Tours, Nantes,Rennes or Rouen?

Or somewhere else in that approximate bit of France.

Merci.

Obliged to go? Anywhere with good food wine and calvados

Sometimes city breaks are what you make of them

Only one I’ve been to is Rouen, but it was nice enough for a day or two. few good restaurants, see the place when Joan of Arc was tried and burnt, Rouen cathedral, nice walks outside the city if you want to get away for a bit.

http://www.rouentourisme.com/?tabid=2508&language=en-US

It’s a stop-off on the drive from Bilbao to Consett.

Last Year it was Le Mans, which I liked.

Drive a bit further and go to Bayeux?

Tour is nice but small & Nantes I found a bit ‘meh’

I would highly recommend Bordeaux though, possibly my favourite French city.

I like Bordeaux too, been a few times, bit close to Bilbao for the trip.

The submarine pens near Nantes (St Lazaire) are quite interesting if that’s your sort of thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Nazaire_submarine_base
I don’t remember the city itself being very nice – quite industrial. Rennes is small but a bit more touristy.

Only thing I know about Nantes is that you can go for a ride on this:

http://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/en/

Agree re: Bordeaux, Alain Juppe is doing an excellent job…beautiful City

I’ve been to Rouen, Rennes and Nantes. Of those I’d discount Nantes, the other two would work.

If you don’t mind being outside a city I would find a nice place (B&B / Chambre d’Hote) on this website and stay somewhere near the Loire castles which is on your general route. Alasdair Sawdays

For example Chateau de Cop Choux

EDIT (too slow) Looking at the map Tours is very well placed for the Loire castles, could be the winner if you want to be in a city