Itineary for France by Derek
Paris – Versallies – Chartes
– Caen >>> Mont Saint Micheal
– St Brieuc (?) – Nimes – Lyon - La Tourette – Lyon – Belfort – Ronchamp
Paris
-
Fastest way to get to/from the city
is by Roissy Rail.
-
Free shuttle buses take you from the
airport terminals to the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle RER (commuter rail) Station.
-
Tickets cost 47FF
Note:-
- Entry to all museums in Paris is half price for ppl 25 and under.
- 3 day museum pass cost
160FF (on sale at the museums).
- Eurail pass holders can
travel free on the SNCF trains but not the RER ones.
Attractions:
-
Open daily from 9 – 6pm (closed on
Tuesdays) opens late (9.45pm) on Mondays & Wednesdays.
-
Entry cost 45FF after 3pm & Sundays
reduced to 26FF.
Arc de Triomphe
-
Access to platform on top cost 35FF
(23FF reduced)
-
Opening hours 9.30am – 11pm daily.
Ceremony to light eternal flame at 6.30pm daily.
Pompidou Centre
-
Open daily except Tuesdays from 12pm
(10am on wkends) – 10pm daily.
-
Entry cost 30FF (22FF reduced). On
Sunday entry free from 10am – 2pm.
Eiffel Tower
-
Cost (1st platform) 20FF
(2nd platform) 42FF & 57Ff for the 3rd.
-
Open daily from 9.30am – 11pm.
Notre Dame
-
Open daily from 8am – 6.45pm (7.45pm
wkends).
-
No entry charge. Free concerts on Sundays.
-
Entry to North Tower open daily from
9.30am – 6.45pm (4.45pm in Winter). Cost 32FF (21FF reduced).
Pantheon
-
Open daily from 10am – 6.15pm.
-
Entry cost 32FF (21FF reduced).
Sorbonne
-
University open daily. No admission
charge.
Institute du Monde Arabe
-
Open daily except Mondays from 10am
– 6pm.
-
Entry cost 25FF (20FF reduced rate).
Catacombes
-
Open Tuesdays to Fridays from 2 – 4pm
on weekends from 9 – 11am & 2
- 4pm.
-
Entry cost 27FF (19FF reduced).
Musee Rodin
-
Open daily except Mondays from 9.30am
– 5.45pm (4.45pm in winter).
-
Entry cost 28FF (18FF reduced). 18FF
for all on Sundays.
-
Paris Bus gives a 2 ½ hr tour with
9 stops to hop on and off as you please.
-
Ticket cost 125FF for a two day pass.
Accomodation:
Hotel Rivoli
-
250FF for double with bath & toilets.
-
Front doors locks at 2am. Might be
a problem if we stay out late.
Hotel de Nice
-
650FF for a quad with balcony n shower
n toilet.
-
Works out to 162.5FF per person.
Hotel moderne
-
220FF with shower n toilet.
-
SNCF train from Paris Gare Montparnasse
to Versalles-Chantiers. Which is 1.3km south east of the Chateau. Cost is
free.
-
OR take bus No. 171 from Pont de Sevres metro stop in
Paris to right in front of the chateau.
Tourist Office:-
-
Open Monday to Saturday from 9 –12.30pm
and from 1.30 – 6pm.
Opening hrs & tickets:
-
Main building open daily except Mondays
from 9am – 6.30pm.
-
Entry cost 45FF (35FF reduced) on Sundays
all pay 35FF.
-
Grand Trianon & Petit Trianon open
daily except Mondays. Open from 10am – 6.30pm.
-
Entry cost 25FF (15FF reduced) and
15FF (10FF reduced) respectively.
-
The Grand Eaux (fountain show I think)
occurs from 3.30pm – 5pm daily.
-
Cost 25FF to view the show.
-
Paris Gare Montparnasse Station to
Place Pierre Semand (Chartres)
-
Cost 71FF oneway. But should be free
for us if it’s the SNCF line.
-
Journey takes 50 to 70 mins.
-
Last train back to Paris is at 9pm
on weekdays, 7.45pm on Sat & 10pm on Sundays.
-
Possible to travel from Versallies
to Chartres as a continuation.
-
Open daily from 7.30am (8.30am on Sundays)
– 7.15pm
-
Tours are at 12 noon & 2.45pm daily
except Sunday. Cost 30FF.
