Short France Trip - Advice on where to visit/stay

[Alesupper]

Hi Folks, in July we are travelling to France. We are catching the ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham/Caen. We have only three nights to visit/stay places on the way to St Aubin de Nabirat where we will stay for one week. We then have another three nights to stay/visit on our return to Ouistreham for the ferry home.

We are unsure whether it is better to have 3 one night stopovers each way and try and cram as much in as possible, or to maybe stay at one or two places for one or two nights each way. What are you thoughts.

Any recommendation on where to stay/visit would be appreciated. One place we fancy the sound of La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast?

The route shown in the image is just to show where we are travelling to/from. It is not the actual route we want to take.

Also, is Mont Saint-Michel worth a visit?

TIA

 

[John n Jinny]

Mont st michael is Frances 2nd most visited attraction for a good reason .We love it ,not too far from where you will be .

 

[Grianan]

I love La Rochelle snd have fond memories of Mont St Michel and St Malo as a child

 

[Alesupper]

Mont st michael is Frances 2nd most visited attraction for a good reason .We love it ,not too far from where you will be .

Wow! I didn't realise it was that popular. I guess it will be rammed with people in July then. Might be worth avoiding this time and go out of season perhaps?

 

[Riverbankannie]

Wow! I didn't realise it was that popular. I guess it will be rammed with people in July then. Might be worth avoiding this time and go out of season perhaps?

My top tip for visiting busy tourist attractions is to stay close by the night before and be up and about as they open, beating day trippers and coach parties . Alternatively arrive at the attraction an hour or so before closing as the car parks begin to empty. Then stay overnight nearby. That is the great advantage of having your home with you.

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[Zoobec]

Mont st michel and isle de Re near La Rochelle are my 2 favourite places to visit in France. Not been to either in the van yet though!

 

[DDJC]

La Rochelle is a very pretty medieval port, although it is is incredible busy during the schools holidays (remember that French school hols start about 8 July this year). Also, parking is nigh impossible within a mile and a half of the old port. and that was in a car, god knows what it is like to try and get a motorhome a space. Broken Link Removedis right, the early bird gets the space, but early means before nine in the morning. The port itself is a now rather tourist focused, but the charm is not lost.

St Malo is a big port town with a sizeable walled old city. Motorhome parking can be found along Avenue Louis Martin, but again, you will need to be there very early. Worth a visit.

Mont St Michel is magical, like something out of Tolkein's imagination. You can see it from many locations from miles around. It has an amazing, sometimes violent, history with the Franks, Vikings, English all sieging the island. I'd advise research to get the best out of it. It is however absolutely packed with tourists, school holidays or not. Motorhome parking is excellent, and you then walk to the island or take the shuttle bus.

However, none of these places are on the route you provide above. To see all of them, you need to loop to the west. I would advise staying two days somewhere on the Normandy/Brittany border (reachable from Caen in less than two hours) and see St Malo and Mont St Michel (probably on the same day, so St Malo first, then Mont St Michel in the afternoon). Then head south and stay near La Rochelle. That leaves you with a half day drive to the Dordogne.

 

[chaser]

This is a stop on park4night, we stayed on it one night, absolutely magical with the sun coming out on to the mount.
Where we are in the photo people walk across.

 

[orridge]

Mont st Michel is great best time to visit late afternoon evening when the coach loads of tourists have gone home and is much quieter.

 

[peterc10]

When in July will you be going? Everything will become very busy once the French holidays kick in around the 14th July. Best to avoid the coast after that.

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[MisterB]

What are your family interests, ages and dislikes? Anything you have always wanted to do, see or visit?

 

[The Wino]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the D Day beaches. You could have one night after seeing them and another nearMt St Michel. The third maybe Le Man's. On the way back you could deviate over to La Rochelle or further inland and visit a couple of castles on the Loire ( and taste / buy some wine). We usually use Aires I think probably only used sites for 2 nights out of hundreds but you do need to be there early in peak season.

 

[John n Jinny]

As above ,but to me you need a week to take in all of what the D day beaches offer. From The Merville battery to the north down to St Mere Eglise ,about 60 mile of interesting stuff to do .But as above D day beaches are fantastic .

 

[The Wino]

As above ,but to me you need a week to take in all of what the D day beaches offer. From The Merville battery to the north down to St Mere Eglise ,about 60 mile of interesting stuff to do .But as above D day beaches are fantastic .

One day was enough for us but Liz hates war history! I think it would be good to use the three days either way to get a flavour of different things to maybe get some ideas for next time. Also if the op has never stayed on Aires give them a go too

 

[Arnside037]

We are in Honfleur at the moment. You could use the Aire in the town and visit. Yesterday we were at Fougeres ... good city walk with a superb castle with English commentry. Each can be done within the day of arrival. Just done Mont St Michel too and Carnac, but they are well off your route i think.

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[suavecarve]

Oradour sur glane is on the way if you took the limoges route, probably best to do it on return journey

 

[The Wino]

Oradour sur glane is on the way if you took the limoges route, probably best to do it on return journey

Definitely on the list of places my wife wouldn't visit along with the concentration camps. Each to their own.

 

[ChrisL]

Mont St Michelle if you have no issues with steep stairs, il de Ré if you like seafood, D day beaches if you like museums and war history.

 

[Alesupper]

Mont St Michelle if you have no issues with steep stairs, il de Ré if you like seafood, D day beaches if you like museums and war history.
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Thanks, no problem with stairs as we both keep ourselves fit. the seafood looks yum!

 

[Alesupper]

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. It has been really helpful and very much appreciated. No decisions made yet but we know have something to work with thanks to you guys

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[cyberyacht]

Depending on the time of your ferry, if a late evening arrival then Pegasus Bridge is worth a visit before continuing your journey. After you cross the bridge there's a couple of ad hoc spots. One opposite the museum and a loop lay-by on the D514 about 2km toward Breville les Monts, where there is an aire.