NORMANDIE - BRETAGNE - LOIRE VALLEY. France tour

We have planned everything months in advance. We wish that everything is perfect for our holiday in 2nd We want to choose without being limited choices forced by lack of available seats. Thus, via the Internet to book a cheap flight with Ryan Air (departure from Bergamo, arrival at Paris-Beauvais, which is located north of Paris, just suited for a trip in Normandy). Book also with Hertz, a car with air conditioning.

Then move on to booking hotels for the stages of our itinerary laid out a table, after be documented with many tourist guides (guides recommend the colorful Knopf). Very helpful were the travel routes on the Internet, just like this. We have seen so many web sites of hotels and sent e-mail reservation to whatever (all require a credit card number to guarantee. Trust).

 

Rouen

Beauvais arrive on time but we have to do a lot line at Hertz for the withdrawal of the car. Finally we start towards Rouen.

Rouen is a city with a pleasant old town, characterized by typical timbered houses (which will accompany us throughout our journey in northern France) and the famous cathedral that Monet has devoted a series of paintings to regain their various shades of colors. In this regard, we randomly in the evening to a show of lights and sounds that inspired Monet, projected on the facade of the cathedral the same colors used by the painter in his paintings devoted to it.

The hotel located right on the pedestrian area, next to the cathedral of the same name, is of medium to low quality. But, after all, the price is!

Lunch, as usual will be nice for all the days of the vacancy, with bakery products purchased in many boulangeries (bakeries) everywhere. A specialty is the "croque Monsieur" toast coated surface by an abundant layer of cheese. How to choose a sweet "gouffre" (the equivalent of Waffel German), a wafer SQUARED warm with toppings of your choice (cream, chocolate, jam etc..).

Dieppe, St. Valery en Caux, Fecamp, Etretat, Honfleur,

Alarm clock early, breakfast and later on, towards the coast of Normandy called the Alabaster.

First step in Dieppe; sea resort features a castle (not very interesting) to the sea.

Then a quick stop St. Valery en Caux, colorful marina with many boats.

Next stop in Fecamp where the main attraction is the Benedictine Palace.

This is a luxury building that recalls an abbey, but, instead, is the place of production of the sweet liqueur Benedictine (herbal distillate). You visit the palace with its beautiful rooms richly decorated, the distillery with a tasting and finally the store with the products.

Then we head to Etretat, the most of this beautiful stretch of coast. There are high cliffs overlooking the beach between the cliff with the "hole", often depicted in the images relating to the Normandy. E 'can also reach the top of both reefs with easy trail.

The village is nice, very lively and colorful with pretty houses that characterize the entire Normandy.

But the fun is yet to come! We head towards Le Havre (without pause since the city pretty sad), we follow the famous and charming Normandy Bridge (toll fee of Euro 5.00) before arriving at one of the most beautiful stage of our journey: Honfleur.

It is a romantic town situated just at the point where the Seine flows in the Atlantic.

The historic center of the city spread around VIEUX BASSIN picturesque basin of water, with many boats, surrounded by typical houses of the place and the many nice restaurants and bars with outdoor seating (where of course dinner based barbecue mixed fish).

The central streets are characterized by old timbered houses, embellished by abundant blooms of geraniums that are home to many typical shops. We buy some souvenirs to bring friends. My choice falls on packages of chicken in the beautiful tin boxes decorated with pictures of the place. This is sweet biscuits made with the special salted Normandy butter.

Our hotel is a castle near the center. While being treated fairly in its common areas, the room is not comfortable at all (too small and too hot for the weather quite hot these days in August).

Caen, Fougeres, Mont St. Michel

Let the lovely Honfleur and we go to Caen. It 'a fairly large city that does not arouse our enthusiasm. Even the castle / fortress overlooking the city, I found interesting. After a few minutes and leave the city, with little deviation, we head to Fougeres.

Here the landscape changes. We are in a beautiful village, Breton territory already characterized by a large fortified castle and picturesque waterways that cross the oldest part of town. We particularly fascinate the ancient squares and wash well maintained.

Let Fougères to reach the famous Mont St. Michel, last city of Normandy, on the border between it and Britain.

We try to understand where we can park, given that we have the good fortune of staying in one of the few hotels inside the Mount.

Then get the key from reception to park in safe place, above the dam (where the tide does not come) but the day visitors are required to park in places that later, at sunset, will be submerged by water.

