There is no end to coastlines and landscape in France, thus you are buried in hundreds and thousands of picturesque cities, towns, districts and beaches to drive to. And, of course, with endless tempting places to choose from, planning a road trip in France really becomes a rocket-science. While everyone would whisper Paris with its Eiffel, the Normandy coastline, Bordeaux countryside and Nice’s coastal views, we have planned our own unconventional and underrated road-trip itinerary for you.
The thing about a road-trip is, it’s your road-trip, your car and your mood, so nothing is definite and there is always that window of diversions and explorations, thus while we list you 3 gorgeous French cities, you are free to add more locations and towns to the list as you move from Nantes to Marseille.
This Nantes to Marseille road trip via Bergerac is where you get to see the finest combination of renaissance architecture, medieval streets, chateaus, museums, fabulous riversides and everything that a regular or “popular” road-trip might miss on to.
Nantes, France
- Recommended days: 1-3
- Famous for: Architecture, Art, Culture, Cafes
Some destinations are like a cherry on the cake and missing them would be a shame; Nantes a gorgeous French city held by Loire River is not just 6th largest city int he country but is also a land of historical heritage, medieval castles, a hub to art and artists and street so windy and fine that a walk within the city is no less than an adventure in itself. Once the home of Duke of Upper Brittany, Nantes has a pretty long and fascinating history to it but the world war bombing or death of the shipbuilding industry did nothing to diminish the zeal of Nates and its people. The amount of art, architecture and gorgeous cafes the city serves makes the 4 hours drive Paris a trip worth all your time and money.
13th-century seat of Dukes of Brittany, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, likes one the peaceful blues of river Loire garnished with beautiful green patches highlight the towering château walls. You really cannot be in Nantes and not witness the giant majestic machine animals from Les Machines de l’Île or Machines of the Isle of Nantes Bringing the magic of fantasy world alive with a giant machinic Great Elephant that takes up to 49 passengers for a walk and a sea creature themed Marine World Carousel.
The most exciting way to get to know Nantes and its list of galleries, castles, museums and marvellous street cafes and monuments has to be the 12 KM long Green Line route painted in such a way to take you around the city and must-visit attractions while enjoying the sun-kissed unguided local tour through beautiful buildings, squares and pretty European cafes on your left or right. No matter where you start from, the green line voyage would take you picturesque destinations, modern attractions, ancient galleries, artistic streets, European cafes, historical heritage to lush green gardens, nevertheless.
Where to Stay in Nantes
Nantes is truly a tourist city and so there is a web of budget-friendly and luxury stay options: Here are top 5 pocket-friendly hotels:
- B&B Hotel Nantes Parc Expos La Chapelle
- Ibis Nantes Centre Tour Bretagne
- The Originals Nantes Saint Herblain
- B&B Hotel Nantes Atlantis Le Zenith
- Ibis Budget Nantes Reze Airport
Where to Shop in Nantes
Nantes has some very unique shopping areas, with a seesaw between ancient buildings to modern malls. Here are top 5 stops for Shopping in Nantes
- Marche de Basse-Indre
- Passage Pommeraye
- Atlantis
- Talensac district
- Rue Crebillon
- Decre district
Nantes to Bergerac via Road
A 4-hour ride via A83 and A10 drives you to straight to beautiful town of vineyards & museums, Bergerac. But it would be wiser to use multiple stops to turn the 4 hours of the trip into a relaxing and scenic road-trip, as there are places for overnight stays, great eateries, local sightseeing and smaller towns to shop at. Here are various things to do on your Nantes to Bergerac road trip-
- A83 and D763 rote will take you to La Roche-sur-Yon, a beautiful local commune situated 69 km from Nantes. Stop for an hour to visit Chocolate Museum Gelenscer, Animal Pace- Le, and Potager Extraordinaire for a great family resting.
- 59 km of the journey from La Roche-sur-Yon via D948 and A83 should get you to Fontenay-le-Comte on time for a good local sighteeing of Notre-Dame Church, Quatre Tias’ fountain and Rivalland tower.
- A night stay at the commune Jonzac with its local cuisine and hospitality would be a good idea. This French town is known for its gardens, churches and bike rides
- A10 from Jonzac will finally come to Bordeaux after a French scenic drive of 88 km. Bordeaux with its finest vineyards, grand palaces and museums and the majestic view of Garonne River. Half a day stay at Bordeaux is enough before you head to Bergerac.
