Paris, Loire Valley, Normandy, Mont Saint-Michel, Provence
To experience France is to visit the Louvre, the largest museum in the world, to look out onto Paris from the Eiffel Tower, to walk historical beaches of Normandy, and to sip a glass of wine at a sidewalk cafe. Travel France by car, train, subway, and bus.
Paris
Paris has a range of tourist attractions. It’s wise though to check museum schedules, since many museums are closed on Mondays. And we consider the Paris Pass. Instead of purchasing individual attraction tickets, we tally the ticket costs against the cost of a pass. It may be cost-effective to go with the pass. Additionally, having a pass provides quicker access to an attraction entrance.
Eiffel Tower
We snagged a hotel room with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower. The tower was amazing at night encased in sparkling lights. It’s a sight to behold. To visit the interior of the Eiffel Tower requires a ticket, wisely purchased well in advance. Varying ticket options are available and may include climbing the stairs, taking the elevator, joining a tour group, or going it alone. The sights from the tower gives a rewarding panoramic view of Paris. Advance reservations are recommended to eat at the restaurants, Jules Verne or Madame Brasserie within the Tower.
Arc de Triomphe
Driving around the Arc can be maddening with multiple roads leading into eight lanes; we were one of the brave drivers who attempted and survived this feat. No matter where you enter or leave Paris, it’s hard to avoid the Arc.
The iconic structure was originally commissioned by Napoleon. It was delayed and restarted more than once over 30 years until finally completed in the 1830’s. Within the Arc are engravings that represent generals and battles, as well as the flame of the unknown soldier. To grasp a view of Paris, one must climb 284 steps to the upper level.
Notre Dame Cathedral
We were fortunate to visit the Cathedral before the fire of 2019. A formidable French gothic architecture over 800 years old. Dedicated to the Mother Mary, the cathedral is located on the small Seine River island. Its discernable twin towers, embellished rose-colored windows, religious relics, interior chapels, biblical statues, majestic columns, and crypt make this a magnificent cathedral. The cathedral will once again be restored to its former glory.
Conciergerie
The Conciergerie is a prison that retained enemies of the French Revolution, with many of the prisoners eventually being led to the guillotine. Informative exhibits within the Conciergerie are indicative of this troubling era in France’s history.
Hotel des Invalides
The Hotel des Invalides was once a facility that housed thousands of disabled soldiers. Still serving French veterans, it is also a military museum. Within the vast museum is the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte, and an impressive and enormous display of military artifacts.
Opera Garnier
At 150 years old, the glamorous wealth of this theatre is on display throughout its opulent interior. There was no charge for the portion of the Opera Garnier that we saw.
Sainte-Chapelle
It was the beautiful windows that made this small chapel appealing to us. Over 1,000 biblical stories are artfully depicted in the colorful stained-glass panels.
Louvre
The Louvre is majestic, grand, and massive! We purchased our tickets in advance to avoid the lines and dedicated a full day.
As soon as the Louvre opened, we were one of the first visitors to see the Mona Lisa. Typically, there’s a cue around the famous painting, which we were able to avoid. Due to the sheer volume of the museum, we decided on the sections we wanted to peruse. Otherwise it was overwhelming.
Versailles
We traveled by train to the outskirts of Paris to reach Versailles. We planned a full day and purchased tickets in advance.
A self-guided tour took us through multiple rooms, wings, bedchambers, and the well-known Hall of Mirrors. The gardens were extensive and well maintained, with fountains, ponds, sculptured shrubbery, and statues. We casually strolled through the vast landscape, and headed to the back section behind the lake.
Beyond the gardens and palace was the Grand Trianon, a summer home, and Marie-Antoinette’s hamlet featuring multiple cottages. The hamlet was charming and an escape from the plush and dramatic palace.
By late afternoon, we were exhausted and opted to catch a ride on the shuttle bus back to the palace.
