Thought I would post up Ian's resume of our recent French trip with a few images thrown in.
Region 13's 'Petit Gout de France' road trip
Well, as with any great journey, this one started with a simple step. Our RO ( Steve Cutler ) confided he wanted to visit a champagne producer,Rheims and a village in France called Oradour sur Glane (more on that later). I reminded him my wife and I had a holiday home in France to which he responded "Is there a trip in it?". A flurry of calculations on distances, times and costs later there was an outline of a trip to tempt members. Six were definitely interested, which was a comfortable number to excite interest in the hotels necessary and yet not so many as to present problems on the roads. Hotels were booked, as a compromise between comfort, interest and cost, and more detailed routes made up.
Five cars eventually made the trip to the meeting point, a hotel just outside Calais, allowing members to travel by ferry or Eurotunnel according to preference. With a 991 Carrera 4S, a 996 GT3, a 996 3.6 Cabriolet 2, a 996 3.4 Coupe and a 993 Targa parked in the car park, it was an impressive sight. An evening meal with a glass of wine gave the affair a French prospective and a comfortable night's sleep made everyone ready for the second day's drive, about 2 hours down the A26 autoroute then a turn south to follow easy roads to our next stop in old Troyes.
A lunch stop at one of the old walled towns France preserves so well - Coucey Le Chateau- proved a good choice when the biggest croque messieurs known to man were produced.
Duly satisfied, we drove on to our hotel in Troyes, taking a diversion to the old Rheims motor racing circuit for pictures.
Our hotel, the Comtes de Champagne, was a little care worn in places, but well located in the centre of old Troyes with secure parking - secure enough for the proprietor's obviously prized Jaguar XJ coupe, which was parked and covered in a corner. A stroll produced an opportunity to sit in the sun enjoying beers and cokes and then a comfortable restaurant with a wide variety on the menu, certainly wide enough to satisfy us all.
The next day involved only a short trip to a lovely chateau on the river near Bar sur Seine, where several generations of the Devaux family produced their champagne. Although still officially in the champagne region, this area is less well know than the Epernay region,
Running Repairs
Cherry Stop
but that brought the hope that the champagnes, even if slightly less exotic, would be less expensive. Tasting proved the champagnes lost little if anything to their neighbours and, stocks acquired, we moved on to a favourite boulongerie in Bar sur Seine to consume their quiches and filled paninis. Then back to Troyes to explore at leisure and find another evening meal.
The next day was a longer day's travel to Limoges, following the N77 to Auxerre then the N151 to Clamecy and Bourges, good roads lightly trafficked resulting in easy driving. A couple of stops for drinks and snacks allowed us to travel on to the Novotel in Limoges, conveniently located above a park with a lake that encouraged a brisk walk round to stretch our legs. Novotel have improved their menus beyond a range of grills and our evening meal was again enjoyed.
Good Company
Day five was another short drive to Oradour sur Glane, a village where 642 French were massacred by the Waffen SS on 10th June 1944 in reprisal for the kidnapping of a German General and the town destroyed. It is now a national memorial, and a stark reminder of the atrocities of war.
On return to the hotel, we inspected another restaurant, in a converted barn, which proved a good choice as it gave untypically substantial quantities of vegetables with the food. Fortune was obviously with us, as the only rain experienced the whole trip occurred while in the restaurant. We never got wet once!
Day six was another driving day, heading along the D840 to Figeac and Rodez, a lovely road with great scenery and curves designed for Porsches and worthy of a top model (Claudia Schiffer comes to mind). Our route to Millau, to view the bridge, was thoroughly enjoyed, spoilt only by a section being 'repaired' with patch spraying and spread gravel which resulted in driving several kilometres along a river of loose gravel more dangerous then a worn road surface! We gathered at the viewing area for the Millau viaduct which provided lots of opportunities for pictures with a clear blue evening sky.
Overnight was in Millau, at the Domaine Saint Esteve, a collection of cabins around a central reception, restaurant and pool - one sufficiently inviting that three members took the plunge before dinner, which was enjoyed sat outside with a lovely view of the bridge.
Day seven was another long drive, by autoroute (free) to Clemont Ferrand then N roads to Beaune. Although not intended, everyone's sat-nav then directed us onto the N79, a busy road heavily used by lorries with a solid white line everywhere except at designated three-lane sections allowed passing in alternative directions, resulting in fast then slow travel. A pre-booked restaurant in Beaune in recognition of a wedding anniversary proved a good choice, with the record of each evening meal proving better than the last being upheld.
Beaune was duly explored on the Saturday morning - market day - before inspecting some of the five kilometres of cellars under Beaune stocked with up to 3 million bottles of Patriache Burgundy wine. We were careful to spit out the wine tasted, conscious of the need to drive later.
A relaxing afternoon was decided best, with a light lunch before moving on to a neighbouring vintner to try the more reasonably priced wines on offer. Several bottles were purchased, despite the limitations of a Porsche's carrying capacity, to be enjoyed later at home in England.
Wine Tasting, 2nd of the day
The trip was rounded off with a delicious meal (again the best yet!) at a restaurant in the nearby village of Santenay, with a pleasant evening providing the opportunity to sit outside again and listen to an (English) orchestra playing swing music, it being the longest day and all France celebrating with music festivals.
Next day we spilt up, to return by autoroute, N roads or to stay on, having enjoyed a good measure of largely traffic free French roads, some tasty food and excellent wines, for a true 'taste of France' experience.
Ian Crosskell
Region 13, Porsche Club GB.