Bergerac
- Recommended days: 1-2
- Known for : Museums, Vineyards & River activities
A beautiful commune located in Dordogne, in southern France, Bergerac would be a perfect scenic stop for the wine lovers with its riverside wine houses and gorgeous chateaus. A lot of visitors in Nantes would recommend a day spent kayaking or on boat tours on Dordogne River, in Bergerac. Corbelled houses, medieval streets and stunning vineyards and farms add the renaissance colour to the town.
Half-timbered house structures for the 1300s, spread around the sloppy streets and lively squares are worth capturing. City cafes, flower shops, and eateries are where Bergerac culture and marvelous architecture is felt the most, which is why a city walk or foot tour is the best way to go about. And when you are in the town, do not be surprised by the statue of Cyrano or Statue Cyrano de Bergerac. Families with children can always have a giggle time at the local water and amusement park.
Wine exhibitions and summer concerts and events like Christmas markets are often the highlights that bring the town alive and bursting, while tourists explore the local artisans. City markets will tempt you with fresh strawberries, walnuts, melons, chicken and ducks arrange for a scrumptious meal. Bergerac city tour is enough to keep you engaged and happy, but if you are seeker and discoverer, with more time at hand, then nothing should stop you from exploring the nearby towns and attractions that are just minutes or hour away, such as
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Chateau de Monbazillac
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Jardins de Sardy
Top museums in Bergerac
Musée du Tabac or the Tobacco Museum is found in Chateau Henri IV also known as Maison Peyrarede that clubs classic and renaissance architecture to mesmerize you, as you explore the cultural aspect of tobacco’s history. Other Bergerac museums to quench your thirst for history are:
- Musée de la Ville – Highlights historical importance of vineyards & river
- MuséeCosti – Opens between July to August
- Maison des Vins – Offers exhibition on the history of Bergerac.
Bergerac to Marseille via Road
A straight drive from Bergerac to Marseille via A61 could be exhausting. We have listed few must visit and refreshing town stops on your 6 hours long Bergerac to Marseille road trip:
- Take Route N21 to Agen and give the town an hour of exploration with its lively boulevards, and local monuments. We recommend a drive over Agen Aqueduct.
- An hour further to Agen lies Montauban, a French commune known for its art and history. An hour or two is enough for this stop.
- 145 km via A62 and A61 brings you to the Carcassonne, a family friendly city with its shopping, vineyards, castles, green spaces, school museum, canals and Carcassonne special cuisine.
- A9 route and 2-hour drive from Carcassonne would get you to your final pit stop Nimes before you head to Marseille. Nimes is where you would cherish 2000 years of Roman Amphitheatre Les Arènes, gorgeous Jardins de la Fontaine, medieval ruins of Temple de Diane and the magnificent Pont du Gard.
Marseille, France
- Recommended days: 2-3
- Famous for: Old Port, Architecture, Monuments & Cuisine
Marseille may not be the crown jewel of France, but it has always been one of the country’s most important cities. This underrated French tourist destination is the second-largest city in France after Paris and is a combination of beautiful spots and diverse culture with plenty of things to do and see. The reason to add this town in a road-trip itinerary is that its where you get to see a fine combination of a port city and charming multicultural attractions.
Surrounded by ports, ships, boats and Brutalism style buildings as designed by the very famous Le Corbusier, Marseille is a city that carries historical buildings, the old port and modern museums. The very existence of 6th-century Château d’If and Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations, in the same city shows the diversity of places to lay your eyes on. To experience more local liveliness, a visit to Noailles with its lively market and vibrant shopping neighbourhood offering an insight into an average Marseille commune and its spices and fabrics is highly recommended.
Places to visit in Marseille
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Vieux Port
the old port, many seafood restaurants
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Chateau d’If
a fortress on If island, a former prison
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Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde
Landmark basilica with city views
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Mucem
award-winning museum on European and Mediterranean history & culture
Where to Stay in Marseille
- Hôtel Carré Vieux Port: right in the hustle-bustle of Vieux Port
- InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu: 5 Star hotel with inside pool & Spa
- Vertigo Vieux Port: budget hotel with spacious rooms
Places to Eat in Marseille
- La Cantine de Lynn: middle eastern, Lebanese
- L’infusion: Cafe with great french food
- Cafe Bovo: the variety of cuisine with options like Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free