day trip via rental car from Paris

My husband and I will be in Paris for 6 days in August and he would love to rent a car and take a drive through the countryside. He is a big fan of the tour de france and would like to see that type of scenery.

Any suggestions??

Please help

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What exatly do you want to know?

My curt answer would be %26#39;Buy a map and hire a car%26#39; :-)

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Depens what part of the %26quot;tour%26quot; scenery he wants to see, really. Use the net to sort through the area around Paris, (try something like paris countryside in google images to see what floats your boat) and the see what the central town in the region is.

I would suggest taking a train to that centre than hiring a car.

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If you get onto the Tour de France web-site www.letour.fr you can see exactly the roads that it is taking this year. It is usually the smaller D type roads and you could drive out to either where it starts on the final run into Paris this year and follow the route in. Alterantively I think it is starting in Beauvais one day this year you could drive there and then follow the route as far as Les Andelys at which point you could follow the D313 along the Seine back towards Paris and visit Monet%26#39;s garden in Giverny. Needless to say you will need a map that shows all the little roads. Just a couple of ideas to get you going.

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Thanks!

Where are all of those beautiful lavender fields that I always see photos of?

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The Lavender is down in the south in Provence. Another trip I%26#39;m afraid.

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Thanks for the lavender info, next trip.

We%26#39;re thinking of going on the fat tire tour to the Monet gardens and then renting a car for another day trip. We%26#39;re hoping for a two-three hour drive with beautiful scenery where we can make stops and have a picnic. Do you know of a route that is a must see?

Do you think that it is a better idea to drive to the Monet gardens via a scenic route rather than rent a car on another day? How long of a drive is this?

You have been very helpful!

Thanks.

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Driving through Normandie is really beautiful. I would recommend doing that and going to the DDay beaches, Mt. St. Michel, etc.

Les

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Sorry my last post got lost but I think the bike tour sounds really good and I would stick with that and go out somewhere else for your day out. I%26#39;m still having a think about it but first thoughts were the Forest of Fontainebleu stopping in Barbizon on the way. Have a look at this link for an idea http://www.aaa.com/eurotourbook/Parieaw2.html

In that area the village of Moret-sur-Loing is on the banks of the river. Provins is a fortified town, the park at Sceaux laid out by Le Notre and my favourite chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. Try googling some of those to get a feel for the places.

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why stay in Paris?

it sounds like you want to tour the countryside...

Like JBart%26#39;s suggestions..

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Thanks JBart, I think that we will take the fat tire tour and then one day out in a different direciton with a rental car. That will leave us 4 full days in Paris. I%26#39;ll look up your suggestions.