05-09-2005 00:39									#1
	Help me plan a trip through southern France Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Roughly spoken,
my family and I will enter France with a mobile home from Andorra around 6th or 7th October and we'll leave France at the border of Monton around 11th October.
The only definite halt is Carcassonne yet and we'll probably drive along the coast from Toulon eastwards.

Please, recommend me sites to visit - but keep in mind that we drive with a mobile home and we have our little son with us, so metropolitan Marseille isn't exactly what I'm thinking of.

	05-09-2005 01:35									#2
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Traitor! Why aren't you staying in the good old empire and going to Croatia instead?

	05-09-2005 01:37									#3
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Not much you can do wrong to be honest. It's all good down there.

	05-09-2005 01:41									#4
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what's to see in andorra?

can't help you much though, never been to france

	05-09-2005 01:46									#5
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quote: Originally posted by VetLegion Traitor! Why aren't you staying in the good old empire and going to Croatia instead?

Because I'm currently in Sevilla for my thesis, es decir, in Habsburg land. On the way back, I'll just make sure to conquer France.

	05-09-2005 01:48									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Gangerolf what's to see in andorra? can't help you much though, never been to france

Well, one of the major Pyrenee passes runs close to Andorra, so why not check another country I can tell I've visited. And following that way, I can get to Carcassonne conveniently.

	05-09-2005 01:55									#7
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What are your interests? History, scenery, nature, beaches, food, wine?

	05-09-2005 02:01									#8
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Be sure to bring your own soap.

	05-09-2005 02:07									#9
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Pretend you're American to get better service.

	05-09-2005 05:27									#10
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Grasse is my favorite town in Provence, but with a mobile home and a kid, it may prove to be difficult. The Gorge du Verdon is fantastic as well, but a little off the beaten path.

	05-09-2005 06:10									#11
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Carcassone is a must, and it should be better at that time of the year (fewer tourists, better service). There are several cultural cities in the area that are pretty nice (Narbonne, Béziers, Montpellier and Nîmes), which aren't nearly as big as Marseilles. AFAIK, these cities are not overwhelming, but they can be a nice short halt during the travel.

The area is also famous for its many wines. Might be worth it to go to a wine-dealer in one of these cities.

Most of southern France is hilly once you stray far from the coast. It can make for nice walks, if the weather allows it.

	05-09-2005 06:23									#12
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Aix-en-Provence!


Driving through motorways surrounded by flower fields.. ahh

	05-09-2005 07:50									#13
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Don't know the whole region, but I spent a week in Arles a couple years back and it was amazing. Roman ruins (aqueduct, castle, Les Alychamps burial grounds), incredible food, close the the Camargue (coastal wetlands preserve with unique indigenous horses & bulls, great tours by jeep with local cowboys).

Arles is the location where Van Gogh spent 2 years near the end of his life. There he painted several of his most famed works (Starry Night, Cafe at Night, LOTS of his landscapes and garden views -- over 200 canvases).

While there are no Van Gogh originals in Arles, they do have about a dozen spots around town that have little monolith columns about 3 feet high, with a reproduction of the painting he did while his easel was set up there. See the picture, see what Van Gogh actually saw. Very cool for a little photo essay! Some, the view is different (100+ years having passed), others it's like looking at the canvas.

The Cafe, by the way, is still there and in operation. The only place in town with bad food. We stayed across the Place du Forum courtyard from it. This was the center of town back when it was an important Roman outpost about 1000 years back. (Thus the Roman coliseum in town.)

Arles is very French, with little English spoken. It's a vacation spot for the French, but no one else seems to know about it. For history and food buffs, a must-see. Take at least two days. Oh, and prices are very reasonable there.

Ditto the drive-through per Datajack. Lavender, sunflowers, distant mountains... beautiful area.

	05-09-2005 07:59									#14
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Psst. Marseille is dangerous. Stay away from there

	05-09-2005 15:29									#15
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Jrabbit

Arles is a very cultural spot, and it should be very pleasant at that time of the year