I'm heading down to near Dijon soon with the wife and a 3 month old (!). We're getting the tunnel at about 4am (!) so are planning a leisurely journey down there so that mini-Djambo isn't couped up in the car for multiple hours in a row.
Has anyone got any recommendations of nice places along the way to stretch the legs, have a wander and get some food (wife is a veggie which is always a challenge in france!)?
Reims is a nice city, and on the way if you're taking the autoroute. Have a wander and see the cathedral. Have some breakfast there, and pick up baguettes, cheese, etc to stop at one of the aires later.
We just did a similar trip with our 6 month old and stayed here http://www.lesbarbotines.com/ in a town called Bouzy in the champagne regions - highly recommended and about €100 for the night.
Good rooms, they supply a cot and there is a garden courtyard. The champagne is cheap!
The thing about France is that there are so many beautiful, unspoilt towns that you are very rarely disappointed when you stop.
My boys are 24 and 22 now so Dijon is usually our first stop rather than our destination but there's always something to look at assuming you like castles, old buildings and architecture. If you want modern shopping malls then you will be disappointed.
Assuming you are taking the Autoroute des Anglais then places to stop are:
- Arras. Fantastic WW1 history, buildings, military cemeteries, tunnels etc.
- Bethune, a nice little town square with lots of history
- Saint Quentin, the Basilica or battlefield tours
- Reims, as above
- Troyes, a beautiful medieval town centre. restaurants and small shops
Reims centre is good for eating. Mostly pedestrianised old town with loads of cafes. Drive to the old race track just west of town, not far from the autoroute for a wander round as well.
That said we usually stop at a supermarket, pick up some bread, cheese, ham, etc then stop and picnic at the Aires along the autoroute. Works out a lot quicker and cheaper and the Aires without petrol are actually quite nice places to relax for a bit.
Just dont forget to pack them back in after the stop, like these guys did!
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33845832 ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33845832[/url]
Depends where you're starting from....
We like Arras (both to stay and to pass through). We often use it as our first stop, but then we're heading down from Lancashire and usually heading for an overnight at Lyon.
Reims and the surrounding area is lovely. Well worth a stop there.
ETA: if you're leaving the tunnel at 4, you'll be in Dijon at a sensible time the same day, even accounting for regular baby stops. You could just head straight there and pass through the odd Aire on the way. You'll be in the north, so most will be fairly quiet (not like the southern ones in August!).