What's Your Favorite Region Of France? (renting, train, castles)

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by noela

(may I recommend Milladoiro? Another Galician folk band):

I have one of their CDs, which I purchased from Green Linnet Records, and enjoy it very much.

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

If I could only visit one area though I would base myself around Sarlat in the Dordogne and Toulouse and would try to take in all that huge South-West area as there is so much to see and do. The Dordogne ( especially the Perigord Noir)

This is where we visited in '04, and we had a wonderful time. Carennac was gorgeous. We were at the Cote d'Azur too--we'd been there before as young adults, but never with our kids.

Then you can head South towards Cahors and Albi through fabulous countryside and then loop back towards Toulouse , see this fantastic , friendly fascinating city , start heading South again and you are in the Pyrenees with its Cathar fortresses , great mountain villages and even head into Spain.

This is where I visited in '06, and I *adored* Toulouse.
Delicious Cahors wine, too. Collioure was as close as we got to Spain, but you could definitely see the Spanish influence.
This year we will take the train down to Angouleme, rent a car, then work our way through St Rochelle, the Loire Valley, Brittany, and then Normandy, finishing up in Rouen.
I can't wait!
One region I think is overlooked as the central part of France, the Massif Central, or Auvergne.
The volcanic landscapes, the hills and valleys, have their own sort of beauty, and it's not very touristy there.

[noela]

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

I have one of their CDs, which I purchased from Green Linnet Records, and enjoy it very much.

Cool label, Green Linnet. Glad you enjoy the album

Toulouse is a lovely spot with a vibrant nightlife. I've been there a few times since it's close to the Spanish border and never regret the trip.

[stan4]

Paris...and Normandy.

[noela]

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

And I'll have to try a "romarias tradicionais" next time I'm in Galicia ( with the savage exchange rate at the moment, it may be a while though ! )

Worry not, Galicia is always cheap lol It has to be said, the first time I was over there I was surprised it wasn't nearly as expensive as I had expected. You could actually find quality food & accomodation for a very reasonable price (maybe this changes during the summer season?) My first visit to France was Paris and prices are SO outrageously over the top... (I know I know: big city blabla... )

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by stan4

Paris...and Normandy.

Paris is just about the most fascinating city I've ever seen. Too many things to describe; it would take several pages.
I have always had the notion that the Northwest of France gets a high amount of rainfall and many days are cloudy.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Paris is just about the most fascinating city I've ever seen. Too many things to describe; it would take several pages.
I have always had the notion that the Northwest of France gets a high amount of rainfall and many days are cloudy.

It's cloudy. Not always rainy. But the crepes and the people...ooh la la!

[pigeonhole]

Paris is a ****hole.
Believe me, I've been living there since I was born 54 years ago.
I can describe in detail every dog crap on the pavement.
Damn tourists!

[noela]

Originally Posted by stan4

It's cloudy. Not always rainy. But the crepes and the people...ooh la la!

It's not always rainy. But when it's rainy it's even better!

[Bugnubs]

With apologies to Mooseketeer, I have to say one of my most favorite areas is the Poitou-Charentes, especially Charente Maritime....the warmest clime in France after the Cote d'Azur but without the price tag, sun-blistered countryside in summer or Mistral. I am in love with the Gironde Estuaire rolling, open coastline from Bordeaux up to Ile d'Oleron & Ile de Re and beautiful La Rochelle, and the inland cities of Angouleme and Poitiers. Brittany is lovely but can too often be dreary, grey and rainy, which is a problem for some folks, and the Massif Central and eastern France have long, miserable winters, but a swell place if you're a skier! I also love the entire Venise Vert Vendee area and Val de Loire. Just south of the river Loire, the weather turns warmer. Cote d'Azur and Provence are trop cher and over-crowded, but wonderful holiday experiences and everyone should make the effort to see the sights. For Med coast living, I think better value can be had along the coast and slightly inland from Montpellier westward toward the Spanish border. From there, northerly into the SW is also mostly very rural. I lived for awhile near Limoges and found it to be boring, boring and more boring, but a good choice if you are looking to purchase cheap property in a rural area with an older population. The Limousin is one of the least populated regions of France, but then France is largely rural with a few good-sized cities dotted about, and a number of very nice mid-sized towns. Horses for courses, and beauty can be found nearly everywhere in France. Erm, except perhaps in some depressing old slag-mining Lozere towns.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by pigeonhole

Paris is a ****hole.
Believe me, I've been living there since I was born 54 years ago.
I can describe in detail every dog crap on the pavement.
Damn tourists!

I think it's human nature. I grew up and lived in Chicago for more than 35 years. My opinion of Chicago was pretty much the same as you think of Paris. I couldn't wait to leave. Maybe most people view their home cities with a critical eye. After 54 years of seeing a location daily is no longer unique.