Touring France

glasgow taxi driver
glasgow taxi driver Forum Participant Posts: 6
edited May 2018 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hello everybody ,

Myself partner and dog will be touring France for three weeks in June into July starting in Calais heading to just outside Paris for two nights then making our way to antibes in the south could anybody give me some tips on stop offs sites to see etc on the way down

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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #2

    It's 560 miles from Paris to Antibes -  so is that to be two days of driving straight down the toll motorways,  with a halfway stop at the campsite at Lyon , or do you intend a gentle off motorway journey taking much longer?  If you could say how long you can afford to take for the journey I'm sure you will get ideas of stop overs. Take care. 

  • Kontikiboy
    Kontikiboy Forum Participant Posts: 304
    100 Comments
    edited May 2018 #3

    It depends on whether you want to use toll roads or not, let us know and how many miles per day you want to do; 1, 2, or maybe 3 overnights??

    When we go South we keep well away from Paris and one favourite o/n stop is Camping Tournes, in Tournes on the river Saone.   1.5km from J27 on A6, easy to find.  Dont forget to turn left at the train station, under the bridge, down to the T junction, turn left, site in 1K at end of road.

    Great o/n stop, easy to walk or cycle into town and excellent for your pooch.   Small site, no restaurant but will do pizzas and chips and a beer.    Very friendly.

    BillC

  • glasgow taxi driver
    glasgow taxi driver Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited May 2018 #4

    Hi thanks for the reply ,I'm hoping to use the A roads to take as long as it takes so if you know any nice sights on route that would be handy

  • glasgow taxi driver
    glasgow taxi driver Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited May 2018 #5

    Hi and thanks for the reply , I'm not wanting to use toll roads I'm hoping to take as long as it takes and take in the sights so any tips would be great

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #6

    Some of the Burgundy villages, then Dijon and Beaune, over the Juras towards Geneva and Annecy, then via Grenoble and Castellane to your destination. And you can come back a different way. Enjoy your holiday. 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #7

    GTD, we are about 40ml from Antibes, nr St Tropez...although we came from Cherboug (poss a tad further than from Calais...) we had one stop (after about 5hrs driving with a break) at Chateaudun...non toll.

    the next day, our 'target' was Millau, again non toll, but we didn't get that far, being about 40km shy....

    the next day to our campsite, was another long one (5hrs) , even though we used some tolls....

    its a mighty long way down here......usually we have far longer than our 4 weeks total this time so we don't do anywhere nr so much mileage each day....

    so, for you, one day to Paris, two nights stay, at least two days driving (hard) to Antibes....one (or even two) more if you start getting diverted by scenery and interesting places (loads to distract you....) 

    and at least three days back to Calais (we are doing the tunnel for a change in our return so will be doing a similar route)...

    that could be seven to ten days out of your break without the time you spend in Antibes....

    for trips of this length in this timescale advice tends to fall into two camps.....go for it and enjoy what time you have away....or book a plane, a hotel and a hire car and slow the pace somewhat...

    remember a

    so, fuel isn't as cheap as it once was and you'll be using plenty..

    as others.......good luck and have a great time either way....

  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited May 2018 #8

    I use Michelin to plan my routes and putting in Calais to Antibes avoiding toll roads via Paris shows a distance of 765 miles and 21 hours driving and E131 for fuel. As BoleroBoy says fuel has gone up and we were amazed at how much it has gone up since our last trip in September.

    If you do follow Eurotraveller's advice then I recommend Vezelay cathedral as one of the most dramatic ones I have seen. Also if you watched the television series on the building of Guedelon castle using medieval methods visiting the castle is a wonderful day out. However I have to query if you have 21 hours driving each way how much time for seeing the sights along the way will you have?

  • glasgow taxi driver
    glasgow taxi driver Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited May 2018 #9

    Thanks to everyone for there views , as we've not booked anything in advance making antibes is the goal but if we don't make it that will be ok .whatever we can pack into the 21 days will be great 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2018 #10

    Don't forget at the time you intend to go it will be getting pretty hot down at Antibes and anywhere south of Lyon, also the sites will be getting busy so make sure you have a flexible plan and choose a few sites for each stop just in case one of the sites is full. 

    Have a good time wherever you end up.

  • LynniB
    LynniB Forum Participant Posts: 32
    edited May 2018 #11

    This year we had a two-night stop at Camping Le Bontemps near Vernioz (south of Lyon) since I wanted to visit the 'Ideal Palace' created by postman Cheval in his back garden at Hauterives from assorted rocks and stones collected on his round over 30-odd years.  It is not a large site but glad we made the effort.

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