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Hi there,

We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 10 and 13. We want to spend about 3 weeks touring France but don't really know where to go! We would like to spend about 2-4 nights at each place depending on how much we like it. Where do you think are places that we really must see. We don't like rowdy places and want to see the real France. Hope you can help

Many thanks xx

Hi Ejla,

have a look through the campsite reviews  by clicking on that button at the top of the page, then go to 'France'. You'll get an idea of the different departements here in France, and then check out the reviews. That should give you an idea of what to see and where to stop.

Things in our area are the chateaus, the wine caves, the Trogoldyte caves & dwellings and the magnificent Grand Parc Puy Du Fou.

HTH.

Hi

I certainly wouldn't try to see too much of the big map in one trip; maybe try to focus on one region. There's that danger of trying to get round too much, and just ending up 'seeing' it from you car window. I think you'll get more of what you seem to want by sticking around a place for a while and soaking it up.

You'll only know your own 'must sees' after you've been. Everybody's different of course.

Buy a few guide books (amazing how different they can be) try Eyewitness and Roughguide.

I think there must be thousands of 'must sees'. The greatest will be those that you can't see as a tourist, and can only experience through living amongst locals,working on a farm for example.

But to answer your question, a couple of my touristy favourites:

I think Stu's Chateau are up there: maybe start with Chambord, although they're all spectacular in their own way.

If you fancy a long picnic at the roadside, try doing it when the Tour de France is in passing through.

Everyone raves on the produce markets. I like to catch the early morning ones. Oh the smells!

Maybe try to be in a large town during its summer festival, when it is "en Fete". Bayonne has one of the biggest (not for the faint hearted). 1st weekend of August, I think. Has its own website. Although this isn't a 'French' festival at all!

If you can tolerate the crowds, the atmosphere of Paris is really something, if touristy, in high summer. Dusk over the city seen from Sacre Coeur is A1.

Another good touristy one is the tour of Hennessey at Cognac, or maybe canoeing on the Dordogne - but that for some is great if just too cliche.

Whatever you do, you'll have a great time.

TT. 

well after "doing france" for the last 2 years, i agree with not trying too much, i use the local sites and stopped for a night, not good, you need at least 2 nights to just enjoy the local area, just chill and enjoy. you can always do a bit more next year, same i me. hope that helps.

floppy

We did our first trip to France this year and did 2 weeks in Loire Valley and visited the Chateaus, vineyards etc. Well worth it, if we stayed far less, we would not have seen half the stuff.

As you are going for 3 weeks, maybe you can do a twin centre.

Scott

If I had 3 weeks, I would head on down to the South of France. I would drive halfway-ish and stop for 2/3 nights and then the same on the way back, That would leave you 2 full weeks 'down south'. There is something for everyone - if you stay near Grasse you can visit the beautiful little town with its Perfumerie and a short drive away is the magnificent 'Gorges Du Verdon'. Of course in the other direction is the Cote D'Azur with Nice, Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, Monte Carlo and St. Tropez.

We are 'doing' the Loire next summer as our youngest will be just 3, but 2008 we are going down South. I used to live in a town called Draguignan and want to re-visit all my old haunts! lol.

Its a big place, twice as big as the UK...

We are doing 3 weeks

1 week in the alps (for the TdF)

and 2 weeks in the Dordogne (handily the TdF passes through again!!)

each region is different, we are going back to the Dordogne as we still have much to see

The new bridge at millau. It's stunning.

France has an area 5 times the size of Britain but the same population,makes driving a real pleasure.

Steve W

The Auvergne around Vichy is great too.  All gorges and rivers and lakes, very pictureseque and of course you have the Puy de Dom and Mont Dore.

Ali

Enjoy the French roads ! makes you realise what an overcrowded place it is over here.

What I like are the small historic market towns and fields of sunflowers.