friendship & mutual esteem
Jersey Royal potatoes and creamy milk from Jersey cows (best ice cream and cheese)
See the Neolithic burial mound of Hougue Bie – one of the 10 oldest buildings in the world
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1 Monday Paris - 3N (Montmartre)
Start this trip on a Monday or Friday to match up with the ferry departure from Cherbourg to Guernsey (St. Peters Port). If you start on the Monday you will get the Saturday Farmers Market at Beuvron-en-Auge as well as fewer crowds and possibly a cheaper ferry ride to Guernsey.
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If you are going to take in ANZAC day and the Orleans festival in this trip make sure you book those two places as far ahead as possible. For ANZAC day at Villers-Bretonneux you're probably better off staying in nearby and much larger Amiens. (see below)
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Make your way from the airport to Montmartre in the lively area by the Moulin Rouge with cafes, bars everywhere. Try to not book the hotel breakfast so you can go to a different café each morning and have something special.
Hotel Du Beaumont **** - one minute away from the Moulin Rouge and Metro, 24 hour desk, cafe - might be cheapest just before the stay
Citadines Montmartre Paris *** - apartment studios with kitchen area, rooftop terrace, cafe, 200m from Moulin Rouge and Metro
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Once you've checked in, relaxed and freshened up head out and explore your neighbourhood, it's quite famous. If you're short on time you could take the "Little train of Montmartre". If you don't make it to the Dali Museum make some time later to go and have a look.​​
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Be around the Sacre-Coeur Basilica an hour or so before sunset for amazing views over the city. You'll have plenty of other people to share the experience with you, hopefully including a few street musicians.
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Continue to enjoy Montmartre for the evening. Visit the Moulin Rouge for a show and dinner if you like. You could save a lot of money by just seeing a show, there's one at 9pm and 11pm. Another famous and more pocket friendly cabaret is the Lapin Agile. Here's a few suggestions on some places to eat and drink.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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Versailles Tours
Versailles ToursVersailles Tours
2 Tuesday
Because Paris is so popular and has such major attractions you can spend a lot of time standing in queues. There are ways to get around this and I think it's worth paying extra. So have a look through the tours to Versailles above and see what suits your tastes.
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Some tours include lunch otherwise there are a few options available. There are five restaurants at Versailles of differing standards and prices.
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Get them to drop you back to Marin D'Eau Douce at Bassin de la Villette (see the map below). Pick up a few supplies along the way for a waterside picnic dinner. You can also pre-order hampers and champagne etc. Hire a boat for 2,3,4 hours and have your own DIY cruise in your very own electric boat. No license or skills required. They are open until 10pm so you'll be able to watch the sun go down and the lights come on. The fresh air and space will be pleasant after the crowds at Versailles.
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When you've had enough time on the water you can do a little DIY bar crawl in the hip new area along the Canal St Martinheading south and finishing up at the Bastille with some of Paris's best bars and nightlife. You could also head down Rue Oberkampf on the way through. The Metro runs until 1.15 am on weekdays and 2.15am on weekends
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3 Wednesday
Put on your walking shoes and get an early start today (like 7.30 am). Firstly have breakfast at the oldest patisserie in Paris - Stroher since 1730. It's a half hour walk from the hotel you're off to the Louvre Museum. The most famous museum in the world. Try to avoid weekends. Wednesday and Friday have late closings which can also be less crowded. Get your skip the queue ticket and try to get down there around 8.30am. You could also take a guided tour which includes the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
Next stop is the big one. They don't have skip the queue tickets for the Eiffel Tower but buying an E-ticket on line 2 months before will save you a lot of time. There are a couple of other tricks like booking a meal here and taking the steps. This guide should help you work out how much you want to spend.
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By now it must be time for cocktails. Why not have them in the famous bar that they were invented. Like a Bloody Mary, White Lady, James Bond, Blue Lagoon, Side Car and others. All at Harry's New York Bar which was dismantled and shipped over from 7th Avenue Manhattan and reassembled here in 1910. Jump on the nearby Metro or grab a cab. If you're a Hemmingway fan have a quick drink at the Hemmingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel on the way through. He personally liberated the hotel from the Nazis when the Americans marched in to Paris during WWII. Pop in and have a look at the famous Ritz Hotel anyway.