-
Clocher Vieux (old bell tower) open
daily except Sunday mornings from 10
- 11.30am and 2 - 4pm.
-
Crypt tour costs 11FF and depart at
11am – 4.15pm.
Accomodation:-
-
Jeunesse – 1.5km from the train station.
Take bus line no 3 to Rouliers Shop
-
Reception open daily from 2 – 10pm.
Cost 65FF incl breakfast.
No info yet.
-
By train from Paris St Lazare
to Caen
-
Cost is US$38 (US$47 1st class)
-
Travel Time 02hr 10mins
-
Distance 239 km / 149 mi
Dep. Time Arr. Time
Destination Train # Notes
07:12 08:57 Caen 3303-TRN Monday-Friday
08:10 10:19 Caen 3333-TRN Saturday only
08:40 10:46 Caen 3337-TRN Monday-Friday
09:08 10:58 Caen 3305-TRN Sat & Sun
10:10 12:18 Caen 3339-TRN Sat & Sun
10:43 12:30 Caen 3307-TRN Monday-Friday
12:00 14:06 Caen 3343-TRN Sat & Sun
12:25 14:09 Caen 3309-TRN Monday-Friday
13:05 14:49 Caen 3309-TRN Saturday only
14:30 16:37 Caen 3345-TRN Daily
14:57 16:42 Caen 3311-TRN Monday-Friday
17:08 18:54 Caen 3317-TRN Monday-Friday
18:45 20:29 Caen 3323-TRN Sunday only
19:05 21:13 Caen 3357-TRN Monday-Friday
19:40 21:46 Caen 3361-TRN Sat & Sun
19:40 21:46 Caen 3361-TRN Sat & Sun
20:39 22:46 Caen 3327-TRN Saturday only
20:39 22:46 Caen 3327-TRN Except Fri, Sun, Hol
20:52 23:08 Caen 3329-TRN Fri & Sun only
-
From Caen take a connecting bus to
Mont Saint Michel or a train to Pontorson station.
-
Cost of Train to Pontorson
Mont S.m. from Caen is US$28 (US$38 1st class)
-
Pontorson is the nearest town and is
9km south.
-
Further info needed for bus fares and
train timetables.
-
Open daily except Sundays from 9 –
12pm and 1 – 6pm.
-
Map available for 16FF.
Hotel de l’Arrivee
-
Double with shower & toilet cost
155FF
-
Quad cost 180FF no shower. Hall shower
cost 15FF.
Hotel la Tour de Brette
-
Doubles with shower and TV cost 220FF
Abbaye du Mont Saint
Michel
-
Open daily from 9.30 – 4.30pm.
-
Entry cost is 22FF incl. of day tour.
-
Night time tours from 9pm daily cost
60FF except Sundays.
-
From Aeroport C De Gaulle
Station to Nimes
-
Cost is US$86 (US$110 first class)
Dep. Time Arr. Time Destination Train
# Notes
07:32 11:02 Nimes
5104-TGV Daily
09:45 13:14 Nimes 5112-TGV Daily
13:11 16:35 Nimes
9833-TGV Daily
16:04 19:31 Nimes
5118-TGV Daily
18:06 21:38 Nimes
5120-TGV Daily
-
From Paris Gare De Lyon to
Nimes
-
Cost is US$83 (US$107 first class)
-
Travel time 03hr 49min
-
Dist. 791 km / 494 mi
Dep. Arr.
Destination Train #
Notes
07:24 10:23 Nimes
6203-TGV Daily
09:24 12:23 Nimes
6207-TGV Daily
10:54 13:46 Nimes
6209-TGV Daily
13:24 16:23 Nimes
6211-TGV Daily
15:24 18:24 Nimes
6213-TGV Daily
17:24 20:23 Nimes
6215-TGV Daily
18:24 21:16 Nimes
6217-TGV Daily
19:24 22:23 Nimes
6219-TGV Daily
20:24 23:24 Nimes
6221-TGV Daily
- Has works by Foster & Nouvel also. Need to find out the names of the buildings.
Arenes (amphitheatre)
-
Open daily from 9.30 –12.30pm and from
2 – 6pm unless there is something on.
-
Entry cost 26FF and 20FF for students.
