Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
Your destination on this self-drive holiday to Languedoc is a country estate dating from the 16th Century, lovingly restored, and amidst vineyards. This holiday brings you a fascinating combination of culture, coast and countryside. On your doorstep is the city of Montpellier with its striking architecture, and a short distance away you have the dramatic scenery of the Cévennes, the Hérault vineyards, UNESCO heritage sites, and the long, sandy beaches that run from La Grande Motte to Cap d’Agde. Your route from Calais in the north to the southern borderlands of France in the shadow of the Pyrenees takes you through Burgundy, along the Rhone valley into Languedoc-Roussillon, and then following the same route back but with a stop in the Burgundy wine village of Puligny-Montrachet and then in the Champagne region before reaching Calais and the return Eurotunnel crossing.
Highlights
Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais • Burgundy • Rhone Valley • Montpellier • Visit the Herault vineyards • Visit Sete • Visit Roman Nimes • Visit Narbonne • Beaches at Carnon and la Grande Motte • Champagne
Day by day
You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to it’s a drive of about six hours through the Pas-de-Calais, around the cathedral city of Reims in the Champagne and then south-east passing Dijon to reach your overnight stop in Burgundy.
It’s worth making an early start today as there are many places of interest between here and Vienne where you’ll stop for the night. The driving time is only about three hours so make the most of stops along the route. Initially, on your doorstep you have some of the most famous vineyards of the Cote de Nuits such as those in Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges and just a little further south is the picturesque town of Beaune, at the heart of Burgundy with its famous Hotel de Dieu. From Beaune, reject the A6 motorway for a while and take the route through the Cote de Beaune vineyards, visiting the villages of Pommard and Meursault. You return to this area for an overnight at the end of your holiday so you might want to join the motorway at this point and continue south. Tournus is worthy of a visit or even a lunch stop, and nearby, just off to the west is the Abbey at Cluny. South of Macon you enter the Beaujolais region, where you will be struck by the golden ochre of the village buildings, attributed to a local type of limestone. Perhaps visit the vineyards of Richard Rottiers, or the Clos de la Roilette, owned by the traditionalist Alain Coudert on the way to Vienne. Vienne itself has a rich cultural history with Roman monuments and buildings to visit. Visit the Temple d’Auguste et de Livie, the Roman amphitheatre, still used as a venue today, or the Roman Pyramid that stands 20 metres high. Be sure to visit some of the other sights of Vienne too with the Romanesque Gothic Saint- Maurice Cathedral.
Today the most direct way is to continue south on the A7 along the Rhone Valley towards Avignon and then taking the A9 passing Montpellier, Narbonne and Perpignan. A longer option for the outward journey is to head into the Auvergne and the volcanic heart of France, and then through the Cévennes to join the A9 at Nimes. Reach your hotel in good time for the evening.
You have six days to relax and explore both at your hotel and in the immediate area. Your base on this self-drive holiday is a restored wine estate in the countryside near Montpellier and a short drive to the Mediterranean coast. The estate is just a few minutes by car from the cultural hub of Montpellier, with its mediaeval centre, wide boulevards, natural spaces, architect-designed modern buildings, and great places to wine and dine. Join a guided tour organised by the local tourist office to peek behind the gates into the courtyards of the grand, private mansions of the city. The Musée Fabre is one of the best Fine Arts museums in Europe. As well as the stimulation of the city, just 15 minutes or so away by car are the long sandy beaches from La Grande Motte to Sète. Sète, known as the ‘Venice of the Languedoc’ sits on an isthmus between a saltwater lagoon and the sea and is renowned as a seafood destination for gourmets. To the north of Montpellier, you can explore the vineyards and mediaeval villages of the Hérault, such as St Guilhem le Desert. About 40 minutes’ drive away is the Pic Saint-Loup, a dramatic vantage point, and with many wineries in the surrounding countryside.
Drive northwards today but if you make an early start, you have time to visit the roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, north of Nimes. Then we recommend staying on the A9 and A7 along the Rhone valley until you reach Burgundy once more, and this time the famous village of Puligny-Montrachet, at the heart of the Cote de Beaune.
It’s a drive of under four hours today, so depending upon your interests, you can linger in Puligny-Montrachet, perhaps visiting renowned wine cellars or you can make your way straight to Epernay and visit the Champagne houses here before checking in to your hotel for the night.
