Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paris to Avignon
Unesco Treasures
This trip takes in France's biggest, finest, oldest and loveliest; every stop
is a Unesco World Heritage Site, making the trip a must for culture vul-
tures and history buffs. From otherworldly abbeys to iconic cathedrals
and Roman ruins, this adventure has it all.
Mont St-Michel (
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)
Start the trip with a visit to France's iconic island abbey, the Mont St-Michel. It's best
seen at dawn and dusk, or after dark when it's lit up like a Roman candle. If you
have time, it's worth taking a guided walk across the sands to see the abbey from
an entirely new perspective.
PARIS MONT ST-MICHEL
Three hours
Along the N13 and A84.
3½ hours
TGV from Paris to Rennes, then a re-
gional train to Pontorson and Bus 6 to Mont St-Michel.
Chartres (
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)
Gothic monuments don't get much grander than
Chartres Cathedral
. The church's
stained glass is famous for its intense blue tones - visit on a sunny day, when the
light really has to be seen to be believed. Spend a couple of days exploring the
châteaux of
Versailles
and
Fontainebleu
, which are both within easy reach of
Chartres.
MONT ST-MICHEL CHARTRES
Three hours
Along the A81 and A11 motorways.
Three hours
From Pontorson, with
changes at Rennes and Le Mans.
Vézelay (
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)
Burgundy has two wonderful World Heritage Sites. First up is the fabulous hilltop
basilica of Vézelay, rescued from near-collapse by the great 19th-century French
architect Viollet-le-Duc. Just a short drive away is the Cistercian abbey of
Fontenay
. Though the monks are long gone, the abbey still makes a delightful place for quiet
contemplation. Both sites are around an hour's drive from
Dijon
.
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