Road Trip France – a country with many facets
Paris – one of the most beautiful cities in the world
Start your trip in Paris. The capital of France is still one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Perhaps start your day in Paris with a visit to a museum. The Louvre impresses with a gigantic art collection. The highlight of the exhibition is the Mona Lisa, whose smile captivates visitors year after year. Afterwards you can stroll a little along the Seine. Countless street vendors offer their wares on the banks of the river.
Now it’s time for lunch. It’s no problem to find a good bistro in Paris, but in the tourist centre it comes at a price. Maybe treat yourself to something special and head for the Eiffel Tower. Go to the south pillar. There are no tourist queues here, as the elevator only goes to the Jules Verne restaurant. And this visit is worth it. At a height of 125 meters, you will enjoy excellent cuisine paired with a fantastic view. The menu costs 350 euros for 2 people including drinks. For the evening menu you have to pay 750 euros. This is Paris.
After an excellent meal, you should conquer the city. Let yourself drift. Paris offers endless possibilities. Visit one of the countless museums. Stroll the Champs-Élysées and marvel at the adventurous prices in the boutiques. In the afternoon, grab a coffee at Train Bleu in the Gare de l’Est building. Here you’ll sit in the most magnificent train station restaurant in the world. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to attend a revue. The most famous place for this is probably the “Moulin Rouge”.
Orléans – impressive cathedral and picturesque city centre
The next day we head south. Orléans is the destination. This university town of over 100,000 people beckons with a charming downtown. Many of the town houses you will see here date back to the Renaissance period. However, the city’s greatest attraction is the Sainte-Croix d’Orléans Cathedral, which dates back to 1278. Since then, the church was often destroyed but always rebuilt. The foundation stone for the current building was laid in 1601. But the inauguration did not take place until the year 1829. Until today, especially the magnificent facade and the imposing nave inspire visitors from all over the world. Since 1429, the Jeanne d’Arc Festival has taken place almost every year in the first week of May. The six-hundredth birthday was celebrated in a particularly splendid way in 2012.
Montélimar – sweet interruption
Passing Lyon and heading further south, you come to Montélimar. For foodies, stopping is a must. White “Nougat de Montélimar”, a kind of Turkish honey, is the local speciality.
In small manufactories you can watch the preparation and supply yourself with sweet provisions for the onward journey.
Côte d’Azur – Home of Glamour
Now it’s time to conquer the coast. To this day, the beautiful and the powerful meet on the Côte d’Azur – and Saint-Tropez is the centre of illustrious activity. The small fishing village became famous through the actress Brigit Bardot. She seduced the men here in the film “Und immer lockt das Weib”. But Louis de Funès also made the town famous as the gendarme of Saint-Tropez.
Today, a motley mix of curious day-trippers, aging playboys and ultra-rich yacht owners congregate here. None of this has harmed the beauty of Saint-Tropez. There are no ugly new buildings. You can still stroll leisurely through the alleys here. Enjoy the Mediterranean cheerfulness that the place radiates and do not miss to sit down in one of the cafés at the harbour. The drinks may be sinfully expensive, but the show put on by the many strollers is priceless. Plus, you can leisurely plan the next stops on your road trip here.