Depending on the time of your Eurotunnel crossing from Calais to Folkestone, you may want to visit more Champagne houses of Epernay and Reims. We can give you suggestions of Champagne houses to visit. Laon is an historic town perched on a hill-top visible from the autoroute that you also might want to call in at on the way back to Calais.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,880 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD18
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to it’s a drive of about six hours through the Pas-de-Calais, around the cathedral city of Reims in the Champagne and then south-east passing Dijon to reach your overnight stop in Burgundy.
It’s worth making an early start today as there are many places of interest between here and Vienne where you’ll stop for the night. The driving time is only about three hours so make the most of stops along the route. Initially, on your doorstep you have some of the most famous vineyards of the Cote de Nuits such as those in Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges and just a little further south is the picturesque town of Beaune, at the heart of Burgundy with its famous Hotel de Dieu. From Beaune, reject the A6 motorway for a while and take the route through the Cote de Beaune vineyards, visiting the villages of Pommard and Meursault. You return to this area for an overnight at the end of your holiday so you might want to join the motorway at this point and continue south. Tournus is worthy of a visit or even a lunch stop, and nearby, just off to the west is the Abbey at Cluny. South of Macon you enter the Beaujolais region, where you will be struck by the golden ochre of the village buildings, attributed to a local type of limestone. Perhaps visit the vineyards of Richard Rottiers, or the Clos de la Roilette, owned by the traditionalist Alain Coudert on the way to Vienne. Vienne itself has a rich cultural history with Roman monuments and buildings to visit. Visit the Temple d’Auguste et de Livie, the Roman amphitheatre, still used as a venue today, or the Roman Pyramid that stands 20 metres high. Be sure to visit some of the other sights of Vienne too with the Romanesque Gothic Saint- Maurice Cathedral.
Today the most direct way is to continue south on the A7 along the Rhone Valley towards Avignon and then taking the A9 passing Montpellier, Narbonne and Perpignan. A longer option for the outward journey is to head into the Auvergne and the volcanic heart of France, and then through the Cévennes to join the A9 at Nimes. Reach your hotel in good time for the evening.
You have six days to relax and explore both at your hotel and in the immediate area. Your base on this self-drive holiday is a restored wine estate in the countryside near Montpellier and a short drive to the Mediterranean coast. The estate is just a few minutes by car from the cultural hub of Montpellier, with its mediaeval centre, wide boulevards, natural spaces, architect-designed modern buildings, and great places to wine and dine. Join a guided tour organised by the local tourist office to peek behind the gates into the courtyards of the grand, private mansions of the city. The Musée Fabre is one of the best Fine Arts museums in Europe. As well as the stimulation of the city, just 15 minutes or so away by car are the long sandy beaches from La Grande Motte to Sète. Sète, known as the ‘Venice of the Languedoc’ sits on an isthmus between a saltwater lagoon and the sea and is renowned as a seafood destination for gourmets. To the north of Montpellier, you can explore the vineyards and mediaeval villages of the Hérault, such as St Guilhem le Desert. About 40 minutes’ drive away is the Pic Saint-Loup, a dramatic vantage point, and with many wineries in the surrounding countryside.
Drive northwards today but if you make an early start, you have time to visit the roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, north of Nimes. Then we recommend staying on the A9 and A7 along the Rhone valley until you reach Burgundy once more, and this time the famous village of Puligny-Montrachet, at the heart of the Cote de Beaune.
It’s a drive of under four hours today, so depending upon your interests, you can linger in Puligny-Montrachet, perhaps visiting renowned wine cellars or you can make your way straight to Epernay and visit the Champagne houses here before checking in to your hotel for the night.
Depending on the time of your Eurotunnel crossing from Calais to Folkestone, you may want to visit more Champagne houses of Epernay and Reims. We can give you suggestions of Champagne houses to visit. Laon is an historic town perched on a hill-top visible from the autoroute that you also might want to call in at on the way back to Calais.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,880 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD18
Our prices include
● Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais return for car and passengers
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Tradition room at the Chateau de Gilly, Burgundy
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel la Pyramide, Vienne
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Deluxe room at the Domaine de Verchant, near Montpellier
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Le Montrachet, Burgundy
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Hostellerie La Briqueterie in Epernay, Champagne
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
Additional information
Driving times for this self-drive holiday
Calais to Gilly-les-Citeaux 6 hours
Gilly-les-Citeaux to Vienne 3 hours
Vienne to Montpellier 3 hours
Montpellier to Puligny-Montrachet 4 hrs 15 mins
Puligny-Montrachet to Epernay 3 hrs 20 mins
Epernay to Calais 3 hours
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
Château de Gilly is a 5-star hotel a former Benedictine Priory in the heart of the Burgundy wine region. The hotel retains many of its original features and serves excellent cuisine for a luxurious experience.
