French trip recommendations

[GTVGEOFF]

Hi all
I know many of you will be much better travelled than I, so thought I would ask you for some suggestion for our upcoming trip.
The Maserati club have a trip organised for the Alsace region in earl May, which I have managed to secure places on.
Our meet up point is in Metz-Amne'ville. We intend to take a day or two to wander down there and wondered if you could suggest a couple of places for an over night stay and any nice routes/sight seeing on the way.
We will be returning from Otrott so would like a different route back, again taking a couple of days. So would like suggestion for that also.
We will take the tunnel across, when I looked at booking there was a warning that a Gransport is a low vehicle, anyone had any problems boarding in one?
Thanks in advance.

 

[safrane]

Château Etoges in the Champagne region is very nice and used by a few car clubs too - In fact the first Century club trip stooped off there on the way back I believe after my rec. Emblem in Poole use it as well.

Chateau d'Etoges : Charming chateau hotel in Champagne with gourmet restaurant near Epernay and Reims, champagne cellar tour and tasting, perfect place for honeymoon and marriage proposal. (chateau-etoges.com)

You could also stay in Vittel if you need to break up the journey.

Colmar and the surrounding towns are stunning and I have been there a number of time in the Maser... you will have a great trip.

 

[Zep]

Never had any issues on the tunnel, but I would make sure you are on the lower deck, or better still, in with the large vehicles.

As for places to visit in that neck of the woods, Reims is a nice spot with the old F1 track, you could scoot across to Brugge. On the return, Otrott is only an hour north of the National car museum (Schlumpf Collection) in Mulhouse.

 

[safrane]

Second the Tunnel - ferry is packed like sardines and you will get a door ding or scratch from those who just don't give a sh1t.

When booking the tunnel, put you car in as being a tall car so you end up in the coach and 4x4 section as the metal curbs in the normal carriage are very unforgiving to alloys if you have low profile tyres.

 

[Ewan]

Château Etoges in the Champagne region is very nice and used by a few car clubs too - In fact the first Century club trip stooped off there on the way back I believe after my rec. Emblem in Poole use it as well.

Chateau d'Etoges : Charming chateau hotel in Champagne with gourmet restaurant near Epernay and Reims, champagne cellar tour and tasting, perfect place for honeymoon and marriage proposal. (chateau-etoges.com)

You could also stay in Vittel if you need to break up the journey.

Colmar and the surrounding towns are stunning and I have been there a number of time in the Maser... you will have a great trip.

I take it this is the chateau in your avatar photo?

 

[Oneball]

I think Reims is a shithole, it’s gradually gone downhill over the 20 years I’ve been stopping there, so much so 2 years ago I said I’d not stop again.

Slightly different route from the obvious; ferry to Dunkirk, stay in Ghent (The Post 1898 hotel is fab) for 2 nights then drive to Metz easily in a day missing most of France.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Second the Tunnel - ferry is packed like sardines and you will get a door ding or scratch from those who just don't give a sh1t.

When booking the tunnel, put you car in as being a tall car so you end up in the coach and 4x4 section as the metal curbs in the normal carriage are very unforgiving to alloys if you have low profile tyres.

Second that. Also, it's impossible to see where the kerbs are on the up-ramp. They really are nasty bastards and gouging your wheels is no nice way to start the trip.

 

[Hurricane52]

Another vote for Colmar. We stopped en route to Le Marche. Schlumpf museum is a must see, even on a honeymoon.

This year we’re trying Nancy on the way and on the way back, Troyes.

I’m sure you’re all over this, but secure hotel parking is a must in the centre of the medieval towns.

 

[Felonious Crud]

This year we’re trying Nancy on the way and on the way back, Troyes.

I’m sure you’re all over this, but secure hotel parking is a must in the centre of the medieval towns.

Another vote for Troyes. It's a beautiful town. We stayed in a nice hotel there with secure underground parking. Years ago, but will try to remember the name and report back.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

Thanks all for your input so far, some good suggestions and I like the look of the Chateau d'Etoges. Thanks Safrane.
Good advice regarding the tunnel, didn't realise you could specify which deck you prefer.
The Schlumpf museum is on my radar, I missed last time we were near it on an AROC trip because I picked up a puncture which took most of the day up sorting out.
Please keep the suggestions coming.

