France: Diversity at its finest. A mix of North and South, art, culture, and food, France’s soul is hard to pin down, but you don’t have to. France will offer you whatever it is you seek
Intro
France is perfection wrapped in a tourist destination. It really does have everything. Famous for its food, this culture permeates the country, leading to some of the best ethnic restaurants in Europe. Art is a way of life; small galleries abound, artisans are found all over and the preservation of historic art is foremost in the minds of the people.
You can’t go anywhere without witnessing the history of Europe; from before the Celts or the Romans right up to the wars of just a couple of generations ago, you will feel the past and even live it during your time here.
If this isn’t enough, it is the largest country in Western Europe, and the landscape is just as diverse as its people.
Travel Style
This itinerary is for rail travel as French trains are among the best in the world. The TGV highspeed network will get you around most of the country quicker than flying in most cases. Driving is possible but in only 10 days the distances are so great that a lot of time is used driving, whereas the train removes all stress from the trip.
Trains can get busy on the longer distances so it is necessary to book in advance. The sooner the better in terms of prices and availability.
The 10-day Itinerary for France in detail
The following 10 days are an ideal balance of everything that France has to offer. 10 days though is not a lot and it would be so easy to spend three weeks in the country and still have barely scratched the surface
Fly into Paris
Most transatlantic flights arrive early in the morning into Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport. The airport is about an hour out of the city. If you are coming from a European city, or transferring through a different major airport you will probably arrive in the early afternoon.
In both cases just checking into your lodging (if possible) or at least leaving your luggage there is a good idea. Head out and start exploring. Exploring Paris on foot is great. Small cafes abound, boutiques are everywhere and hidden gems are around every corner.
Paris’ great landmarks
The Louvre is the best museum in the World. However there is no need to rush there. I do recommend taking a day to relax if you just arrived after a long flight. For all Parisian landmarks, and major museums ticket for a specific time is a must. There are just two many visitors to the french capital and unfortunately there is limited space. Book wisely and make sure you leave enough time between visits to get around and avoid stress.
Visit one site in the morning and one in the afternoon to make sure you get the most out of the places you really want to see. The Ile de la Cité is a great area to start with the Famous Notre Dame. The classic gothic cathedral is starting to look good from the outside again and should reopen on the 8th December 2024. This is of course an auspicious date in the christian calendar – the date of the immaculate conception of Mary, for whom the church is named.
The small island in the seine is home to another church though, the Sainte Chapelle. The stained glass here might be less well known than Notre Dame but is actually more amazing.
Not too far away on the left bank of the river is the Latin quarter with the Pantheon and the Luxembourg district. These areas are a bit bohemian and is home to the Sorbonne and its large student population. Also along the river are the Musée d’Orsay (with artistic works by the impressionists, Van Gogh and Manet) and the Orangerie Museum where you can see Monet’s Waterlillies (across the river again).
That could take all day if you wanted. Further along the river is the Eifel Tower. Depending on your point of view it is worth a trip to the viewing platforms or the Montparnasse tower allows a better view of the city which includes the Eifel Tower. Next up is the Champs Elysées and the Arc du Triomphe.
All of this is probably too much. You do need to decide what your priorities are in Paris. Also don’t forget your your walking shoes. You don’t need to walk everywhere but the things you see between the famous sights is well worth the extra effort. Just walking from one landmark to another would be 5 miles in total, not counting the wandering through museums or side streets. While the center is compact it is a big city.
The Louvre
On its own the palace of the Louvre is pretty interesting. When you take into acount the amazing works on display it becomes more amazing. I am always torn whether or not to recommend a visit. It can take all day or it can just be a quick trip to see the Mona Lisa, which leaves half the people who see her disappointed. The Egyptian collection is well worth seeing as well as the numerous greek and roman pieces. The most famous of these is probably the Venus de Milo.
The Palace was originally built as the home of Kings, Louis the 14th being a famous resident. The most recent redecoration was during the second Empire, the late 1800’s and the Napoleon III apartments reflect this period of decadence. They truly are amazing if a bit over the top.
If you haven’t spent all day in the Louvre, depending on your style head to Montmartre for the afternoon. In the evening head towards the Moulin Rouge for a bit of nightlife if you are so inclined or take a quick night boat tour to see the monuments lit up at night.
Departure for Dijon
In the morning head to the Gare de Lyon. The trains to the South East leave from this station and you can get a high speed connection to Dijon. Home of Mustard but more importantly the largest city in Burgundy. An hour and a half later you have passed by the countryside and have arrived in the heart of Dijon.
There are some nice small boutique hotels near the train station in an area where the architecture is very reminiscent of Paris. From here the main street leads to the old part of the city. The old city center has some interesting sights. The palace of the Dukes of Burgundy is amazing and today a mix of museum and government buildings. Burgundy was one of the largest and richest countries in Europe in the 15th century. This heritage is on show everywhere.
Don’t miss the Dijon Owl, a little carving on the side of the church of Notre Dame. This piece of stonework was the signature of the master mason who oversaw the building of the church. In recent years it has become pretty famous. These small details exist all over and are a good reason to hire a local guide where ever you are. There are many small and interesting courtyards among the town houses of the city.
If you missed the Eiffel Tower up close then head to Les Halles. The covered market of Dijon was built by the famous engineer at a time when steel was becoming common and the structure is emblematic of the post industrial revolution period in France when the railroads had connected all the major cities and urban life was exploding. Check the market times carefully it isn’t running at full capacity every day.
