Northern France 2015 Itinerary
- Brooke
- Jan 12, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 2, 2024
Northern France is a charming place, full of good food, good wine, and good fun (and great people!). While there may be more dramatic scenery across other parts of Europe, I find the gentle rolling hills of Champagne, the long sandy stretches of beaches along the coasts of Normandy or Brittany, and the intricately designed châteaux of the Loire Valley to be absolutely stunning in their own unique ways. My biggest takeaway from this itinerary below is that we need to spend more time in each location sometime in the future, and we can't wait to return someday soon.
*This post is an itinerary post. Blog postings about individual locations that go into more detail are linked to throughout and noted as a "Blog Post." Other links are for more information about each item. See the Trips page for more information.
November 27, 2015
Depart the US for France
Depart from JFK on a red eye for CDG via Air France
November 28, 2015
Bonjour, Paris (et France)!
Arrive Paris early the next morning
Car rental for the duration of our trip via Budget
Stay: Le Méridien Etoile
Attempt to visit the Catacombs of Paris, but line was too long.
Lunch at Café du Rendez-vous
Stroll down Rue Daguerre
Visit: Eiffel Tower
Dinner: Le Grand Bistro Maillot-St. Ferdinand (permanently closed)
November 29, 2015
Champagne Region
Depart Paris and arrive in Reims
Stumble upon our first ever Christmas market in Reims city center
Lunch at Cru Chanzy (permanently closed)
Cellar tour and tasting at Vranken Pommery Monopole
Stay: Château d'Etoges
Dinner: L'orangerie at Chateau d'Etoges (one of our best and most memorable of the trip!)
November 30, 2015
Épernay and environs
Visit: Cellar tour of Moët & Chandon cellars
Visit: Tasting at Champagne Paul-Etienne Saint Germain
Lunch: Café le Progrès in Épernay
Venture up the hill from Épernay to Hautvillers
Blog Post: Around Hautvillers
Tasting at Champagne G. Tribaut
Tasting at Champagne Janisson Baradon et fils (translation: and son)
Dinner: Brasserie de la Banque
December 1, 2015
Au Revoir Champagne, Bonjour Normandy
Depart Château d'Etoges and drive to Reims
Visit: Champagne Taittinger (Reims)
Blog Post: Visit the Taittinger Wine Cellars
Depart for Honfleur with a stop in Amiens along the way
Visit: Amiens Cathedral
Lunch: Pizzaria Chez Rosa
Continue the drive from Amiens to Honfleur
Stroll Honfleur Waterfront
Dinner: Le Petit Bistrot Chez Emilie (Permanently Closed)
December 2, 2015
Remembering D-Day
Visit: Mémorial de Caen
D-Day Tour via the Mémorial de Caen museum
Dinner: Il Parasole Pizzaria Ristorante
December 3, 2015
Explore Honfleur before departing for Mont St. Michel and St.-Malo
Explore Honfleur
Sample and purchase calvados and other culinary treats
Depart for Mont Saint-Michel
Visit Island and Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel
Continue on to Saint-Malo
Dinner: La Pataterie Saint-Malo (this location is permanently closed)
Stay: Hôtel Le Nouveau Monde
December 4, 2015
Early morning exploration of Saint-Malo before heading off to the Loire Valley
Breakfast: Le Café de Saint-Malo
Blog Posting: Exploration of Saint-Malo
Depart Saint-Malo for Loire Valley
First stop: Brief glimpse of Château d'Ussé
Second stop: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau to Amboise
Amboise to Tours (for dinner)
Visit: Place Plumareau
Dinner: L'Embellie
December 5, 2015
Explore Amboise and Loire Valley
Wander Around Amboise
Visit: Château de Chenonceau
Shop: Cellier du Beaujardin
Blog Entry: Tasting Christmas Tea for the first time at Maison Bigot
Dinner: La Scaleta
December 6, 2015
Leaving the Loire Valley for Paris
Morning at Amboise Market
Visit: Château Royal d'Amboise, the burial site of Leonardo di Vinci
Visit: Château de Chambord, perhaps the most extravagant château in the land of extravagant châteaux
Leave Chambord for Paris
Paris Marché de Noël (Christmas Market)
Stay: Le Méridien Etoile
December 7, 2015
Last Day in Paris / Return to US
Visit: Marché Vernaison
Fly from CDG to JFK Air France Flight 0008
Depart: 7:25pm (Paris time)
Arrive: 9:30pm (New York time)
Fin!
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