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Head down to Saint-Germain-des-Pres for the rest of the night. From here you can make your way through Odeon and then to the Latin Quarter. When you get hungry there are plenty of places to get a meal and there are lots of cheap bars around. ​​
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Montmartre Tours
Montmartre ToursMontmartre Tours
4 Amiens / villers-Bretonneux - 1N
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After a few days getting to know Paris head off in your rental car🚗 for a scenic drive to the trenches and battlefields of World War l. You will need to get it for about 18 days. Don't forget to tell them you'll be taking it on the car ferries to the Channel Islands.The nearby Gare du Nord train station is probably your best bet to pick it up from and you could drop it off at the airport on your way out.
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First stop is the “Venice of the North”, Amiens for a visit to the UNESCO Amiens Cathedral. Then have lunch by the Somme Quai Belu. Just look for the area around Le Quai Restaurant. A popular local favourite is the Ficelle Picarde a savoury crepe with ham, mushrooms and cream. Stop by the Jules Verne's house​ and museum on your way out. Non Aussies might want to spend the night here as it has a lot more to offer. You could have a look at some of the sites at Villers - Bretonneux on the way through in the morning.
For patriotic Aussies the overnight stop is at the historically famous village of Villers -Bretonneux. 1,200 Aussie soldiers died liberating it in 1918. The French have never forgotten the sacrifice and there is now a dawn service here everyANZAC day. After the war schoolchildren from Victoria donated money to help rebuild the local school. The Australian flag still flies proudly alongside the French Tricolour over the village and there is an Australian National Memorial, the Sir John Monash Centre and a museum. The local school also has some Australiana. The town of Robinvale-Euston in Australia is a sister city with Villers-Bretonneux. 733 Australians are buried here.
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Spend the night here and have a couple of drinks with the locals. They might even buy you one.
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Stay at or near La Grange du Verger - free secured parking, free breakfast included, BBQ, sun terrace, outdoor furniture, shared kitchen and lounge, café
Spend the day looking at the significant battle sites of the Western Front, the trenches, No Mans Land, museums and other memorials. After thinking about war all day unwind in the pretty as a picture little fishing village of a beach side town of Le Crotoy on Somme Bay. Go for a (Henson) horse ride along the only south pointing beach in northern France. Take a ride on a historical steam train or get a bike from the hotel and ride the paths along the bay. Or just sit and watch the world go by at one of the many seaside outdoor bars and restaurants.
Pozieres - The Australian official historian Charles Bean wrote that Pozieres Ridge "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth".
Sheffield Memorial Park- this was the British front line in 1916 - it's an hour and a half from here to Le Crotoy
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Stay at or near the Logis - Hôtel de la Baie de Somme *** - great waterfront location near all of the seafood stalls, restaurants and bars, easy parking nearby for €5 per day, terrace and bar, all sorts of activities organised.
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Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
​A break from the war today as you spend time seeing what else this region has to offer. Go for a drive to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme the medieval village across the mouth of the Somme for breakfast and a stroll along the riverside promenade. It is a member of the most beautiful detours in France club.
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Then it's time to head down to theAlabaster Coast and the famous gardens at Etretat and lunch. On the way you'll visit the amazing Benedictine Palace. Then you'll be on La Route du Cidre - the Normandy Cider trail with visits to apple cider and brandy producers. With some of France's most beautiful villages and a few tastings thrown in too. If it's Saturday afternoon the Farmers Market will be on. Grab some cheese to go with your cider, there is also a Normandy Cheese trail and there are four varieties for which they are famous.
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Dieppe - France's first ever seaside resort - have morning tea at one of the waterfront cafes near La Taverne du Pirate in the fishing port and a bit of a look around
The Benedictine Palace - tour and tasting. Just don't look at the time - it's after midday somewhere
The Etretat Gardens - one of the great gardens of the world, have lunch looking out over the spectacular limestone cliffs on the coast
Beuvron-en-Auge - one of the most beautiful villages in France which has a Farmers Market on Saturday afternoons - a good spot for afternoon smoko
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Tonight will be spent in the lovely beach town ofCabourg where you will eat, drink and be merry wandering around the lively and famous Avenue de la Mer. Over half a kilometer of wall to wall bars, shops and restaurants.
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Stay at or near the Hotel Du Parc ** - good location by the park at the top of Ave de la Mar the pedestrian street and free parking and a bar
​Jump forward a quarter of a century and you'll be exploring the beaches of Normandy, the site of the D-Day Invasion which marked the turning point of the war. You will follow the coast around taking in the most important sites and best museums ending up on the Cotentin Peninsula, known to savvy travellers. Afternoon Smoko and famous oysters at the most favourite and beautiful French village of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, by the sea. See if they have restarted the Normandy Pass which gives you discount at participating museums and other attractions.
