Hi there,
Travelling with my hubby to celebrate my 50th. We%26#39;ll be spending the last week of October in Paris...and are wondering whether to head south to Provence for the second week of our trip - or to head to some other European city - Florence, Brussels etc.
Thoughts ?
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As this is the French forum, i recommend sending your second week in the Loire Valley; very romantic. October is just about the only time now to avoid the crowds and the chateaux have become very, very popular tourist destinations.
Other highlights: food, vineyards, and troglodytes
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I am very partial to my Venice, so if I had to choose one other city in Europe...I would choose Venice. However, I have not been to too may other places!
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I think you should combine it with a smaller city. You didn%26#39;t say how long you plan to spend in Paris, but honestly you can be there a week and not accomplish what you hope. I think Florence is charming and can be seen in a few days. Venice is my favorite, but it will leave you wanting more. Either of those would be totally delightful. Amsterdam is very different, but also very interesting. I%26#39;d pick any of those 3 before Brussels. I haven%26#39;t been there, but trust my travelin%26#39; kids who rate it below the others.
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It really depends a lot on what you are interested in seeing and doing. If you want a good chance of warmer, sunnier weather you should definitely head south. Northern France and points north — Amsterdam or London for example — *can* be pretty dreary and damp in early November.
I find Florence fascinating and some of the art in its museums and churches stunning. It is hard to spend a few days there without being aware of its enormously rich history as the city of (among others) Dante, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Michelangelo, Donatello and the Medici. You could spend a few days there and a few days exploring Tuscany with a rented car. As Sarastro says about the Loire valley it would be a special treat to be there when *most* of the tourist coaches weren%26#39;t.
Barcelona would be another possibility. Again you could rent a car for a few days to explore some of the lovely scenery and interesting places nearby.
Rome has enough of interest for an entire week, though you might spend 4-5 days there and 2-3 days in Florence.
To get back to France, I really like Nice and many of the places nearby. Nice has enough in the way of museums and so on to keep you interested on days when the weather might not be cooperating. Along the coast Menton, Monte Carlo, Canes and Antibes are worth seeing, inland Èze, Grasse and Vence and St. Paul de Vence. You can reach all of these reasonably easily by train and/or bus from Nice and even take a trip into Italy to San Remo.
Another area of lovely scenery and interesting sights would be western Provence, though it doesn%26#39;t meet your request for a city. Again you would be better with a car here but you can see the larger towns and some of he smaller places by train and/or bus from a base in Avignon. What you would miss without a car is the Lubéroon with its lovely villages.
Similarly closer to Paris Burgundy and the Loire valley are splendid. You would really need a car to explore either and the weather might be a problem.
In November I think I would be tempted to make Rome and/or Florence my first pick. Just sitting on a sunny café terrace in Italy in shirtsleeves when you know that back home it will probably be cold and foggy is enough reason — and there are so many others...
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Thanks everyone,
My original plan was to explore Provence during the 2nd week of my holiday - the area around Luberon, Gordes, Aries. Perhaps I should stick with that. Where is a good place to start my journey to Provence - Paris to ?? We%26#39;ll likely travel by train.
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The best way to start a trip to Provence IMO is to take the train to the Avignon TGV station (~3 hours) and pick up a car there. There are some magnificent B%26amp;Bs in the region that would make wonderful bases from which to explore the region. With a whole week to plan for you might think about dividing your time between somewhere in the north part of the region — perhaps in or close to Vaison-la-Romaine — and somewhere south of Avignon for the balance of your week.
It%26#39;s a wonderful area and with a little bit of luck you will have warm sunny days while you explore it. Get your hands on the Michelin guide to Provence and a good map (the Michelin 1:200 000 scale regional maps are unrivalled IMO) and have fun planning!
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I%26#39;m partial to the Luberon area of Provence. Many people base themselves in St Remy and explore the area from there. My favorites are: Aix, Avignon, Arles, les Baux, Roussillon, Gordes, Lourmarin, and Cucuron just to name a few. The market days are a must. Lourmarin on Fridays, Apt on Saturdays, Forcalquier on Mondays, antique market at Ile sur Sorgue. If you see a festival advertised try to make it as they give a unique view of what makes Provence Provence. October is usually especially beautiful in Provence.
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Hello,
You might want to consider just driving around from Paris to Reims and then do the Champagne region, which is absolutely wonderful!!
To celebrate my 50th, it was Italy for a month and I fell in love.
This year it%26#39;s my hubby%26#39;s turn to celebrate his 50th and he decided on Paris, London and Vienna. On arrival in Paris, we%26#39;ll be driving to Vimy to visit the Canadian War Memorial and stay around that area for a few days (my hubby is a war enthousias).
Whatever your choice may be, you%26#39;ll enjoy being together and share.
Happy 50th !!
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I split up my visit in two cities last October also. I spent a couple of days in Paris then the next four in Florence. But it was my wish to return to Florence after my second visit in 2001 so that%26#39;s the reason I chose to visit there. Frankly I didn%26#39;t care for Brussels; Brugge was nicer in my opinion. Provence would be wonderful in October so that%26#39;s a good idea you have too.
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Hello Loopster,
Provence and Amsterdam are lovely and great destinations. Brugge is one of my favorite Europen cities but nothing can beat Venice! (and it%26#39;s outter islands) That%26#39;s my suggestion.
Happy Anniversary!
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