-
Roman Corinthian style temple
-
Entry hrs not stated.
-
No admission charge to view the bridge.
-
Maison de Tourisme open from 9 – 7pm
daily from June to Sept.
-
Buses from Nimes stop 1km North of
the bridge.
Hotel de la Maison Carree
-
Quad with basin & shower cost 330FF.
Hotel Concorde
-
Doubles with shower cost 140FF.
-
From Nimes To Lyon Part Dieu
by train.
-
Time taken 02hr 35mins
-
Distance 279 km / 174 mi
-
Cost is US$36 (US$50 1st
Class)
Dep. Arr. Destination Train # Notes
07:50 09:10 Lyon 5162-TGV Daily
09:32 10:45 Lyon 5166-TGV Daily
10:34 11:49 Lyon 5170-TGV Daily
12:43 13:59 Lyon 6862-TGV Daily
14:03 15:27 Lyon 6866-TGV Daily
15:13 16:34 Lyon 9868-TGV Daily
17:43 18:58 Lyon 6868-TGV Daily
18:53 20:14 Lyon 5186-TGV Daily
19:58 21:21 Lyon 6880-TGV Daily
-
Open daily from 9 – 6pm.
-
SNCF information & reservation
desk in the same building.
-
Open daily except Sundays from 9 –
6pm.
Musee Gallo-Romain
-
Open from 9.30 – 12pm and from 2 –
6pm daily except Mon & Tues.
-
Entry cost 20FF (10FF for students)
Musee des Beaux-Arts
-
Open daily from 10.30 – 6pm except
Mon & Tues.
-
Entry cost 25FF (15FF for students)
Hotel Vaubecour
-
Quads with washbasin & bidet at
199FF
-
Hall showers cost 15FF.
Hotel d’Ainay
-
Double with shower & toilet costs
235FF.
-
Nearest town is L’Arbresle outside
Lyon along N7 to the NorthWest.
-
Both sexes are allowed to stay there.
-
It cost around $US60 (highly questionable)
with breakfast. And you have to pay cash.
-
Nearest town with a Train Station is
Belfort.
-
From Belfort its abt 30kms to Ronchamp.
Have to check the buses available or take a cab.
-
We will probably have to stay a night
in Belfort. So we can get to Ronchamp bright and early.
-
From Lyon Part Dieu to Belfort
by train.
-
Time taken 03hr 29mins
-
Distance 315 km / 196 mi
-
Cost is US$41 (US$57 1st
Class)
Dep. Arr. Destination Train
# Notes
06:35 10:08 Belfort 6670-TRN
Daily
09:29 12:57 Belfort 6672-TRN
Please Call
12:50 16:20 Belfort 6674-TRN
Daily
15:01 18:41 Belfort 6676-TRN
Please Call
18:49 22:20 Belfort 6678-TRN
Except Saturday
Suggested itinerary for Paris
Day 1 — Paris
Start your trip at the
original center of Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral, on the Île de la Cité
in the middle of the Seine. Next to the Île de la Cité, the tiny island
of Île St. Louis is Paris at its most charming: narrow cobbled streets
lined with sumptuous old hôtels particuliers (townhouses), many
still housing the rich and famous. A favorite Parisian brunch spot on the
island is Le Flore en L'Île, which offers a stunning view of Notre Dame.
Finish off your meal with the Parisians' favorite ice-cream, Berthillon.
Then, head over to the Left Bank (Rive Gauche); see the Panthéon
and the Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg), shop the chic
boutiques of the St. Germain area, and linger over coffee at the
legendary café Les Deux Magots, former haunt of Sartre, de Beauvoir, and
Gershwin. An unforgettable first Parisian evening starts with a Seine dinner
cruise; as you dine, watch the play of lights on the floodlit buildings and
bridges as many of Paris's best-loved monuments—like the Louvre and the Musée
D'Orsay—unfold with every bend in the river. After the cruise, it's time
for nightcaps at a trendy restaurant/bar like Le Buddha Bar or Ailleurs,
near the Champs-Élysées—both favorites of the international young
European set that the French call "la jeunesse dorée"
(gilded youth).
Day 2 — Paris
Head for la plus belle
avenue du monde (the world's most beautiful avenue), the Champs-Élysées.
