Start planning: your summer road trip through the South of France (with those ultimate transit addresses)
Ah. Black Saturday (July 29, August 5 and 12, 2023). You'll have it there. It's terrible to be stuck in the car for hours on end, but... We do want to go South of France. And we are also stuck with that high season. The tip? Let your holiday start from home. Make stops and enjoy them just as much as the final destination. So it better be good, right? Or take the train to Paris first, which is fast, fun and you have already completed the first part. And let the list below be a nice guideline the French Cote d'Azur and a little further, if you haven't had enough yet.
And while you're there, grab these two articles right away: Barts Best of the Cote d'Azur (Ramatuelle and surroundings) and Barts Best of St. Tropez. And of course too Bart's Best of Cannes and the best of Nice, France.
Last but not least: This is also an ultimate list: more than 20 delightful remote locations across France
If you want to go on holiday to (South) France, but you don't have a car because it's expensive/environmental/no parking space (hello Amsterdam)/not-suitable-for-long-distances-barrel, then the best option is of course to get one. to rent. A small one if the two of you want to spend a week in the north of France, or a family car to put all the kids and stuff in for the trip down south.
Or also a good idea: take the train for the first part then rent the car in France itself. Then you've already done a lot of driving and you rent a car from Paris or Marseille/Nice/whatever, so that 1) you don't arrive completely exhausted and 2) you can't take all the junk you/the kids have with you (because the train ) and 3) you are nice and flexible at the holiday destination. On the Auto Europe comparison site you can quickly compare and book rental cars.
Are you going on a nice tour through France this summer? Don't forget Environmental sticker France then not. For cities like Paris, Lyon or Bordeaux you need a Crit'Air sticker necessary, and even in popular holiday destinations you can come across environmental zones. Whether you are heading towards the Côte d'Azur, winding through the Dordogne or driving towards Provence, a well-prepared trip starts with the right stickers.
With an environmental sticker on your windshield, you can drive carefree through France and enjoy the sun, sea and vineyards. Bonnes vacances!
Ready to travel at your service: With just a few clicks you will receive the correct environmental sticker on your doormat.
Okay, for convenience we will skip the South of the Netherlands (but if you have the kids with you, then also take a look at this list. And also grab the car entertainment for the kids)
Then of course you move on to Antwerp or – also very nice – Ghent (or both of course, if you have plenty of time). Didn't find what you were looking for? Check us out Belgium archive! There you will find, among other things this wonderful B&B on the Flemish coast. Okay, that's not quite on the route but hey, who knows.
And we will always have Brussels, which is on the route again.
For convenience, we will keep the route de soleil on, the road that many people (Dutch) take during the summer months. On that route you will find, among other things, an outdoor hotel Les Nourrits, D'une Île, L'Aunette Cottage en Le Moulin des Lambotte. The northern French city of Reims is also on the route. You know: from Champagne. Also read 'A weekend trip to the French Champagne region'.
Overnight stay recommended ;-). For example at Le Jardin de la Cathédrale Troyes or this one a perfect pit stop in the area: Chateau de Sacy, of last but not least certainly not least in this category: La Maison de Mar
Hotel Le Barn is located 90 kilometers south of Paris where you drive into nature past cute French villages and meadows, after which you arrive at the hotel. Huge amounts of land, a sauna, a large fireplace and a lot (really a lot) of cheese and wine. Either: recharge yourself.
The whole thing looks more like that western ranch, or a spot stolen from the Cotswolds. So rich in green. The food, on the other hand, is a French affair through and through. All dishes included restaurant La Serre are a masterclass in Gallic country cuisine, served in a sun-drenched greenhouse (provided it's shining, you understand).
Another nice place south of Paris The Logis d'Arnière.
For those who were planning on skipping Central France, think again. In the oh so beautiful Berry region you will find La Maison du Cerf, just three hours south of the City of Love. You can easily fill an entire holiday there, and for those who en route to the South it is also completely parfaitYou will find five lovingly furnished rooms that are exactly what you would expect from a bed and breakfast. Each room has its own bathroom and honestly, you could spend a whole day in bed (those box springs!). But hey, the beautiful nature and swimming pond are calling.
Walking through the woods, chilling in the gigantic garden, a game of jeu de boules, and if you want to join the 'Table d'hôtes' in the evening, the cooking skills of Peter and Jolanda are always appreciated. There is also plenty to do in the area, so you will not be bored here.
You can of course choose to take the first part of your trip to Paris by train. The only disadvantage is that you still have to rent a car, of course, but you can still take as much stuff as you can carry. Plus: Paris is always a good idea.
When in doubt, grab this list 'always good restaurants in Paris' and if you stay the night, we will also make it a nice selection of timeless hotels in Paris. Oh, and this one Paris wishlist, also save it. More time to spend? Fine! This is Barts Best of Paris.
