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France then....


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Oxford prompted me to this thread with his brief musings on Honfleur, Normandy.....

As we sail into the humber estuary, the grey fogginess of Kingston upon Ull awaits us..... 

We reckon we've been to france over a hundred times now. I adore the place, its diversity, its rich and oft violent history and of course the wine and gastronomy.

So.... which is/are you favourite places or regions?

I personally adore the loire valley. I feel most at home there. Have friends there and know the Touraine region quite well now.

But places.... st Remy de provence ticks all boxes.....

 

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I’ll second your choice of the Loire Valley there. We spent all our summers when i was a kid in our tourer caravan round France and Spain and the i always loved the Loire Valley more than anywhere else. I’ve not really been to France for years though (barring a day stop on a cruise a little over a year ago). I really should go back but I’m having a bit of a love affair with Italy. 

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For me Corfu, particularly the north and east of the island, the greenest of all the greek isles, the corfiots are a genuinely friendly bunch who greet you like a long lost relative. We're back there next week and it's always a wrench to come home.

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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I've been to ~70 countries and it's hard to compare, but France would certainly be right up there at the top of the list. Probably easier to name the bits of France that aren't beautiful?

Favourites for me, in no particular order

Midi-Pyrenees - Carcassonne & surrounds, Albi, Cordes-sur-ciel/ Tarn generally, Aveyron (Villefranche, Najac), Cahors, St.cirq-lapopie (Lot/quercy generally)

Provence - Avignon, Aix, Arles/Camargue especially

Cote d'azur - Nice, St. Paul de Vence

Around Perpignan - Collioure, Ceret

Dordogne - round Perigeux.

Grenoble & the alps

There's loads of places that are really, really nice that I haven't included either - Basque coast, Limousin. Been to Brittany dozens of times, that's lovely, as is the Loire valley/ Tourraine, Bourgougne, Royan/Charente etc etc.

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17 minutes ago, JonM said:

I've been to ~70 countries and it's hard to compare, but France would certainly be right up there at the top of the list. Probably easier to name the bits of France that aren't beautiful?

Favourites for me, in no particular order

Midi-Pyrenees - Carcassonne & surrounds, Albi, Cordes-sur-ciel/ Tarn generally, Aveyron (Villefranche, Najac), Cahors, St.cirq-lapopie (Lot/quercy generally)

Provence - Avignon, Aix, Arles/Camargue especially

Cote d'azur - Nice, St. Paul de Vence

Around Perpignan - Collioure, Ceret

Dordogne - round Perigeux.

Grenoble & the alps

There's loads of places that are really, really nice that I haven't included either - Basque coast, Limousin. Been to Brittany dozens of times, that's lovely, as is the Loire valley/ Tourraine, Bourgougne, Royan/Charente etc etc.

I adore provence around Arles. Bouche du Rhone is next years big trip with too cheapies to picardie and of course the Loire thrown in..

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We keep toying with the idea of a week or so in France, but I must admit I get a little lost in knowing where to even start!

If I had a week, with a car and a toddler, but wanted to sample beautiful scenery, bit of history and amazing food and drink, where are you recommending?

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4 minutes ago, Dave T said:

We keep toying with the idea of a week or so in France, but I must admit I get a little lost in knowing where to even start!

If I had a week, with a car and a toddler, but wanted to sample beautiful scenery, bit of history and amazing food and drink, where are you recommending?

The Loire Valley is probably just about in driving distance and ticks all those boxes for me.  I love Brittany but you can't really guarantee the weather..need to go further south and places like Saumur are very nice.  Carcassonne and the surrounding area with the Canal du midi etc are great but a long way to drive with a youngster.

"At times to be silent is to lie. You will win because you have enough brute force. But you will not convince. For to convince you need to persuade. And in order to persuade you would need what you lack: Reason and Right."

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1 minute ago, slowdive said:

The Loire Valley is probably just about in driving distance and ticks all those boxes for me.  I love Brittany but you can't really guarantee the weather..need to go further south and places like Saumur are very nice.  Carcassonne and the surrounding area with the Canal du midi etc are great but a long way to drive with a youngster.

Thanks, but to be clear, I am happy to fly into wherever and then drive...

I was thinking of South.

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Pretty much anywhere in in the south would be my answer. Is days on the beach a consideration for your toddler? Also what time of year? It can be pretty hot in summer, especially inland it's a pain if your child decides they're not going to wear a hat/let you put on suntan lotion/stay in the shade.

We had a fabulous holiday around Toulouse around the Widnes game in 2005,  with 4 year old and 6 year old boys. Carcassonne ticks all the castles and knights boxes, day at the awesome Space centre in Toulouse, day at the beach, day cycling/boat trip on the canal du midi,  not too much driving.