Tradition double room
Hotel La Pyramide is a modern 4-star Relais & Châteaux hotel which is set in the fascinating historical location of Vienne. The hotel boasts an unmissable 2 Michelin-starred restaurant.
Classic double room
Le Domaine de Verchant is an exclusive 5-star hotel in a beautifully secluded location. Gourmet cuisine, excellent spa facilities and beautiful grounds and vineyards afford guests a truly relaxing and idyllic retreat.
Deluxe double room
COMO Le Montrachet is a boutique 4-star hotel in the superb wine village of Montrachet. Excellent cuisine and comfortable accommodation make this property a relaxing haven and an excellent spot to explore the Burgundy wine region.
Classic double room
Hostellerie La Briqueterie is a 5-star boutique hotel, perfectly situated for exploring the wineries of the Champagne region, including some of the most prestigious champagne houses. Delicious cuisine and excellent spa facilities afford guests a truly tranquil experience.
Classic double room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,880 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD18
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
About Burgundy
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Burgundy is an opportunity to explore an area which is famous throughout France as being a region rich in wine and gastronomy as well as in history and art. The best-known area of Burgundy is that of the Cote d`Or and the Cote de Beaune located close to Beaune with its villages whose names are those of some of the most famous wines; Gevrey Chambertin, Nuits St Georges, Pommard, Meursault and Montrachet. Beaune itself, deserves a visit with its enchanting 15th Century Hotel Dieu and wine museum. While on holiday in Burgundy you will find that almost everywhere there are offers of wine tastings and direct sales. This area of eastern France is all too often visited just en route from the north to the south, but we would urge you to linger a little longer and enjoy a longer holiday in Burgundy to explore the region in detail. A self-drive touring holiday is an excellent way to explore Burgundy, offering the chance to discover the vineyards of northern France; to combine a stay here with one in Beaujolais; to travel further south en route to Provence; or to enjoy a tour around the whole of France.
Highlights of Burgundy
Cultural highlights include Burgundy wines and marcs, local wine festivals, the Beaujolais vineyards, and the Romanesque architecture.
Climate of Burgundy
Average air temperatures in centigrade: Jan: 6.1, Feb: 5.9, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 15.3, May: 15.8, Jun: 23.8, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 26.1, Sep: 21.2, Oct: 15.5, Nov: 9.1, Dec: 6.2. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
About Champagne
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Champagne offers the chance to explore one of the great historic provinces of France. Known in the 9th century under Charlemagne for its agricultural riches, it became famous for its produce and celebrated fairs. Today, though known of course for its eponymous sparkling wine, and despite lying en route from the UK to the south of France, Champagne is one of the least visited regions in France, an under sung gem waiting to be explored. Naturally, bubbly looms large on the list of attractions for visitors to the region, with Epernay, a lovely town on the chalky hills southwest of Reims, the undisputed champagne capital of the world. Here, you can enjoy tastings at the home of several champagne producers, including Moet & Chandon and Perrier-Jouet. Smaller producers can also be visited between the pretty towns of Bar sur Aube and Les Riceys. Champagne can also be tasted at the celebrated Taittinger cellars in Reims, the largest town in the Champagne. A bustling university city, Reims has all the feel of a busy regional capital, with a fabulous old town and magnificent 13th century cathedral, one of the greatest gothic buildings of northern France. Largely made up of undulating hills and pretty farmland, Champagne's landscape rises in the north towards the densely wooded, river-riven walker's paradise of the Ardennes, with the Plateau de Langres in the south home to the fortified Roman hill town of Langres, sometimes known as the Carcassonne of the North - without the crowds. Due to its proximity to the north coast of France, the Champagne region can easily be incorporated into a self-drive touring holiday of the Northern Vineyards or can be used as a stopover en route to the French Alps and Lakes.
Highlights of Champagne
Champagne cellar visits in Reims, Epernay and in vineyards along the Aube; the old town of Charleville Mezieres, capital of the Ardennes department; Charles de Gaulle's country residence and burial site, Colombey les Deux Eglises; Reims, with one of the finest medieval cathedrals in France, once the coronation place of French kings, now with one of the best son-et-lumieres in France; Reims' magnificent Roman triumphal arch; Lac du Der, the biggest reservoir in Europe, one of the most important migration routes for Europe's waterfowl, sheltering vast flocks of cranes, passing through in their thousands in spring and autumn; the fortified hill town of Langres, ‘Carcassonne of the North’ - minus the crowds; la foret d'Orient near Troyes and Montagne de Reims, both Regional Natural Parks; river trips along the Seine, the Marne, and the Aube; the 13th century gothic cathedral of Troyes, with its spectacular stained glass windows; autumn wine festivals.