The greatest highest peak of all Hotel Molitor Paris? That GIGA swimming pool of course! With dot. And to be honest, we also enjoy the photogenic 70's vibe thanks to the ocher yellow and the Miami-esque design of the whole thing: you can't help but photograph an Accidentally Wes Anderson net here. And that's why we love Hotel Molitor Paris a little bit. But there are more advantages: the location, just outside the center of Paris. This makes it a very good transit hotel. No city craziness where you just drive up in your car and then take a quick dip in the French capital and then continue south (or back to your own country of course).
Image via derbesse-delplanque-architectes.com who were responsible for the entire beautiful design.
We ended up at Chateau Saulon completely by chance when the evening had already fallen and we were looking for an address where we could go with a dog. It turned out to be a gift the next day! The chateau is located on a beautiful and enormous estate, horses graze there, dogs run, there is a lovely swimming pool (and a small playground for the children, but the horses steal the show), there is a nice and good restaurant and the rooms are as you would expect from a chateau: stately, with a large bath, wonderfully old-chic and simply very nice and thoroughly French. A gift from a chateau along the route all in all. Save it.
Well, and if we are going to move a bit to the west of the French country, let us especially let the fairytale d'une ile don't miss, a French 'island' (without water but in the middle of a 'sea' of beautiful French 'nothingness') run by a Dutch couple, about an hour and a half below Paris. Beautiful, beautiful is the place and the perfect tip for those who want a carefree relaxing holiday, or get married in one of the most beautiful and well-kept parts of France - that's called: getting married from A to Z. Leave that to the aforementioned couple. : everything, absolutely everything, from sausage to champagne, has been taken care of down to the last detail, which of course also applies to the decor.
Well, now that we have the Route de Soleil have deviated, we will also mention these toppers. And if you want more like this, check out this list: 12 x wonderful remote places in France. You still think these three are reasonable en route Well, that said, a bit too far west of the, uh, route.
Château Hotel Field La Tortinière, a large, beautiful, stately castle hotel as you would expect in France. No surprises, but nice. Just outside the city of Tours.
Fontevraud The Hotel, This former abbey with a lot of style is located an hour south-west of Tours. Rest. Modern. Tight. Those kinds of terms. All appropriate.
Dirac Castle has been our favorite for many years, if only because of the wonderful Instagram page and the sweetest owners. Read more about Dirac Castle (By the way, this is perfect if you are on your way to Bordeaux!)
Okay, one more Call Estiu in the Dordogne.
When the name of an address in France starts with 'Les Cabanes…' you immediately know: this must be good. Because even if the huts If the subject is disappointing, the usually wooded environment is still delicious. But they don't do that, disappointing. Well, the modern one cabins are beautiful, fully equipped and are indeed located in a nothing less than beautiful wooded and mountainous area.
Oh, and also read this article: On a great adventure in Auvergne Rhone-Alpes, France
In the middle of the green heart of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, lies Domaine Bonneblond: a vast estate of 70 hectares where you sleep between the trees, eat at long tables and wake up in the morning with a view over the swimming lake. Dana and Eva, two young women, went all out for their dream here and built a place where you would rather never leave. Glamping, bell tents, tree houses, studios or a camping spot for your own tent or camper – here you choose how you spend your holiday.
Join the guest table or nestle in a hammock with a glass of local viognier. Kids build huts, dogs are allowed off the leash, and you don't really have to go anywhere. But if you do: flea markets, vineyards and forests are just around the corner.
Completely again back on track you find Domaine Les Reprilles in the small village of Chiddes between Paris and Lyon (a little closer to Lyon) and Domaine Les Reprilles, run by Dutch people (which is just very relaxed when you are tired from the journey), is a perfect no fuzz pit stop, especially for those with kiddos. There are nice bedrooms, a lovely swimming pool, everything just looks wonderful three French and the breakfast is something to write home about.
A city on the water is always a good idea.
We slept wonderfully, centrally and very cheaply in the small but more than nice, modern hotel Hôtel Silky Lyon by HappyCulture. And we had a great meal at the restaurant Pistachio where you can take a very pleasant walk along the water and enjoy the best of the city on a terrace overlooking a swimming pool in the Rhone. Also a tip of course, take a splash there.
Modern, apparently simple and, above all, incredibly good Restaurant Ravigotte Lyon (do this if you really want to eat well, preferably without kids). And also Bistrot Bel Ami is really a great tip: such an unadulterated one French bistro. Just too small, super tasty and fun. Okay, last thing then: La Mutinerie Lyon, a red-and-pink place where we got a little bit 'out of it', even though we only had a drink there.
You will find it just a little east of the well-known route Hotel Coeur de Megeve.
A luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Megeve. The hotel has 39 rooms and suites with those lovely French-style balloons, attic rooms, bunk beds for the kids and those lovely large bathrooms. Everything made of wood, warm fabrics and a funky touch or print here and there to keep it nice and young.
