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 the Parisian life comfortably accommodated for 3 nights in a charming boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter. Nearby you have the Luxembourg Gardens and the Sorbonne University, and you will discover the French capital's must-sees and hidden beauties.

• Being based a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral, we have prepared different itineraries to help you explore Paris on 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 the Bayeux area in Normandy with some nice stops along the way.

 Louvre Museum, Paris (Pixabay)

Bayeux area in Normandy

• For 4 nights you will experience the Norman tranquility in an 11th-century manor. Immerse yourself in a medieval environment whilst enjoying all the modern amenities, as well as amazing breakfasts cooked by your lovely hostess.
• Perfectly located between Bayeux and the WWII beaches, you will get a real feel for Norman history, 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 as you visit the WWII beaches and memorial sites.

Bayeux Cathedral at night (Pixabay)

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 raised and trained - a local specialty. 
• We will provide tips on when/how to enjoy this UNESCO site after most of the crowds have left.

The Loire Valley near Chenonceaux

• Spend the next 4 nights of your French journey in a welcoming Bed & Breakfast 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 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, which are less famous but that have a lot of history and beautiful settings. 
• If you like gardens, don’t miss Chaumont or Villandry. We will also provide information on wineries so that you may taste the local wines.

 Chenonceau Castle, Loire Valley (Pixabay)

Downtown Bordeaux Unesco city

• Your France itinerary then takes you inside the gates of Bordeaux city for 3 nights, a wonder of the 17th century. You will be welcomed in a peaceful atmosphere, where you will be within walking distance of 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 in 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. You'll visit the vineyards near the castle and the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and end this 2-hour tour with a wine tasting.

Saint Emilion, Bordeaux (Pixabay)

Carcassonne & Cathar country

• The medieval town of Carcassonne will amaze you by its size and conservation. You will reside in a cozy B&B for 2 nights in the lively bastide-town, and will be within walking distance of all sightseeing and restaurants. We'll make sure you're 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 fascinated 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 Provence in the South East of France.

 Carcassonne castle (Pixabay) 

Gorgeous Provence

• Stay at the foot of the Luberon mountain chain for 4 nights, at a working wine and olive farm with an amazing provençal postcard view. Your hosts will cook a mouth-watering dinner for you one night.
• There are so many things to see less than an hour's drive from your B&B. Beautiful Avignon, also referred to as “the City of Popes”, is where you can visit the palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”. 
• You will stroll through hilltop villages on market day, walking in the footsteps of famous painters such as Cézanne or Picasso. We will also tell you about some hidden gems - 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. You'll be lost in Provence mountains on a very private wine estate. There, you will take a tour of the winery, then enjoy a wine-tasting followed by a nice picnic in the vineyards. A very romantic time.

 Vineyard in Provence (pxhere)

La Côte d’Azur – the French Riviera

• About 3 hours' drive away is the French Riviera. You will stay 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 will be within walking distance of 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-colored 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.

 Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in the French Riviera (Wikimedia Commons CC by SA 3.0)

 This France itinerary is a great way to experience the diversity of our country, focusing on very typical regions, leaving time to enjoy yourselves and relax.