Self-Driving around France - from Paris to Nice

Spend about a month to travel from Paris to Nice on the French Riviera and get a real feel for France !

Ah…Paris…

• Experience living the Parisian life. Comfortably accommodated for 3 nights in a charming boutique-hotel in the Latin Quarter, by the Luxembourg gardens & Sorbonne university, you will discover the French capital city’s must sees and hidden beauties.

• Being based a 10-minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral, we have prepared for you different itineraries to explore Paris by foot, by boat or using public transportation. We also recommend our favorite restaurants and boulangeries in different districts of the capital city so you’ll know where to take a break.
• On the 4th day, you will pick up a rental car in Paris by the ring road, and drive to Bayeux area with some nice stops along the way.

Bayeux area in Normandy

• For 4 nights, taste the Norman quietness in a manor from the 11th century. Jump into the Middle-Ages enjoying all the modern amenities...and amazing breakfasts cooked by your lovely hostess.
• Perfectly located between Bayeux and the WWII beaches, you will get a real feel for the Norman history there from William the Conqueror to the Second World War. 
• We also plan for you to spend a morning with a private guide who will customize the itinerary to your wishes and interests to the WWII beaches and memorial sites.

Across the bay from mont saint michel

• You'll stay in a lovely Bed & Breakfast for 2 nights, across the Bay from Mont Saint Michel. Your welcoming Hosts own a typical Norman stone house, surrounded by fields where racehorses are being grown up and trained...a local specialty. 
• We will provide tips on when/how to enjoy this Unesco site – when most of the crowds have left.

The Loire Valley near Chenonceaux

• Spend the next 4 nights of your French journey in a welcoming Bed & Breakfasts, between Amboise and Chenonceau castle, in the heart of the Loire Valley. 
• Your hostess is an excellent cook and one afternoon, she will teach you how to cook some local dishes, which you will savor around a big table at night, in a convivial ambiance.
• Discover the marvels of the Loire Valley: we will recommend you how to visit famous must see castles such as Chenonceau or Chambord away from the crowds…We will also suggest smaller castles and hidden places, less famous and with a lot of history and beautiful settings. 
• If you like gardens, don’t miss Chaumont or Villandry. We will also provide wineries information for you to taste the local wines.

Downtown Bordeaux Unesco city

• Your itinerary takes you then for 3 nights inside the gates of Bordeaux city, a wonder of the 17th century. You will be welcomed in a peaceful atmosphere, walking distance to all Bordeaux landmarks and restaurants.
• Built along the banks of the Garonne river the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to Bordeaux. You will find everything you need: from villages nestled into the Medoc or St Emilion vineyards, to the bustling night life in Bordeaux. Also, bear in mind that Bordeaux's Sainte Catherine Street is the longest shopping street in Europe!
• We plan for you to visit a Medoc wine estate with an English-speaking guide: from the vineyards near the castle to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and end this 2hr tour with a …wine tasting.

Carcassonne & Cathar country

• Carcassonne medieval “Cité” will amaze you by its size and conservation. You will reside in a cozy B&B for 2 nights in the lively bastide-town, walking distance to all sightseeing and restaurants – but away from the tourist crowds.
• In the Cathar country, walkers/hikers will be rewarded with breath taking landscapes and fortresses such as Quéribus. History lovers will be passionate by the Cathar history. Wine lovers may be surprised by the quality of the “Minervois” wines which have improved a lot in the past 10 years.
• On the 19th day of your French trip, you will drive about 3 hours to reach the Provence region in the South East of France.

Gorgeous Provence

• Stay at the foot of the Luberon chain for 4 nights, in a working wine & olive farm with an amazing provençal postcard view. Your hosts will cook a mouth-watering dinner one night for you.
• So many things to see in less than an hour's drive from your B&B: beautiful Avignon, also referred to as “the City of Popes”, where you can visit the palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”. 
• Strolling hilltop villages on market day, walking on the footsteps of famous painters such as Cézanne or Picasso. We will also tell you about some hidden jewels - villages, off the beaten track where you will stroll around charming streets or have a drink at a provencal café with locals. We can also recommend a farmer’s market for each day of the week!
• One day, we will take you to a place you could not find on your own…lost in Provence mountains, in a very private wine estate. There, you will take a tour to the winery, then enjoy a wine tasting followed by a nice picnic in the vineyards. A very romantic time.

La Côte d’Azur – the French Riviera

• About 3hr dive and you will get to the French Riviera, in a lovely historic town, only 8 miles from the worldwide famous city of Nice. The B&B house where you will spend the last 3 nights of your adventure is located at the top of the town so you will enjoy a beautiful sea view from your room and from the breakfast terrace. You are walking distance to several restaurants and will feel at ease to explore the Riviera region.
• In the Riviera hinterland, you will discover some of the most beautiful handicrafts in France, particularly ceramics, sculpture and painting.  For art lovers, the many art museums of Nice and its surroundings will amaze you with masterpieces by Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.
• But the Riviera is even more than all this. The “Cote d’Azur” is a marvel of fabulous 19th century villas and sapphire water coves. Wander about the narrow alleyways of the old city of Nice or go shopping and enjoy views of the Mediterranean in seaside restaurants from Monte Carlo to Antibes.

 This itinerary is a great way to experience the diversity of France - focusing on very typical regions and leaving time to enjoy & relax.