The living room, a nice name for the lobby, is cozy and the ideal place to relax with a book after a long walk. Play games by the fireplace and then go to the restaurant La Muse, ah, nice you can go here all day long. The dishes are Mediterranean with of course as many products from the region as possible. Big plus: they also have a good bar, Le Meige for a good cocktail or other alcoholic drink.
PS Also take a look The Minotte!
Oof and aah, what a gift it is Le Château des Alpilles in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. A mouth full and, to be honest, that fits perfectly with the beauty full-on castle hotel that you will find below the city of Avignon. The hotel itself. The unique location. The swimming pool. The idea that a wedding could take place at any moment (which it does). And: dogs are more than welcome, which is also nice. The restaurant serves meals made from local produce and is very good. Anyway, a Château hotel in a 19th-century building, in the middle of a centuries-old park and everything you expect, including the classic, occasionally somewhat old-fashioned hotel rooms (the outside is really the most beautiful). You can book a room in the castle, a suite in the Mas du Cyprès country house or one of the houses in the park.
And then we really steam on to Aix En Provence, a lovely town before the French Azure Coast begins. Actually not to be missed either. We already wrote an article about it: Bart's Best of Aix en Provence but it must be said: we were really not done here at all!
In any case, one of the nicest and most beautiful restaurants can be found just outside the pleasant city center of Aix en Provence, in Venelles. Restaurant Le Mome is the name and Le Môme is just right. A restaurant for locals with international allure, that's it in a nutshell. You can eat classic French dishes: salads, zucchini and pate, tasty fritters, parfait and gâteau. Oh, and a prime location (perfect for a pit stop!).
La Croix Valmer is, and that is why we love it so much, underrated. Because it is delicious Côte d'Azur just before you reach the well-known St. Tropez and surroundings. You will not (yet) come across a beautiful sea and the Dutch Hockey Club.
It is exactly the place where we found one of the most beautiful, nicest (you really don't have to leave the house anymore) and most friendly (un-French, so to speak) hotels that we visited last year: Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer.
(of course, as the pictures already reveal, Lily of the Valley is certainly not the most affordable hotel, but it is still affordable (because it is new) so don't wait too long - the place will certainly only become more popular. You have been warned )
Hello France! What a joy that visits are possible again. Time to fish that passport out of that one slightly rusted drawer and off you go, off you go. Where the trip goes in France? To the French Riviera of course! Between the ocher red rocks and the deep blue sea lies a somewhat inconspicuous, but unmissable white-blue building. When you step inside, you will find a view that will amaze you and, above all, an interior that will leave you speechless. The name? Les Roches Rouges Hotel on the French Riviera.
Read more about Les Roches Rouges Hotel
The new Hotel Casarose is housed in the former Golf Park Hotel and has been transformed into a modern one feel-good hotel. Picture this: the Californian retro style meets the elegance of French hotels and the color palette of the Côte d'Azur. The hotel exudes chic and cool both inside and out vibe out. And… You feel like a real person king in his castle because of the luxurious elements. We like it.
It's nice to stay in bustling centers, but let's be honest: with children, but sometimes also with and without children, there is little better than a nice campsite a stone's throw from the city. The best of both worlds. Do we have one in that category? So what. Half an hour inland behind Nice you will find Graine et Ficelle, a tasteful mini-farm far away from the hustle and bustle of the French Riviera while it is still within reach. There are eco-lodges for six people with a luxurious bathroom, a wooden deck and an outdoor shower, there is a tent camp, you can pitch your own tent and there is a - hey, nice, well-kept bed & breakfast. Actually, to be honest, it is exactly the place that everyone asks me about every year: every corner is photogenic, child-friendly but not too (not that everything revolves around the kids, so to speak, and you are constantly startled by the screeching of other people's offspring - sorry but hey, we're on holiday too!). Read more
Eight beautiful houses on the Côtes d'Armor in Brittany, that's something Into the Prairie is. And when we say handsome, we really mean handsome. The houses are on the land of owners Corentin and Liz Lamour, who have renovated all the houses themselves. Each house is unique and each is furnished with natural materials. Sustainability is important to the two and this can be seen in the natural materials used and the vintage furniture for the interior. Five of the houses have a fireplace, where you can sit by with a glass of wine in the autumn months. And that in the middle of the Brittany hills and a stone's throw from the rugged coastline. Each house has an extensive kitchen where you can cook delicious meals with the ingredients you bought at one of the many markets in the area and you can use the farm's vegetable garden and greenhouse where you will find herbs and even edible flowers. Sounds like a French dream, immense?
More tips
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The youngest surprise in the most beautiful part of France: Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer
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France: The best of Cote d'Azur France (area St. Tropez/ Ramatuelle)
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New feel-good hotel in the French Côte d'Azur: Hotel Casarose
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20+ x delicious remote places or the most beautiful rural hotels in France
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5 x the most beautiful calanques of Cassis, France