 

[allandwf]

Second the Tunnel - ferry is packed like sardines and you will get a door ding or scratch from those who just don't give a sh1t.

When booking the tunnel, put you car in as being a tall car so you end up in the coach and 4x4 section as the metal curbs in the normal carriage are very unforgiving to alloys if you have low profile tyres.

I got put in with the campers, had loads of space on the ferry.

 

[Guy]

Just booked Chateau Etoges and tunnel (it automatically put me in the larger carriage based on my car - taking the 612) for April weekend away. Just need to find the non autoroute way down for enjoyable driving. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[safrane]

Obligatory photo at the Chateau please.

 

[Guy]

Obligatory photo at the Chateau please.

View attachment 96814View attachment 96815View attachment 96816

You have been visiting for some time Peter! Will take photos. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[GTVGEOFF]

Thanks for all the input.
To update, b&b booked very near the tunnel ready for an early start next morning.
Taking the day to wander down to Château Etoges, two nights there. Then across to Metz where we meet up with the other club members and stay for a night.
Then across to Ottrot for three nights. The club has various venues booked for us.
We will then come back to Château Etoges for a night before wandering back up to just near the tunnel on the French side for another b&b ready for an early start next day back home.
Managed to book the lower deck on the train too.
One more question, what is the best way with the headlights as not to blind other drivers. I would normally use the stick on patches, do they work with the covered lights on a Gransport?

 

[RoaryRati]

Thanks for all the input.
To update, b&b booked very near the tunnel ready for an early start next morning.
Taking the day to wander down to Château Etoges, two nights there. Then across to Metz where we meet up with the other club members and stay for a night.
Then across to Ottrot for three nights. The club has various venues booked for us.
We will then come back to Château Etoges for a night before wandering back up to just near the tunnel on the French side for another b&b ready for an early start next day back home.
Managed to book the lower deck on the train too.
One more question, what is the best way with the headlights as not to blind other drivers. I would normally use the stick on patches, do they work with the covered lights on a Gransport?

Out of curiosity, where is your B&B near the tunnel - we've booked one (Beachborough Park) which looks stunning , but we are always open to suggestions (even tho' our grand tour is planned for early June, things appear to be booking up quite quickly). To sort out the headlights, as the ready made patches don't work on our 4200 spyder, Mr RR shone the beam onto a wall to put them on.

 

[safrane]

Out of curiosity, where is your B&B near the tunnel - we've booked one (Beachborough Park) which looks stunning , but we are always open to suggestions (even tho' our grand tour is planned for early June, things appear to be booking up quite quickly). To sort out the headlights, as the ready made patches don't work on our 4200 spyder, Mr RR shone the beam onto a wall to put them on.

I use the Chequers at Smarden (for the last 20 years) - about 30 mins from the tunnel - 14th Century Coaching Inn Kent | UK| The Chequers Inn, Smarden (thechequerssmarden.com)

 

[FIFTY]

Thanks for all the input.
To update, b&b booked very near the tunnel ready for an early start next morning.
Taking the day to wander down to Château Etoges, two nights there. Then across to Metz where we meet up with the other club members and stay for a night.
Then across to Ottrot for three nights. The club has various venues booked for us.
We will then come back to Château Etoges for a night before wandering back up to just near the tunnel on the French side for another b&b ready for an early start next day back home.
Managed to book the lower deck on the train too.
One more question, what is the best way with the headlights as not to blind other drivers. I would normally use the stick on patches, do they work with the covered lights on a Gransport?

Do not put those stickers on your lenses it will almost certainly ruin the plastic.

I just avoid driving at night

 

[Scaf]

I have o my been to Europe twice but covered 4500 miles, never bothered with stickers although I o my drive at night occasionally.

 

[RoaryRati]

Do not put those stickers on your lenses it will almost certainly ruin the plastic.

I just avoid driving at night

So do we - but going through Switzerland we felt it safest as we didn't want to be stopped. And they came off no problem (but then the lenses are only 99% perfect).