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Tonight you will stay in the unspoiled and one of the most beautiful villages in France - Barfleur. Also famous for it's seafood, especially the local mussels cooked in cream and washed down with a Normandy cider at a seafront restaurant. William the Conqueror set sail from here with his fleet to invade England. Don't miss the 70m tapestry at Bayeux that tells the story. There's a clue to the outcome in his name. Many of these overnight towns are tourist destinations in their own right.
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Drive up to Cherbourg to catch your ferry to St Peter Port on Guernsey one of the British Channel Islands. Don't forget to grab some duty free booze on board. It takes 2½ hours and Condor is the only company for all of these ferry trips. (apart from local trips) They became a part of the English Crown when William the Conqueror took over in 1066. No need to decide between Guernsey and Jersey as you'll be going to both.
Stay at or near the Duke of Normandie ***- free public parking onsite, great central location, 2 minutes walk from the beach, 75m from the high street, restaurant, bar, Pickled Pig gastro-pub onsite, beer garden with al fresco dining
Pop over to Herm Island - Morning Tea / Lunch at the Shell Beach Cafe over on Herm Island. Catch the 20 minute ferry over and have a swim and a look around. There is even a pub over here called the Mermaid Tavern.
The speedy car ferry will get you over to Jersey in an hour. It leaves at 4.30pm and there is another one an hour later that takes 2 hours. Time for some more duty free. The Channel Islands are famous for the massive tides they have. These can be spectacular and also cause problems for unsuspecting tourists. There are several islands you can walk to at low tide, just be aware of when the tide comes back in. Jersey is larger than Guernsey so there is more to see but its capital isn't as pretty. Which is why you're staying in stunning Gorey.
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The most popular Jersey attraction is the Jersey War Tunnels. Other attractions include the Mansell collection. The F1 driver lives here and this is his story with some amazing exhibits. There are wineries, castles, lavender farms, bioluminescence walks, markets, distilleries and a lot more to keep you busy. But you may not want to leave your wonderful new home for a few days.
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Stay in Gorey a 15 minute drive from the capital where the ferry arrives. It is a special place in Jersey. Stay at or near - the Seascale Hotel & Restaurant * - street parking nearby for £2 per day, perfect location on the beachfront overlooking Gorey Harbour and situated under the castle by the bars and restaurants, seafood restaurant. 5 minutes to the Royal Jersey Golf Course, try to get a room with sea views, fabulous breakfast included, packed lunches
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Or nearby The Moorings Hotel & Restaurant *** is a bit more upmarket with onsite parling, terrace, restaurant and bar, live music, happy hour and spa and wellness centre
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SEE / DO - You can pretty much get to anywhere on the island within half an hour so just pick and choose what you want to do
La Mare Wine Estate - this one fits all categories, six tours a day and have lunch at the Vineyard Café overlooking the vines and they make Jersey Black Butter and good sparkling reds
On the Ferry and an hour and a half ride back to France today. Last chance for duty free. Two nights in the amazing pirate town of Saint-Malo, which by happy coincidence is where the ferry goes. You're in for a treat with this ancient walled city. One of Saint-Malo's most famous sailors is credited with discovering Canada. Jacques Cartier named it after the Indian word for "little village". The city was nearly completely destroyed in WW2 when Patton held it siege and resorted to heavy bombardment. Fortunately it has been restored to its former glory. There are some pretty nice beaches with golden sands if the weather is nice. The crepes, dairy products and seafood are pretty special here and it has a vibrant nightlife.​
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Drive from the ferry to the Paul Feval car park out behind the hippodrome then take the free shuttle bus to the old town. It costs €3.30 per day. You wont be needing the car while you're here so just have your day pack ready to keep you going for a couple of days.
Stay at or near Hôtel Bristol Union Intra Muros *** - excellent location in the middle of town next to cafes, bars and restaurants, 4 minute walk to the beach, bar
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SEE / DO
Number one on the to do list will be a self guided walking tour of the ramparts of the city wall. It is a 2 km loop with incredible views of the city and the sea as well as many points of interest on the way around.
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14 Sunday Le Mont-Saint-Michel - 1N
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"One of the most important sites of medieval Christian civilisation" - UNESCO
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Pick the car up and head to Cancale the oyster capital of Brittany and France. Some people consider these to be the best oysters in the world. Stop in for morning smoko and if it's not too early a feed of oysters. Otherwise pick some up to be eaten later in the day. You can walk around the beds at low tide.