Our hotel is located in a timbered house right on Grand Rue, which leads all'Abbazia. We then head for the visit of the latter but the path is so crowded with tourists (mainly Italian and Japanese) that are barely able to proceed. However, arrancar to the top of the visiting groups, the beautiful cloister and admiring the picturesque landscape from above. But it is too early for the arrival of high tide.

Expect to 19.30 with interest the arrival of the tides. With about 30 minutes late, the waters came slowly but clearly and transform an island in Mount connected to the mainland by a single strip represented by the elevated road.

St. Malo, Cap Frehel, Fort La Latte, St. Briec, Dinan

The first stop of the day and ST. MALO. Here you can visit the old town, intermante surrounded by fortified bastions and lapped by the sea. Walk the ramparts and admire the panorama and the streets full of shops where we buy some.

Having time available, we follow the coast until we reach where CAP Frehel FORT LA LATTE (fort on the sea) and we visit outside the Lighthouse that overlooks the coastal high. Pass so casually for ST. BRIEC to admire a landscape postcard.

The last stop of the day is DINAN. This is a beautiful city in Britain, with its ancient houses and cobblestone streets. In addition, there are many nice shops and a river port. So visit the cheerful city, climb to the top of the clock tower to admire the view from the top (careful to tolling of the bells when you're up there!) And reach the picturesque river port. So we decide to dine in one of the prettiest restaurants in the port on the river terrace. However, the port is reachable with a long descent that, in return, becomes a steep climb and stremante. Dinan has no nightlife, all nice areas open during the day, ending the evening early. All that remains is the bar of our comfortable hotel is located right in the center.

Locronan, Quimper, Concarneau, Loctudy

We start always a good time with LOCRONAN destination. Here we make a trip back in time: the atmosphere of another time in the small village of stone, entirely pedestrian, with little squares of typical shops and pebbles. In short, a fascinating place with medieval atmosphere. We buy bottles of beer in a store Breton dedicated and interesting to visit the library Celtic.

QUIMPER next step on the paper that although there appears interesting, it disappoints a little 'perhaps because of the crowds and parking difficulties.

Then we head towards CONCARNEAU, fortified village on the sea in our view excessive tourism. Through a drawbridge gets in fortified town, but we realize that the excessive invasion of shops and noisy visitors, tarnishes the appeal of the picturesque town though. Lunch with savory crepes or galettes, which is always a solution for a complete and tasty meal and we are approaching Loctudy, the last stop of the day that's in PAYS DE BIGOUDEN where staying.

Loctudy is a tiny fishing village. There is nothing to see here, just a quiet place to rest. In fact, we give a long bath in the Jacuzzi available in "Le Bretagne", found, no one knows how, on the Internet. It 'a very modest hotel, reminiscent of a British Bed & breakfast, but that, however, provides some comfort. Dinner in one of the few restaurants in place, sampling the "Demoiselles de Loctudy" (shrimp caught in place) and a large pizza with 3 cheese where the master acts as Roquefort (the equivalent of our gorgonzola).

Also buy the local boulangerie in the delicious Flan (or Far) breton. A delicious cream cooked on thin layer of sponge cake, sometimes enriched with fruit or just natural.

At this point we can safely say that if Normandy is preferable for its beautiful scenery and lovely houses, the UK certainly leads in terms of desserts.

Vannes, Les plessis bourré, Tours

Before leaving the whole of Britain, we do one last step to VANNES. This is a beautiful town with a pedestrian area with nice houses. The river runs through the city giving a nice dock in front of the main square, the treated plowing gardens of the palace and lapped the picturesque old washrooms.

Begins immediately after our visit to the castles of the Loire. Is the first castle PLESSIS Bourré ', just north of Angers. E 'characterized by the fact of possessing one of the larger ditches (practically a lake), while the interiors are discreet.

Then we come to where TOURS staying for 2 nights. Tours is a city just disappointing, too multiethnic for our tastes. One point worthy of note is a small square in the old town, surrounded by timbered houses and crowded with bars and restaurants with outdoor tables where dinner.

We recommend to those who wished to visit the castles of the Loire to Tours NIGHT NOT but preferred type AMBOISE places, also in a strategic position but definitely more enjoyable.

Loire Castles: Langeais, Chateau de Reaux, Azay Le Ridau, Villandry, Amboise

Tanti sono i castelli da visitare in programma nella giornata.

Iniziamo con LANGEAIS, dove il castello situato in centro paese è piuttosto austero e nemmeno gli interni sono degni di nota. Tuttavia il borgo attorno al castello è molto grazioso.