Loire Valley
South of Paris, within the Loire Valley, are exquisite chateaus. We chose two to visit, each slightly different, rich in history, and within a reasonable driving distance from Amboise, a pleasant town we chose as our base. The next day we embarked on our visits to the chateaus, the Chenonceau and the Chambord.
The romantic and enchanting Chenonceau, situated on the Cher River, has a beautiful garden adding to its overall lushness. A fascinating history reveals the glamorous life of its residence. During WWII, the chateau luckily endured the harsh effects of the war.
Chambord, once a royal hunting lodge, is the largest chateau in the Loire Valley. Surrounded by a forest, it’s grand in its architecture, and overwhelming in size, boasting of over 400 rooms. The double spiral helix staircase is amazing to see and the view from the rooftop captures the wooded landscape.
Normandy
Normandy Beaches is a two-hour drive west of Paris. Enroute, we stopped at the Caen Memorial Museum. The museum’s exhibits are thorough in the retelling of WWII. This excellent museum can take several hours to tour.
Bayeux, a small town along the coast, was a perfect location to stay. The town is small with a Roman Catholic gothic cathedral and the Bayeux Tapestry artfully depicting the infamous Battle of Hastings in 1066.
A private pre-arranged tour of Normandy started at 8:00 am the next day and ended at 17:00. There was a wealth of knowledge our guide shared. In addition to other local sights, we visited the D-Day Beaches of Omaha and Utah, Pointe du Hoc, and the American and German cemeteries. It was a long day, and one we will not forget.
Mont Saint-Michel
A picturesque medieval abbey with a history spanning hundreds of years. Situated on an island, the surrounding lethal fast-moving tides recapture the murky landscape twice a day. If caught unawares, an unsuspecting traveler could find themselves in a dangerous unrelenting current. The causeway provided a means to reach Mont St-Michel. Otherwise, it would have been unapproachable. In addition to the abbey, and within the fortified walls, was a small village, hotel, shops, and restaurants.
Provence
Avignon
To reach Avignon there were two options. If in London, a flight to Marseille with a car rental for driving to Avignon, or a train from Paris to Avignon.
Avignon is surrounded by an ancient stone wall and situated on the Rhone River. Within the walls of Avignon is a medieval town that dates back centuries. The Palace of the Popes and St. Benezet Bridge were the interesting sights I visited.
Centuries past, there was a tug of war between a Roman pope in Italy and a Catholic pope in Avignon. Originally started in the 13th century, the palace housed the popes of Avignon. Once the popes departed for Rome, the palace served as a military residence and prison. Throughout the subsequent years, the palace expanded its size to the large medieval gothic sight we see today.
St. Benezet Bridge is a hallmark of Avignon. With a history that spans almost ten centuries, the bridge had fostered commerce and migration between countries, thereby eliminating the difficult Rhone River crossing. Only a portion of the original bridge remains.
Navigating the area around Avignon by public bus was easy. By taking a bus to nearby Pont du Gard, I set out to explore the Roman aqueduct. Since it was somewhat isolated in the countryside, a small museum, cafe, and shops were built to support tourism.
After leaving the tourist welcome center, I walked along a path to the Gardon River which suddenly revealed this massive bridge and aqueduct that centuries ago successfully brought water through miles of pipes and rocks. Resting along the riverside, and returning to the cafe for a coffee made for a great afternoon.
Cassis
Leaving Avignon, we drove to Cassis, a beautiful Mediterranean seaport east of Marseille. Cassis was an upscale small town featuring shops and restaurants, where we spent the afternoon strolling through the town, taking a boat ride, eating lunch, and relaxing. The coastline is outlined with rugged cliffs, hiking paths, sunbathers, and coves within the backdrop of turquoise colored water.
Les Baux
On our return drive to Avignon, we visited Les Baux, a medieval hilltop town. We strolled through delightful shops, grabbed a bite to eat, and toured a castle resting on the side of a cliff. Within the castle ruins, were exhibits, a weapons demonstration, and a great view of surrounding Provence.