Settle in for morning croissants at a sunny café with a view of the Arc de
Triomphe, and scan the week's listings of clubs, shows, and more, to be
found in the Parisians' favorite weekly, Pariscope magazine (it
has a section in English.) Stroll down the grand old Avenue Kléber,
lined with elegant 19th-century buildings, to Place du Trocadéro, the
best spot for admiring the Eiffel Tower, which lies directly across the river.
Drink in the view from the Eiffel Tower itself. If you're here at
midweek, take advantage of the well-priced lunch menu at the Tower's famous Jules
Verne restaurant. After visiting the Tower, stroll with the Parisians
through the manicured gardens of the Champ de Mars. You'll end up in the
elegant streets of the ritzy 7th arrondissement, home to the
golden-domed Hôtel des Invalides (which houses Napoleon's tomb
and the world's most comprehensive military museum), the gem-like Musée
Rodin, and grand stores like Au Bon Marché. This department store
features a superb selection of the top names in French fashion, from classic to
avant-garde. Buy a new outfit, just in time for a night at the ultra-selective Les
Bains, the city's most exclusive nightclub and a favorite of
models and other "beautiful people."
Day 3 — Paris
See the funkier side of
Paris today: the best new boutiques and bars are waiting to be
discovered. Wander through the narrow cobbled streets of Le Marais, one
of Paris's oldest districts, yet also home to many of the city's most avant-garde
clothing, jewelry and home accessories boutiques. Explore the rue des
Francs-Bourgeois, with its lively stores, and the rue Vieille-du-Temple,
a fun mix of stately old 16th- and 17th-century townhouses and wild bars.
Stop in at Mariage Frères, a tiny store on rue du Bourg-Tibourg that
sells the best tea in Paris. Take a break in the Place des Vosges,
a harmonious 17th-century square surrounded by beautifully preserved 17t-
century mansions. Head to the river to see the ornate Hôtel de Ville
(City Hall), then stroll around the Bastille area; Bastille Square
(Place de la Bastille) marks the site of the notorious prison which was stormed
during the Revolution. Today, the area is one of the most animated and
trendy in Paris, teeming with bars, cafés, and new restaurants perfect for a
lively dinner. In the last two or three years, the action has spilled over to rue
Oberkampf, nearby. After dinner, head up there to sample funk, jazz, soul,
or DJ mixes at the hot La Cithéa club.
Day 4
— Paris
No visit to Paris is
complete without a stop at the Louvre. Spend the morning amidst the
glorious art of this huge museum, then admire the view of the Louvre's modern pyramid
from the terrace of the hip Café Marly, located on the courtyard of the
museum. This café, designed by the France's well-known Costes brothers, is
perfect for a pre-lunch drink. For lunch, consider the reasonable prix-fixe
menu at nearby Le Grand Véfour restaurant, one of the city's finest,
and graced with exquisite Directoire décor. The restaurant overlooks the Jardins
du Palais Royal, gardens that are bordered by charming old covered walkways
housing unique stores, like Didier Ludot, filled with vintage Hermès
and Chanel finds. For a study in contrasts, visit the nearby Colette,
a temple of hip and ultramodern clothing, close to the Tuileries Gardens.
Walk off lunch with a stroll around the statue-filled Tuileries and a visit to
nearby Place Vendôme, an elegant square home to the Ritz and the
world's best jewelers. Feast your eyes upon all this discreet opulence,
fit for royalty, then prepare yourself for a night with "royalty"
of a different kind: a visit to Le Queen, the city's wildest,
funkiest and best-known club, located on the Champs-Élysées. (Check
Pariscope for the nightly themes at the club.)
Day 5
— Paris
Spend the morning
shopping in the refined St. Germain district on the Left Bank
(Rive Gauche), where the boutiques of the rue de Grenelle and rue du Bac
outfit well-heeled Parisians. The tiny streets between the boulevard St.
Germain and the Seine are a trove of antiques stores and art
galleries housed in beautiful old buildings. Lunch at Le Voltaire,
on the Quai Voltaire; this chic little bistro was once Voltaire's home. If St.