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Off to France's most popular attraction outside Paris - Le Mont-Saint-Michel. It was once a major pilgrimage site. Now there are monasteries and then there are monasteries and then there is this place. It needs to be seen to be believed. In 1791 it became a prison and held 300 priests who were opponents of the republic. In keeping with the rest of the region it has 15 metre tides which are said to travel at the speed of a galloping horse which could cause havoc with the pilgrims. Have a good look around and enjoy the local specialty Agneau de Pre-sale “salt meadow lamb” later on for dinner here. People actually live here and there are shops, restaurants and hotels. And tonight you will be staying here as well. All three have parking nearby for €15 a night. Reservation may be needed. Once again just use your day pack for the night. Read this guide for the finer details.
or Le Mouton Blanc *** - restaurant, bar, free breakfast, can include dinner, free shuttle service
15 - 16 Mon / Tues Domfront - 2N
When the crowds return in the morning you can escape to the beautiful medieval town of Domfront. Famous for it'spear cider and camembert it is located next to the river La Varenne in the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park. A truly special place you'll want to linger at a lot longer. If you're a fan of the TV show Escape to the Chateau you could book into one of their "work in the garden days", tomorrow. You could even spend a night or two there. It's 45 minutes away and you'll be driving past in a few days if you want to go in for a look. Otherwise there is plenty do do around here. The horse riding is particularly good.
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Stay at or near ÉlégantEpoxyDesign&Décorin a great location in the middle of everything and free parking nearby
If you want to stay in a historical house in the countryside only 5 minutes from the town centre for a great price - Chambres d'Hotes Belle Vallee - a Maison du Maitre (Masters House) built in 1800 given by Napoleon to one of his generals, free private parking, 18 hectares of private grounds, exceptional breakfast included, light suppers available
You will pass by the famous Chateau de La Motte Husson mentioned earlier so stop off and take a look if you like. You might even bump into Dick and Angel. Stop in the pretty city of Laval for morning coffee on your way to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed and best town to live in France - Angers. Stop off 23 kms north of Angers to visit the Chateau du Plessis-Bourre an official historic monument.
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Stay at or near Hotel Saint-Julien *** - amazing location close to the pedestrian zone and on the town square, public parking nearby for €3 - €15 per day, sun terrace,
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SEE / DO
Chateau de Brissac - France's tallest castle, the "giant of the Loire Valley"
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Chateau d'Angers - featuring the Apocalypse tapestry, at 106m it is the largest in the world and a priceless treasure
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Giffard Distillery - tour, taste and stock up, the inventors of creme de menthe
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Cointreau Distillery (where every bottle has ever been made) - tour, taste, stock up
This is a University town and nearly half of the population is under 30 years old - so that makes for a vibrant food and night life scene
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Wine bars - with all of the wineries around in the Loire Valley it's no surprise there are plenty of quality wine bars
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19 Fri Zoo de la Fleche - 1N
Just a short 45 minute drive to your lodgings today at Safari Lodge Zoo de la Fleche. Not on Booking.com so you might have to pay up front for this one. Should be an interesting stay depending on who / what you've chosen to observe / observe you. If you are short on time and / or money you could skip this but it would be a pity and you might be missing one of the trip's many highlights. Some meals are included which brings the price down. Book early to get what you want.
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Have a look around the zoo (become a keeper for half a day). Have a look around town. For a nice lunch in town try Fleur de Sel. Have a day off in your unique surroundings.
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20 - 21 Sat / Sun Orleans - 2N
On the road again via Le Mans home of the 24 hour race. If you're here in the middle of June you couldwatch it. There is a museum about the race that is worth visiting and there are guided or self-guided tours of the track and the largest karting track in Europe. As it is a public road you can also drive around it. Head to the Le Mans shop (at the museum) to pick up some souvenirs. For some real excitement visit the Porsche Experience Centre. Head into the Cite Plantagenet or Old Town for lunch.
Next stop is Orleans the city made famous by a young girl named Joan aka Jeanne d'Arc. She is still very popular today and you will find traces of her everywhere. The Rue de Bourgogne runs through the old town and is a vibrant street of restaurants and bars that is mainly pedestrian only. Follow the Joan trail including statues and museums etc even though she only actually spent 10 days in the city. If you're here in May you will be able to participate in the Joan of Arc Festival which has been celebrated for over 600 years.
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Stay at or near the Hotel d'Orleans *** - paid private parking per day, reservation required, great location in the heart of Orleans, bar, café, packed lunches
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22 Mon Paris Airport Departure​
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Two and a half hours drive back to Paris. You could go via Fontainebleau and have a look at their marvelous chateau and it's gardens. Have some lunch at one of the picturesque villages nearby. Continue on to the airport, drop the car off and fly home.
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Have a look through these tours from Saint Malo to the end of the trip -
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