Travel around the Champagne region
The Champagne region is reached very easily from the UK by air and rail. With the most extensive rail network in Western Europe, France is a great country to explore by train. The nationally owned SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer) runs fast, efficient services between the main towns. Buses cover the rural areas, but services can be rather sporadic, with departures often at awkward times. To visit Champagne's cellars - the main reason for being here - by far the best option is to rent a car.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
About Languedoc-Roussillon
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Languedoc-Roussillon is a chance to encounter this most southerly region of French Catalonia, nestling on the Spanish border. The region is one that continues to delight and charm, offering plenty to discover during your holiday. The coast of Languedoc-Roussillon has long flat sandy beaches with a full range of water sports and golf at St Cyprien. Meanwhile the hinterland is surprisingly green, composed of gently sloping vineyards, Cotes de Roussillon, Banyuls and Rivesaltes and a whole host of fruit trees including peaches, cherries, plums and oranges. Further inland in Languedoc-Roussillon the Pyrenees rise, remarkably green and covered with trees and shrubs. To the north is the mediaeval town of Carcassonne, which rises like a mirage between vineyards and hills. Languedoc Roussillon also offers the fascinating land of the Cathars. With so much to see in Languedoc-Roussillon, a self-drive touring holiday is an excellent choice, either driving all the way from the UK or flying to the south of France before collecting a hire car. Visit other regions including Tarn and Provence to the north or Bordeaux and the Basque country to the west. Discover the Catalonian and Basque cultures by travelling along the Spanish border, or explore the valleys, fortresses and mountains of southwestern France. A rail holiday offers the chance to view the beautiful French countryside during the journey south, travelling by train to Carcassonne before exploring Languedoc-Roussillon by car, or stopping off in Beaujolais en route to the region.
Highlights of Languedoc-Roussillon
Sample the earliest cherries in France and other seasonal fruit. Take a visit to see the local ceramics and paintings, travel on the narrow-gauge railway from Villefranche de Conflent to Font Romeu. There are Folklore and music festivals in August. Gastronomy Sample anchovies, macaroons, Rousquilles aniseed biscuits. Local wines include Banyuls and Rivesaltes wines and Cotes de Roussillon wine. This is one of the most highly-regarded new wine regions of France.
Climate of Languedoc-Roussillon
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 12.4, Feb: 11.5, Mar: 12.5, Apr: 17.6, May: 20.1, Jun: 26.5, Jul: 28.4, Aug: 28.1, Sep: 26.1, Oct: 21.1, Nov: 15.8, Dec :13.5. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury French self-drive holiday to the Languedoc with overnight stops in Burgundy, Rhone Valley & Champagne
About Rhone Valley
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Rhone and Beaujolais offers the opportunity to indulge in a magnificent region of France. The areas of Rhone and Beaujolais extend to the north and south of the city of Lyon. Beaujolais is obviously famous for its wine, but the rolling hills are a patchwork of vineyards and pretty villages and well worth exploring. Further south the landscape becomes more Mediterranean but there are areas of natural beauty with river valleys, mountains, forests and plains as well as more cultivated areas of vines, fruit and flowers. The villages are delightful with stone buildings and red roofs, there are numerous sporting activities and the gastronomy is excellent. The unique Chateau de Bagnols in the Beaujolais region enjoys a pretty location and combines details of the past with the facilities of a four star hotel. Use Beaujolais and Rhone as a stop en route to places further south but also for longer stays of exploring and relaxing. The region provides the perfect stopover for a self-drive touring holiday en route to Provence or to the French Alps and Lakes, or you can explore the Rhone Valley further as well as visiting Burgundy and Provence.
Highlights of the Rhone Valley
Cultural highlights include the Beaujolais vineyards, the Gastronomic centre of the city of Lyon, vineyards of the southern Rhone valley, jazz festivals, olive festivals, and the International shoe museum at Romans.
Rhone Valley Climate
Average air temperature in Centigrade: Jan: 12.4, Feb: 11.5, Mar: 12.5, Apr: 17.6, May: 20.1, Jun: 26.5, Jul: 28.4, Aug: 28.1, Sep: 26.1, Oct: 21.1, Nov: 15.8, Dec: 13.5. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France
