Short Trip to France, Any Suggestions on Places to Visit?

[zac]

We are looking at heading over to France the 1st week in September when the schools are back , we are travelling over Thursday evening which gives Friday/Saturday and most of Sunday as not back till late evening. We were thinking of going down the west coast way, any recommendations for places to stop/visit? we have the aires book and campercontact, we dont need EHU but if it is there we will of course use it. Any quiet places that members have already visited?
It is just the 2 of us, not interested in beaches but like to explore although i would like to see the Normandy war bits if we could.

We are going over on the Tunnel

Thanks in advance

 

[2657]

Which crossing are you using?

 

[chaser]

Not a lot you can do in three days but if you are going to Calais, I would head for Ypres, nice town last post in menin gate every night and you can park right beside the canal 100 yards away, the Normandy coast is a bit large for your time scale.

 

[GeriatricWanderer]

My recommendation:

Assuming you're arriving in Calais - forget the west coast - too far unless you want to spend much of your time driving.

Get the book Northern France, What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais by Angela Bird

Thems just my thoughts

 

[zac]

Which crossing are you using?

Sorrry forgot to add that we are using the Tunnel..

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[zac]

My recommendation:

Assuming you're arriving in Calais - forget the west coast - too far unless you want to spend much of your time driving.

Get the book Northern France, What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais by Angela Bird

Thems just my thoughts

Great thanks i will get this now.

 

[chaser]

Great thanks i will get this now.

Northern France is very neglected by the British , who just aim to get through it as fast as they can and head south, some very nice little villages and towns , and loads of war stuff if that's what you are into, even head up to Belgium and Dunkirk, plenty to do with very limited time and short journeys

 

[awg]

Neufchatel-en-Bray is only a couple of hours from Calais. A lovely campsite (St Claire) with a very nice aire right next door (same owner) which we use. It's almost a campsite in it's own right. That would give you Friday & Saturday (market day) before heading home on Sunday.

Allan

 

[zac]

Neufchatel-en-Bray is only a couple of hours from Calais. A lovely campsite (St Claire) with a very nice aire right next door (same owner) which we use. It's almost a campsite in it's own right. That would give you Friday & Saturday (market day) before heading home on Sunday.

Allan

Excellent, thanks for the info

 

[scousebird]

If you want to do war stuff there is a municipal site at Arromanches-les-Bains, part of the mulberry harbour is still there and visible and the D-Day museum which is worth a visit. Not too far from Arromances is Bayeux with the tapestry. We've done both for a long weekend.

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[2657]

There is a large Commonwealth War Cemetery at Etaples near Le Touquet and a V2 rocket site near St. Omer for the war interest. http://www.lacoupole-france.co.uk/ if you don't want to travel as far as Normandy.

Le Crotoy, St. Valery sur Somme,Le Treport, Vieules les Roses, St Valery en Caux, Fecamp, Etretat all interesting places on the coast, much painted by the French impressionists.

 

[zac]

If you want to do war stuff there is a municipal site at Arromanches-les-Bains, part of the mulberry harbour is still there and visible and the D-Day museum which is worth a visit. Not too far from Arromances is Bayeux with the tapestry. We've done both for a long weekend.

Great thanks for the info, seems there is a lot to do and not enough days to do them in

 

[zac]

There is a large Commonwealth War Cemetery at Etaples near Le Touquet and a V2 rocket site near St. Omer for the war interest. http://www.lacoupole-france.co.uk/ if you don't want to travel as far as Normandy.

Le Crotoy, St. Valery sur Somme,Le Treport, Vieules les Roses, St Valery en Caux, Fecamp, Etretat all interesting places on the coast, much painted by the French impressionists.

If you want to do war stuff there is a municipal site at Arromanches-les-Bains, part of the mulberry harbour is still there and visible and the D-Day museum which is worth a visit. Not too far from Arromances is Bayeux with the tapestry. We've done both for a long weekend.

With all the suggestions we are going to be spoilt for choice.

 

[dabhand]

There is a large Commonwealth War Cemetery at Etaples near Le Touquet and a V2 rocket site near St. Omer for the war interest. http://www.lacoupole-france.co.uk/ if you don't want to travel as far as Normandy.

Le Crotoy, St. Valery sur Somme,Le Treport, Vieules les Roses, St Valery en Caux, Fecamp, Etretat all interesting places on the coast, much painted by the French impressionists.

You won't go wrong with theses suggestions, I would add Honfleur to the list, although not everyone's favourite and not much war history, it's a lovely little mediaeval town lovely restaurants, quirky shops the aire is pretty much in town on the harbour side 11 euro a night we always seem to stop there when in France.

 

[magicsurfbus]

I agree with @matamoros about La Coupole - that's pretty unique. Ypres is worth a trip if you want to do the WW1 thing, especially the Cloth Hall, but it's pretty intense.

At Arras you've got the Citadel with its memorial to executed civilians, the town square, and up the road the Carriere Wellington, a series of WW1 era tunnels. I'm pretty certain they do a big firework display in Arras on the first weekend in Sept - not sure which evening though.

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 Sept you've got the biggest flea market in the entire history of creation at Lille, aka the Braderie de Lille. Seriously, the whole city centre is given over to bric-a-brac and antiques. Only problem is getting to it with a MH. Easiest option is to park at the roadside near the Cinque Cantons stadium and get the Metro in - really cheap. We've tried all the other options, believe me.

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[hilldweller]

Have a romantic WE in Paris.

 

[Big Nick]

Another vote for the V2 rocket base at La Coupole if WW2 is your thing

 

[zac]

Have a romantic WE in Paris.

Done Paris twice already and want something a bit quieter, thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[magicsurfbus]

Another vote for the V2 rocket base at La Coupole if WW2 is your thing

Or James Bond or Thunderbirds. Without trivialising the purpose and method of its construction it definitely has that secret underground base feel about it.

 

[PhilG]

Just over the border into Belgium is Bruges, a lovely old city that seems to be popular without being spoilt.... added bonus of not having to give the French any of your money.

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[zac]

Just over the border into Belgium is Bruges, a lovely old city that seems to be popular without being spoilt.... added bonus of not having to give the French any of your money.

Thanks, we have been to Bruge before although not stayed there just looked around the town.