Grand Tour de France with a bit of Morocco and Monaco

Highlight Photos

Highlights Map

This is not our first trip to France but most of the previous forays in the area were limited to the north and Paris area. This time our decision is to focus on the south with a short side trip to Marrakesh. Starting our research we are pleasantly surprised at the range of things to do and the must do list threatens to spiral out of control. Finally everything is booked, the plan is written and the only thing left is to start the adventure.

The trip is quite hectic but overall we really enjoy it. The sights are quite varied and the points of interest along the way beautiful. Driving is mostly uneventful and parking is available at almost all locations. The food is special as you would expect both in France and Morocco and plentiful even though not always cheap.

Click on the Links below or Markers on the map above to go directly to a specific part of our trip and follow our two week trip through Europe and Africa.

• 
  Half day in Paris to start our tripOctober 2, 2011
  Half day in Paris exploring the area near Ile de France before starting on our tour
• 
  Chartres Cathedral, an imposing buildingOctober 3, 2011
  We start our first day outside of Paris with a vist to Chartres Cathedral, an Unesco WHS
• 
  Chambord Castle, a dreamy “hunting lodge”October 3, 2011
  Chambord Castle is the largest and probably the most recognizable in the Loire Valley and is the first we stop at during our trip
• 
  Blois, a short stop in the evening to see the castleOctober 3, 2011
  In the evening we make a short stop in Blois to see the castle and also buy some provisions for the next day
• 
  Amboise, home of Clos Luce CastleOctober 4, 2011
  Amboise is home to both the Amboise Castle and Clos Luce a castle that hosted Da Vinci until his death
• 
  Chenonceau Castle, the water castleOctober 4, 2011
  Last of the Loire castles we visit is Chenonceau castle a beautiful castle built to span over the Le Cher river
• 
  Font de Gaume cave after a night at Domaine de la RhonieOctober 5, 2011
  Leaving picturesque Domaine de la Rhonie we are almost the first in line at Font de Gaume snatching some highly coveted tickets to visit the prehistoric cave
• 
  Grotte du Grand Roc and other closed cavesOctober 5, 2011
  We explore the cave region of Dordogne for a few more hours but with everything closed we decide to move on
• 
  Beautiful Saint Cirq LapopieOctober 5, 2011
  Last stop of the day is Saint Cirq Lapopie a famous village considered to be the most beautiful in France
• 
  The dead waters of Aigues MortesOctober 6, 2011
  We start our day with Aigues Mortes the previously important city that history seemingly forgot
• 
  In Camargue looking for flamingoes and horsesOctober 6, 2011
  Next we explore the Camargue and extensive protected area looking for flamingoes and the famous Camargue horses
• 
  Arles, the former major Roman townOctober 6, 2011
  Out of the Camargue we stop in Arles a Unesco WHS given its extensive Roman ruins and importance
• 
  Pont du Gard, a magnificent aqueductOctober 6, 2011
  Last stop for today is at Pont du Gard the tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and one of the best preserved
• 
  Historic CabriesOctober 7, 2011
  We start the day with an exploration of Cabries a small historic village near our accomodation
• 
  Roquefavour aqueduct, are we seeing double?October 7, 2011
  Last stop in France is at Roquefavour aqueduct inspired by the ancient Pont du Gard that we have seen the previous day
• 
  Arriving in MarrakeshOctober 7, 2011
  In the evening we arrive in Marrakesh and spend a couple hours just getting used to the atmosphere especially sounds and smells
• 
  Marrakesh Museum and Almoravid Koubba, our first forays into the medinaOctober 8, 2011
  Our first forays into the old town lead us to the beautiful Marrakesh Museum and the ancient Almoravid Koubba two special sights in Marrakesh
• 
  Ben Youssef Madrasa, one of the oldest universities in the worldOctober 8, 2011
  While in the area we have to explore one of the oldest universities in the world Ben Youssef Madrasa, now a museum
• 
  Exploring the medina and outside the old cityOctober 8, 2011
  We spend the rest of the day exploring the medina and the area outside the city before finding a place for dinner
• 
  Bahia Palace, an impressive palaceOctober 9, 2011
  The magnificent Bahia Palace is is a mid to late 19th-century palace built by the grand vizier and expanded by his children
• 
  Badi Palace, the ruined stork palaceOctober 9, 2011
  While ruined, Badi Palace is one of the oldest palaces in Marrakesh and is interesting to explore as well as full of storks
• 
  Saadian Tombs and last dinner in MarrakeshOctober 9, 2011
  The Saadian Tombs are a once hidden mausoleum surrounded by gardens and decorated with colorful tiles, marble & stucco
• 
  Last morning in Jemaa el-Fnaa and MarrakeshOctober 10, 2011
  On the last day in Marrakesh we explore the downtown area one last time and buy lots of souvenirs before returning to Marseilles
• 
  Hiking and sightseeing the Verdon GorgeOctober 11, 2011
  Today it is time to turn east passing through the beautiful Verdon Gorge where we hike and sightsee on the way to Monaco
• 
  The Enchanting Village of EzeOctober 11, 2011
  We arrive late in Eze and have less than one hour to explore the enchanting village and wander around the beautiful alleys
• 
  Dinner and a drive through MonacoOctober 11, 2011
  Today we add one more country to our list, Monaco, but it is a very cursory visit before we turn north towards the Alps
• 
  In the mountains around Saint-Martin-VésubieOctober 12, 2011
  In the morning we hike and explore the area around Saint-Martin-Vésubie part of the Mercantour National Park
• 
  On the highest through road in Europe over Col de la BonetteOctober 12, 2011
  We spend the afternoon in the high alpine Alps passing through Col de la Bonette on the highest through road in Europe
• 
  Briançon, the Vauban fortified cityOctober 13, 2011
  We spend the morning exploring Briançon the highest city in France and an area fortified by Vauban against Austrian attack
• 
  Through the Alps towards ChamberyOctober 13, 2011
  From Briancon it is a long and windy drive through the Alps to Chambery passing through mountain passes and tunnels along the way
• 
  Chambery, the historical capital of SavoyOctober 13, 2011
  We end our day in Chambery the historical capital of Savoy where we spend an hour exploring before making our way to Beaune for the night
• 
  Beaune, a historical townOctober 14, 2011
  We spend the morning visiting the major attraction in Beaune the Hospices de Beaune a beautiful hospital founded in 1443
• 
  The famous Fontenay AbbeyOctober 14, 2011
  The second stop of the day is at famous Fontenay Abbey an Unesco WHS and the oldest preserved Cistercian Abbey in the world
• 
  Medieval Avallon, last stop outside ParisOctober 14, 2011
  Last stop for the day is Avallon a small historic town with some interesting sights
• 
  Arc de Triomphe to Eiffel TowerOctober 15, 2011
  In the morning we start with a walk from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tour on Champs Elysees sightseeing along the way
• 
  The unsettling and worthwhile Catacombs of ParisOctober 15, 2011
  The major stop for the day for us is the Catacombs of Paris a really worthwhile stop even though difficult to get into
• 
  Last evening in France and ParisOctober 15, 2011
  In the afternoon we walk from the Catacombs area towards the Seine passing imposing buildings and green gardens like Luxembourg Garden