Burgundy Wine
There is no excuse for missing out on wine if you are in Burgundy. Even if you don’t drink it yourself the culture is very important to the area and well worth learning about. From Dijon south to Beaune is the Cote d’Or. You know the Cote d’Azur, the blue coast with its stunning beaches. Well the is the gold coast!!! The hills between the two cities are covered in Vineyards. The area is quite wealthy because of this but the wines along the Cote d’or are some of the most expensive in the world.
There are small twisting roads between Dijon and Beaune, suitable for personal exploration by bike or car. If you prefer you can get between the two by local train as well.
There are two grapes grown in the area, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. However most of the hills have subtly different characteristics and each individual vineyard along the way has its own specific taste. Wine afficionados will know the names of Mersault, Nuit St Georges, Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin. If you do like wine make sure you have a designated driver. There are many opportunities for a tasting along the way. The famous Clos Vougeot has a good museum explaining the process of wine. It is home to the knights of the Tastevin, a group dedicated to the production of exceptional wines.
Further along is Beaune, a small walled city which is known as the wine capital of the region. This small city is also home to the Hotel Dieu. This was one of the first hospitals during the 1400’s and if famous for its tiled roof. The glazed roofs of Burgundy are an architectural style of the period and have amazing coloured patterns in their tiling. This is well worth a trip on its own but the museum dedicated to the Hospital is enlightening. The connected apothecary is a must see.
Avignon
Three hours to the south of Dijon is Avignon. The name is pretty well known but the city isn’t. During the 13th century Avignon was home to the pope. There was something of a split in the church and one pope lived here. This created a rich and powerful city. The papal palace and the walls of the city are worth a look.
Roman Ruins
One of the reasons for staying in Avignon is its access to the surrounding area. Even if you don’t like my ideas there are tons of things to see in the surrounding Provence area. My suggestion though is to have a roman day. Head to Nimes. This city is small and interesting but home to some of the best preserved roman ruins. The arena is still used today for shows and concerts. Nearby is the maison carrée a perfectly preserved roman temple.
Nearby is the spectacular Pont du Gard. The ‘bridge’ over the river Gard is actually an aqueduct built to bring water to the city of Nimes. The amazing roman engineering is still standing today despite a flood on the river in the 1960’s that destroyed every other bridge. Walking along the water canal on top is an amazing way of seeing the precision of the roman engineering as the waterway drops only about 25 meters in its 50 km length. It is crazy to think that it was built before christ and worked for about 500 years supplying water to the city.
If you have hired a car for the excursion, nearby Arles is worth a stop on the way back to Avignon. The beautiful small city was famously home to Vincent Van Gogh. The region is famous for its painters and the beautiful light.
Return to Paris
Heading back to Paris by TGV early is always good if you have a flight to catch. Despite the great train network there are problems. Planning for them will make life easier for visitors. After all missing a train isn’t tragic but missing an intercontinental flight is pretty awkward.
You can be back in Paris for lunchtime and have the afternoon to continue northwards towards Normandy. Regardless of whether or not you are a WW2 afficianado Normandy holds a treat for lots of visitors.
I recommend heading to Caen, a pretty, small city in the center of Normandy.
Normandy and the D-Day Beaches
Just north of Caen are the beaches of the famous D-Day landings in 1944. There are museums dedicated to the heroics of the Allied forces dotted around the area. One of the best is the one in Caen itself. These museums are a sombre reminder of the cost of war. An even starker reminder are the many cemetries in the area. La Cambre German cemetry is one that is often overlooked by English speaking visitors. It reminds you that there were two sides involved in the war, something that seems to be forgotten quite often.
Access to these areas is difficult without a vehicle. I recommend getting a guide and driver or a small group tour to get around easily and your guide will give you some insight into the different roles the towns played in the history of the liberation of Europe from the Nazis.
The beaches themselves are worth a visit. Even if you don’t care for World War 2 they form part of a beautiful coastline and the clifftops are good for a hike.
Of course the area is also famous for an invasion in the other direction as well. In 1066 the Normans invaded Britain. In the town of Bayeux there is an amazing Tapestry depicting the invasion. Paper making didn’t really get to Northern Europe until the 12th Century so the locals set about commenorating the history in a woven tapestry instead. Over 70 m (about 230 feet) the tapestry outlines the story of that fateful day when William the Conqueror landed at Hastings on the English south coast and beating Harold, then king of England, took the throne for his own.
Of course while you are in Normandy you must eat something. On the coast Moules Frites (mussels and fries) are a speciality. Camembert cheese is well known and if you feel like desert try a tarte tatin, the local apple pie. Apples and cows grow very well in Normandy. From the apples two drinks are made. Cider (alcoholic in France) and Calvados which is an apple brandy are a good way to round off your trip.
Departure for Home
Of course I have planned this as a ten day itinerary from flight to flight. If you wanted ten full days in France you don’t have to leave for home today but tomorrow. Maybe a night near Paris would be a good idea, closer to the airport. From here the chateau of Vaux le Vicomte or Chantilly would be relatively easy to visit.
Conclusion
France is a diverse country and this 10 day itinerary shows the highlights. There are many other regions with good reason to go visit them. Don’t think that because I left out the Alps, Bordeaux or Brittany that they aren’t equally worth your time.
Bordeaux has plenty of wine, Brittany has a rather unique Celtic culture and the Alps offer mountains that are unrivalled elsewhere.
That said there are other mountains, Alsace has a strongly contrasting culture to the rest of France and there are the castles and wine of the Loire Valley to visit as well.
As you can see this itinerary just scratches the surface and there is ample reason to come back to see more of this fascinating country.
If you want to visit Italy then check out my France and Italy Itinerary for suggestions. It needs a bit more time though.
Maybe you would like to spend more time in one region: My 10 day South of France itinerary is a good starting point.