Germain evokes Paris's intellectuals, the winding streets of Montmartre—a
short subway ride away—evoke Paris's grittier bohemians, such as famed
artist Toulouse-Lautrec. Sunset over the city is unforgettable when viewed
from Montmartre's Sacre Coeur Basilica. Have dinner in one of the area's
bistros, such as Le Moulin à Vins, a charming wine bar/restaurant with a
dining-room straight out of 1930s Paris. After dinner, take in a show at the
nearby Folies Bergères or the Moulin Rouge cabaret—once the haunt
of eminent French songstress Edith Piaf—where old-fashioned French cancan
girls whoop it up. Or, if your taste runs more to rock, the nearby Élysée
Montmartre offers some of the best live concerts in Paris.
Day 6
— Paris
For a final "taste"
of Paris, enjoy a morning of gastronomy and shopping in the Opéra
district. A sidewalk table at the famous Café de la Paix nets you a
great view of the Belle Époque building of the Opéra Garnier.
Then, it's time to shop at the nearby grands magasins (department
stores) of Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps,
both of which offer services in English. Take a gourmet lunch break at the Ladurée
tearoom, famous for its macaroons. Shop for gastronomic treats to
take home at Fauchon or Hédiard, and marvel at the fashion mecca
that is the rue du Faubourg-St.Honoré. For a change of pace, take the
subway to Beaubourg, site of the city's Museum of Modern Art,
located in the controversial 1970s era Centre Pompidou. Enjoy stylish
minimalist décor and a spectacular view of Paris in the Costes' brothers
just-opened restaurant, Georges, located at the top of the Centre
Pompidou. If you're in the mood for jazz tonight, try Le New Morning, Le
Duc des Lombards, or La Villa. These are the city's premier jazz
clubs, headlined by big names.
Bordeaux
(if we decide to go)
Day 1 — Haut-Médoc Vineyards
The Haut-Médoc
region produces about 4,000 named wines, and possesses the lion's share
of the world's finest vintages. Covering an area west of the Gironde
River, between Bordeaux and St. Estèphe, it is the home of some of the
world's most famous vineyards, such as Château Margaux, Château Mouton,
Château Lafite, and Château Latour. Each Château possesses a rich and
interesting history. For instance, Château Siran once belonged to the Toulouse-Lautrec
family. Château Margaux has been an active winery since the 16th
century. Also visit Château Maucaillou, where you can visit the Museum
of Vines and Wines and enjoy a wine tasting session. Further on are Château
Beychevelle, a manor rebuilt in the 18th century, and the vineyards of St.
Julien-Beychevelle, one of the better-known names in Médoc. The
Haut-Médoc is a breezy, fertile, and pleasant coastal plain. Find a private
hideaway, and enjoy a picnic! Pauillac is a riverside town and a
major center of the wine trade. You will see products of all the famous
vineyards, such as Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, and
Château Mouton-Rothschild. The Château Mouton-Rothschild wine store and
the museum are open to the public. Château Cos d'Estournel, on
the way to St. Estèphe, is the northernmost community of Haut-Médoc, a picturesque
little town clustered around its church.
Day 2
— Dordogne Vineyards
St. Émilion is known for its wines and for
its pretty setting. This little town built on the slopes of a plateau
overlooking the Dordogne River is just a short distance east of
Bordeaux. As you reach St. Émilion you'll notice a tall belfry between two
hills. Below are a church and the main square. Atop one of St. Émilion's two
hills was the royal castle, and on the other was the Deanery, the
home of the clerics. A hermit named Émilion, who once lived in a nearby grotto
in the 8th century, founded the town. His grotto still exists today,
under the Holy Trinity Chapel, a church built between the 8th and 12th
centuries by Benedictine monks. It is the largest monolithic sanctuary
in France, having been carved from one solid block of rock by enlarging the
surrounding natural caves and grottos. St. Émilion's main draw today is wine
tasting; several wine merchants in town provide such a treat. Also
nearby is author/humanist/statesmen Michel de Montaigne's castle. You
can explore the building and see his personal library, where he wrote his
famous essays. A short distance east is Bergerac, with its
Wine Museum and Château Monbazillac, which produces a very popular
sweet white wine. In Bordeaux, cap your day with a fine meal and the
perfect wine as an accompaniment. There are many regional specialties you can
try. Le Vieux Bordeaux features roast bass with star anise. Le Chapon
Fin serves delicious duckling aiguillettes with liver pâté and
grapes. Restaurant Jean Ramet offers a tasty liver fried with lentils. Bon
apetit!