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22 minutes ago, Dave T said:

We keep toying with the idea of a week or so in France, but I must admit I get a little lost in knowing where to even start!

If I had a week, with a car and a toddler, but wanted to sample beautiful scenery, bit of history and amazing food and drink, where are you recommending?

It is hard to pick a single spot.

If you have never been before, I think Toulouse was a good shout as it is a city I love. From there, you are well-placed for:

- Good weather

- Stunning scenery - Pyrenees, Garonne

- Rugby

Equally, you could say most of the same things about Montpellier but I just about preferred the city of Toulouse.

I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly.

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Boulogne has a very nice third division football team where the chips are very cheap and tasty & the beer is pleasant.

I understand there are other places in France but that, right there, has pretty much everything you need.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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3 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Boulogne has a very nice third division football team where the chips are very cheap and tasty & the beer is pleasant.

I understand there are other places in France but that, right there, has pretty much everything you need.

Yes, I am a big fan of the Nord / Pas-de-Calais regions having spent the best part of a year there during my uni course. GJ describes its plus points appropriately, although I would add that the people are among the friendliest and least aloof in France.

You could argue though - and I might well - that all of those attributes make it a poundshop Belgium.

I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly.

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39 minutes ago, JonM said:

Pretty much anywhere in in the south would be my answer. Is days on the beach a consideration for your toddler? Also what time of year? It can be pretty hot in summer, especially inland it's a pain if your child decides they're not going to wear a hat/let you put on suntan lotion/stay in the shade.

We had a fabulous holiday around Toulouse around the Widnes game in 2005,  with 4 year old and 6 year old boys. Carcassonne ticks all the castles and knights boxes, day at the awesome Space centre in Toulouse, day at the beach, day cycling/boat trip on the canal du midi,  not too much driving.

 

28 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

It is hard to pick a single spot.

If you have never been before, I think Toulouse was a good shout as it is a city I love. From there, you are well-placed for:

- Good weather

- Stunning scenery - Pyrenees, Garonne

- Rugby

Equally, you could say most of the same things about Montpellier but I just about preferred the city of Toulouse.

Thanks folks. Our plan was to fly into Bordeaux, then stay in farmhouse type accommodation on the way down to Northern Spain, via Toulouse etc. 

So that would be an ok part of France to explore? From what I recall there seemed to be some beautiful looking villages with some outstanding looking restaurants .

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Comment above reminds me that travelling with a toddler in southern Europe is a great experience in itself. People really do go out of their way to be helpful. Some lovely memories of restaurants in Portugal where they produced blankets so our little one could have a sleep while we ate, or in Italy where they would almost always be whisked off by waitresses to be fussed over.

Italy was also the place where, struggling with buggies & suitcases, we encountered a gang of surly, fonz-lookalike, wannabe hardman teenagers in leather jackets, who greeted us with  "Eh, bambino" and lots of hand waving & proceeded to carry our stuff over the railway bridge and then helped us into the train. Once on the train, the guard took two toddlers off to look round the cab, blow the whistle, clip peoples tickets etc. France doesn't seem to be quite so besotted with small children, but away from Paris, we've always found people to be really friendly.

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France has certainly widened its empire again in recent years, judging by some of the responses!

I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly.

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1 hour ago, Dave T said:

We keep toying with the idea of a week or so in France, but I must admit I get a little lost in knowing where to even start!

If I had a week, with a car and a toddler, but wanted to sample beautiful scenery, bit of history and amazing food and drink, where are you recommending?

Driving for the first time.... try picardie. Great access to 20th century history. Lovely scenery. Nice fish. 

Le Touquet is a pretty town of if youprefer ... camping le Ridin at le crotoy is a fab base. You can get a very reasonable van on there and a shuttleis free if you shop at tesco and save your points. An hour from Calais.

Drive a bit further 5 hours.... gets you to le val de loire. I cant do it justice on here. Its absolutely fabulous in all respects. Weather good. Loads to see n do. I'm happy for you to call me.... I'll happily give you any advice you need.... or bore you squitless about france.

Of course...  fly to avignon... and provence is you. Almost guaranteed weather. Beautiful world class gastronomy and viticulture... scenery and all the history you like....

Again.... happy to deafen your earoyle about that region too.

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18 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

France has certainly widened its empire again in recent years, judging by some of the responses!

Aye, seems i've been holidaying tgere a fair bit without realising!

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Not been disappointed with anywhere in France in recent years - the past 5-6 have made a few trips. Usually timed it wrongly for any rugby though

I'd chuck in St Jean De Luz and the Bay of Arcachon onto the suggestions already made

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