I am going to France in October to take a two-week French course in Tours. I then have six days to make my way by train to Marseille where I will catch my flight home.
Any recommendations on where to visit? I spent a month in France last year, two weeks in Montpellier (for a French course) then we rented a car and visited Carcasonne, Foix, Collioure, St-Remy de Provence (from where I visited Avignon, Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape). I would like to go back to Montpellier for 1 day to catch up with one of my professeurs and also spend 2-3 days in Aix. I have visited Marseille in the past and plan this time only to go there from Aix the morning of my flight.
I was thinking La Rochelle (maybe not so easy to get to without car?) or Bordeaux (not reading good reviews of Bordeaux) or Toulouse from where I might also visit Albi. What about Biarritz or Nimes? As you can see, I am trying to plan a route from Tours south through Montpellier to Aix. I am interested in beautiful outdoor spaces and art museums and just wandering around to get the feel of a city. I will be alone and safety is a concern. I should probably only go to one place other than Montpellier and Aix, I guess, or maybe two at the most.
Any thoughts and advice will be much appreciated!
Actually, Bordeaux has spent the last 10 years rebuilding many of its more rundown areas. The harbor is now full of restaurants and quaint shops. If you have access to a magazine (out of San Francisco) called "France Today," check the archives for Bordeaux. It was one of the last two and had an excellent article.
We weren’t wild about Bordeaux but may rethink it after reading the article.
Have you visited Arles? It’s a very favorite place. Also interesting is the Camargue but you would need a car for that.
I’m not sure where the train runs because we always have a car, but you could check the train routes and then Google a few of the places along the route. Quite frankly, we weren’t wild about Nimes either. It’s not very picturesque.
Good luck.
I have been to Arles, Nimes, Camargue and several other places around Avignon (this is where I spend most of my time overseas) and they are all good options for a visit. Camargue has great beaches but I dont know what they will be like in October, also Arles has one of the best markets I have been to (I have never made it through the entire thing). Again, not so sure it is in full bloom in October. The coloseum in Arles is also a sight to see. When I was there they were holding bull fights (I couldnt muster the courage to go). Another place of interest would be Cannes. We went there and stayed with a friend so I am not too sure about the price of an overnight stay but this is only an hour or so by train from marsielle. Hope this helps.
Nicki
I have been to Arles, Nimes, Camargue and several other places around Avignon (this is where I spend most of my time overseas) and they are all good options for a visit. Camargue has great beaches but I dont know what they will be like in October, also Arles has one of the best markets I have been to (I have never made it through the entire thing). Again, not so sure it is in full bloom in October. The coloseum in Arles is also a sight to see. When I was there they were holding bull fights (I couldnt muster the courage to go). Another place of interest would be Cannes. We went there and stayed with a friend so I am not too sure about the price of an overnight stay but this is only an hour or so by train from marsielle. Hope this helps.
Nicki