Notiamo poi nelle vicinanze un piccolo castello privato, a conduzione familiare, LE CHATEAU DE REAUX e decidiamo di visitarlo.

Dovete sapere che qui, tutti i castelli, anche i più piccoli., privati e non citati dalle guide turistiche, sono aperti al pubblico.

Potrete trovare molti dépliants degli stessi in ogni castello che visiterete e nelle réception degli hotel.

Visitiamo poi il castello di AZAY LE RIDAU, con bel fossato ma con interni poco interessanti.

Andiamo poi a VILLANDRY dove si trova il castello con il più spettacolare parco in assoluto e con interni poco lussuosi ma decisamente graziosi.

Ultima tappa è la cittadina di AMBOISE, grazioso villaggio adagiato sulla Loira dove si trovano ben 2 castelli: il castello di Amboise in posizione dominante sulla città e poi, a poca distanza, "Le Clos Lucé", antica dimora di Leonardo da Vinci.

La via centrale pedonale è carina con tanti negozi di souvenirs.

Torniamo nella brutta Tours e decidiamo di cenare all'aperto, davanti alla fontana dell'Hotel de Ville.

Chenonceau, Chaumont, Cheverny, Chambord, Vendome, Orleans

Even today we have to visit many castles. We give priority to the most spectacular castle in Time: Chenonceau. The castle is built on the river, supported by arches that cross the river in its width. E 'can even rent rowing boats to cross the moat, the channel connected to it, go under the arches and circumnavigate the castle. The interiors are rich but the main attraction is, in our view, represented by the kitchens that take up all the underground with the beautiful copper pots, old stoves and large fireplaces.

Then we visit the castle of Chaumont, where there's a long journey on foot to reach the top of the castle. The exterior is not that large, but the interiors are among the best. Then recommend a visit to the teams, fully rebuilt with a "sound" in the background.

E 'il turno del CHEVERNY Castle, which in the view of Max, presents the best and the richest interior ever.

(All the interiors of the castles are photographs without, and sometimes with, flash).

Following the majestic castle of Chambord (the largest, the most famous but also the most chaotic to visit). Here are both richly decorated rooms, but also many areas virtually empty.

We make one last stop in the town of VENDOME, crossed by a small channel but is less scenic than promised by the guide.

Finally we head to ORLEANS where we booked a hotel near the station.

Orleans is a city that we do not like, but found a street more pleasant than others, with restaurants open to one another taken over. For the Italian restaurant there is a row but we are lucky. Dinner is good and the portions of moules (mussels marinated), rather than abundant.

Sully sur Loire, Chantilly

Visit our last castle on the Loire: SULLY SUR LOIRE. It too is surrounded by a moat with dramatic interiors, however, partially be restored. The village is pleasant and very quiet. The park around the castle like an impressionist picture.

We start then at the time of CHANTILLY, north of Paris, trying to avoid the traffic of the city. We manage quite well, using the ring road outside Paris. A Chantilly is a huge castle surrounded by "big" park rich in water. The channels of the castle are walked with small craft collective. The interiors are home to a major art gallery with paintings, large apartments and small apartment (which unfortunately we can not visit). You can also visit the adjacent Royal Stables, the biggest in France.

Today is my birthday and not at the expense badiamo. For the night we booked into a castle. However, although it is a very scenic hotel, the service leaves much to be desired (the room was not ready at 17:00 and our luggage lost in the corridors).

Advantage, however, that the comforts of hotel features such as indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi located in every room (even in the most economic, such as ours).

Unfortunately, it is the last night of our vacation.

But in the morning we use the large buffet breakfast to break out (given the price, better take advantage!). Then we go ruefully at the nearby airport of Beauvais, where we expected our Ryan Air plane that takes us back on time in Italy.

And now, some indication of the costs incurred: (reference year 2004)

- Flight A / R EURO 80,00 / per person

- Car Rental EURO 290,00 (per 10 days)

- Parking Bergamo EURO 80.00 (for 10 days)

- Average cost per bed and breakfast EURO 80.00 (total per room)

- Average cost lunch EURO 5,00 / person

- Average cost for 2 dinner in a restaurant EURO 30.00 (total)

- Cost bottled water miner. restaurant EURO 4.00 (recommended sort de l'eau plate)

- Average input castle EURO 7.00 / per person.

- Cost Highways In Normandy and Brittany almost always FREE.

Dani and Max
to learn more, visit our website:
http://digilander.iol.it/danidisa

texts by Daniela
Photos of Max