Photo's
Steve Cutler
Region 13 RO
Region 13's 'Petit Gout de France' road trip
Well, as with any great journey, this one started with a simple step. Our RO ( Steve Cutler ) confided he wanted to visit a champagne producer,Rheims and a village in France called Oradour sur Glane (more on that later). I reminded him my wife and I had a holiday home in France to which he responded "Is there a trip in it?". A flurry of calculations on distances, times and costs later there was an outline of a trip to tempt members. Six were definitely interested, which was a comfortable number to excite interest in the hotels necessary and yet not so many as to present problems on the roads. Hotels were booked, as a compromise between comfort, interest and cost, and more detailed routes made up.
Five cars eventually made the trip to the meeting point, a hotel just outside Calais, allowing members to travel by ferry or Eurotunnel according to preference. With a 991 Carrera 4S, a 996 GT3, a 996 3.6 Cabriolet 2, a 996 3.4 Coupe and a 993 Targa parked in the car park, it was an impressive sight. An evening meal with a glass of wine gave the affair a French prospective and a comfortable night's sleep made everyone ready for the second day's drive, about 2 hours down the A26 autoroute then a turn south to follow easy roads to our next stop in old Troyes.
A lunch stop at one of the old walled towns France preserves so well - Coucey Le Chateau- proved a good choice when the biggest croque messieurs known to man were produced.
Duly satisfied, we drove on to our hotel in Troyes, taking a diversion to the old Rheims motor racing circuit for pictures.
Our hotel, the Comtes de Champagne, was a little care worn in places, but well located in the centre of old Troyes with secure parking - secure enough for the proprietor's obviously prized Jaguar XJ coupe, which was parked and covered in a corner. A stroll produced an opportunity to sit in the sun enjoying beers and cokes and then a comfortable restaurant with a wide variety on the menu, certainly wide enough to satisfy us all.
The next day involved only a short trip to a lovely chateau on the river near Bar sur Seine, where several generations of the Devaux family produced their champagne. Although still officially in the champagne region, this area is less well know than the Epernay region,
Running Repairs
Cherry Stop
but that brought the hope that the champagnes, even if slightly less exotic, would be less expensive. Tasting proved the champagnes lost little if anything to their neighbours and, stocks acquired, we moved on to a favourite boulongerie in Bar sur Seine to consume their quiches and filled paninis. Then back to Troyes to explore at leisure and find another evening meal.
The next day was a longer day's travel to Limoges, following the N77 to Auxerre then the N151 to Clamecy and Bourges, good roads lightly trafficked resulting in easy driving. A couple of stops for drinks and snacks allowed us to travel on to the Novotel in Limoges, conveniently located above a park with a lake that encouraged a brisk walk round to stretch our legs. Novotel have improved their menus beyond a range of grills and our evening meal was again enjoyed.
Good Company
Day five was another short drive to Oradour sur Glane, a village where 642 French were massacred by the Waffen SS on 10th June 1944 in reprisal for the kidnapping of a German General and the town destroyed. It is now a national memorial, and a stark reminder of the atrocities of war.
On return to the hotel, we inspected another restaurant, in a converted barn, which proved a good choice as it gave untypically substantial quantities of vegetables with the food. Fortune was obviously with us, as the only rain experienced the whole trip occurred while in the restaurant. We never got wet once!
Day six was another driving day, heading along the D840 to Figeac and Rodez, a lovely road with great scenery and curves designed for Porsches and worthy of a top model (Claudia Schiffer comes to mind). Our route to Millau, to view the bridge, was thoroughly enjoyed, spoilt only by a section being 'repaired' with patch spraying and spread gravel which resulted in driving several kilometres along a river of loose gravel more dangerous then a worn road surface! We gathered at the viewing area for the Millau viaduct which provided lots of opportunities for pictures with a clear blue evening sky.
Overnight was in Millau, at the Domaine Saint Esteve, a collection of cabins around a central reception, restaurant and pool - one sufficiently inviting that three members took the plunge before dinner, which was enjoyed sat outside with a lovely view of the bridge.
Day seven was another long drive, by autoroute (free) to Clemont Ferrand then N roads to Beaune. Although not intended, everyone's sat-nav then directed us onto the N79, a busy road heavily used by lorries with a solid white line everywhere except at designated three-lane sections allowed passing in alternative directions, resulting in fast then slow travel. A pre-booked restaurant in Beaune in recognition of a wedding anniversary proved a good choice, with the record of each evening meal proving better than the last being upheld.
Beaune was duly explored on the Saturday morning - market day - before inspecting some of the five kilometres of cellars under Beaune stocked with up to 3 million bottles of Patriache Burgundy wine. We were careful to spit out the wine tasted, conscious of the need to drive later.
A relaxing afternoon was decided best, with a light lunch before moving on to a neighbouring vintner to try the more reasonably priced wines on offer. Several bottles were purchased, despite the limitations of a Porsche's carrying capacity, to be enjoyed later at home in England.
Wine Tasting, 2nd of the day
The trip was rounded off with a delicious meal (again the best yet!) at a restaurant in the nearby village of Santenay, with a pleasant evening providing the opportunity to sit outside again and listen to an (English) orchestra playing swing music, it being the longest day and all France celebrating with music festivals.
Next day we spilt up, to return by autoroute, N roads or to stay on, having enjoyed a good measure of largely traffic free French roads, some tasty food and excellent wines, for a true 'taste of France' experience.
Ian Crosskell
Region 13, Porsche Club GB.
Photo's
Steve Cutler
Region 13 RO
