This trip is best for...
- Couples
- Groups of friends
- Families with small children
- Families with younger children
- Walkers
Getting there
Cotignac is approximately an 11 hour drive from the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais. You could drive down in one go, but we like to stop a couple of times and enjoy other areas of France before arriving at our final destination. We usually make a first stop close to the Eurotunnel terminal in Tilques, Northern France and a second stop in Beaune, Burgundy.
If you stop off at Tilques, we would definitely recommend walking around the beautiful grounds of the Château de Tilques. The Château in itself is a very special place with a fine restaurant…it is worth a visit. Our second stop, Beaune, also has lots of places to visit, including many places with a long history. You can visit the Burgundy Wine Museum and the Art galleries, as well as going on beautiful walking routes around the vineyards.
Where to stay
For the last 18 years, we have stopped off at different hotels, including chain companies like IBIS, and local B&Bs which all meet our needs (the facilities we think are a must are parking, restaurants and in near proximity of a major town so we can have a quick visit of the area). Tip: to choose the best accommodation, always check their reviews and facilities!
Usually, we stay in a local B&B which is situated in the village of Tilques. It is a beautifully converted farm with four rooms for guests. It makes it extra special that the owners are delightful, providing a hearty breakfast and they make you feel like one of the family (we are now regulars so they leave a key to let ourselves in if they have to go out before our arrival!).
Our second stop in Beaune is at the IBIS in the town centre, which has a heated external pool and a restaurant. However, the real appeal is the short walk to the centre, with different restaurants to choose from - you can have a look at the choices here.
Cotignac itself has a selection of hotels, B&Bs, villas and more, from which you can really take in the sights, sounds and, of course, sun of the astounding French Riviera.
What to do
We love going to the local open-air markets around Cotignac and we usually bring back local delicacies such as garlic, sausages, seasonal fruit and other regional foods, such as local wines.
You will find that Cotignac is a very beautiful village where you can take a walk around the vineyards or a stroll in the town, passing by the Sanctuary Notre-Dame de Grâces which has a lot of historical interest.
This village is in a really good base to explore from, which means that you can visit and stay in different places throughout your holiday. We decided to have a 3 day break in a private rental property overlooking the Mediterranean, located in Le Lavandou. An absolutely stunning area with a short walk to a secluded beach and lovely restaurants. We also did a day trip to Nice with friends to visit the Monday Antiques market and to walk around the pretty narrow streets, stopping for a wonderful lunch.
We absolutely love going on holiday to France as it has so much history and it is big enough to choose a different area each time you visit.
Our last tip: include the drive as part of the holiday. Do your research on the places to stop off at in order to break the journey up. There are so many beautiful areas in France, which will make each break worth it.