7 scenarios for a first trip
Choose a region by interest, time and pace. Every scenario has been tested in practice.
Paris + 2–3 days nearby (without changing bases)
Versailles, Chantilly or Fontainebleau: choose one château
Stay in Paris and head out for the day
Suitable for first visits and short trips
Normandy: sea, history and beautiful towns
Honfleur, Étretat, Mont-Saint-Michel: postcard views
Fresh oysters, cider and a relaxed pace
Easy to reach from Paris (2 hours by train)
Loire Valley: châteaux and villages
Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise: the main châteaux in 3–4 days
Cycling routes along the river
Quiet towns, wineries and gardens
Provence: markets, villages and landscapes
Gordes, Roussillon, Avignon: Provençal villages
Lavender fields (June–July), markets and olive groves
A slow pace, plenty of light and colour
French Riviera: Nice as a base + day trips
Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Èze: in 4–5 days
Sea, waterfronts, museums and markets
Convenient without a car (trains along the coast)
Alsace: fairytale towns + atmosphere
Colmar, Strasbourg, the Wine Route: a compact itinerary
Half-timbered houses, Christmas markets (December)
German influence in food and architecture
Bordeaux: city + ocean (a relaxed pace)
Bordeaux (2 days), Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat, Saint-Émilion
Oysters, wine and ocean air
Suitable for a relaxing, unhurried holiday