Europe > Car Hire France > Paris to Reims

Paris is a great destination for a holiday, but if you hire a car while you are in Paris, you can explore more of France. In this article, we look at some of the things that you can see and do in the city of Reims, in the country’s Champagne region.

Hire a car in Paris

Visit Reims – Notre-Dame Cathedral and Champagne Region

It will only take you about an hour and a half to drive to Reims in your Paris rental car, but there is so much to see and do there that it’s worth spending several days there and turning your trip into a two-destination holiday.

To get to Reims from Paris by car, simply head out of Paris on L’Autoroute de L’Est partial toll road and continue straight on along the A4 partial toll road. Leave the A4 at exit 23 and follow the signs into the centre of Reims.

Reims Attractions – Historic Buildings & Monuments

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Reims is full of beautiful historic buildings, with one of its most significant being Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is one of four sites in the city to have UNESCO World Heritage status. It took more than 200 years to complete the Cathedral, which was constructed on the site of the cit

y’s old cathedral, which burned to the ground in 1210.

24 French monarchs have been crowned in Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is adorned with more than 2,300 sculptures, including the famous “Smiling Angel”, which has now become the city’s emblem.

The other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Reims are: the Saint-Remi Abbey Museum; the Romanesque-style Saint-Remi Basilica, which houses Saint-Remi’s tomb; and Tau Palace, the palace of the former Reims’ archbishops.

Reims also has a number of important monuments, including the Porte Mars (a Roman arch dating from the 3rd Century), the Statue of Joan of Arc (which was sculpted by Paul Dubois) and the Fontaine Subé (which is situated in Erlon Square).

Reims Attractions – Other Attractions

Reims’ museums include the Reims-Champagne Automobile Museum, which houses a collection of more than 200 vehicles, together with other items, such as pedal cars, toy cars and signs. You can also visit Le Musée-Hôtel Le Vergeur, where you can see a number of works of art including engravings by Albrecht Dürer, and the Museum of Surrender (Musée de la Reddition) to see the Signing Room where the Third Reich signed the document which ended World War II.

Other attractions in Reims include the Planetarium, the Grand Theatre and the Carnegie Library. There are also a number of parks and gardens in the city, including Le Parc de Champagne, the Pierre Schneiter Horticultural Garden and The Colbert Square which holds an amazing array of flowers and shrubs all year round.

You can also use your hire car in Paris to visit some of the attractions that lie just outside of the city of Reims, such as the Pompelle Fort Museum (Musée du Fort de la Pompelle) or follow the Champagne tourist route to see the region’s famous vineyards and Champagne houses.

Car Hire in France – Hiring a Car in Paris

You can book a hire car in advance and get a good deal online with low-cost, specialist car rental firms. Find airport car hire in locations around the world, including Paris, and you can choose from a range of vehicles.

Car Hire Switzerland

Driving from Geneva to Martigny

In a previous post, we suggested Lausanne as a great place for a day-trip during a Geneva car hire holiday. In this post, we’ll look at another place that you can visit if you hire a car whilst you are staying in Geneva – the town of Martigny, which is situated in Switzerland’s Valais region, and which is often referred to as ‘a gateway to the Alps’.

Getting to Martigny from Geneva

If you hire a car in Geneva, you can drive to Martigny within an hour and a quarter. Simply head out of Geneva on the A1 toll road and follow it for about 49km. Take exit 17 and follow the signs for Lausanne in order to continue on the A1. Take exit 19 and follow the signs for Montreux in order to get onto the A9 toll road. Leave the A9 at exit 21 and follow the signs into Martigny.

Switzerland Car Hire – Martigny Attractions – St. Bernard Dog Museum and Kennels

Martigny’s attractions include The St. Bernard Dog Museum and Kennels (Musée et Chiens du Saint-Bernard) on Rue de Levant. The kennels are located in an enclosure just outside of the building, and you can see a number of dogs there. The museum itself contains exhibits relating to the history of the St. Bernard breed, together with information about the Great St. Bernard Hospice and Pass.

There is also a restaurant and a gift shop at the museum and you can park your Geneva rental car in the museum’s car park.

Switzerland Car Hire – Martigny Attractions – Roman Remains

Martigny is also known for its Roman remains, which include an amphitheatre and the Mithraeum, a temple dedicated to Mithras, a sun-god.  You can also see the remains of the Temenos, a complex which would have included a temple together with accommodation for pilgrims, and the remains of a private house.
Switzerland Car Hire – Martigny Attractions – The Pierre Gianadda Foundation

Another of Martigny’s key attractions is The Pierre Gianadda Foundation (Rue de Forum 59, 1920 Martigny). The building houses Martigny’s Museum of Gallic-Roman Archaeology (Musée Gallo-Romain), where you can see some of the artefacts discovered when the Roman sites in Martigny were excavated together with the remains of a Roman temple.

The Pierre Gianadda Foundation building is also the home of Martigny’s Automobile Museum (Musée de l’Auto), which has a collection of cars dating from the early 20th century, and there are also regular temporary exhibitions of art held there. There is also a Sculpture Park outside of the building, which contains works by a number of famoussculptors, including Henry Moore and Auguste Rodin.

The Pierre Gianadda Foundation has a visitors’ car park, so you can leave your car there while you explore the museums.

Switzerland Car Hire – Other Martigny Attractions

Other attractions in Martigny include: the Manoir de la Ville, an eighteenth century house which is now used as a venue for contemporary art exhibitions; Moulin Semblanet, a 19th century watermill; and Château de la Bâtiaz, a 13th century castle. You can also take a break from your hire car by taking a tour of the town on the “La Baladeur” tourist train or walking along the Vineyard Trail, which leads from Martigny to Château de la Bâtiaz.

Car Hire Spain – Visit El Escorial from Madrid

Europe Autos has already covered various car hire holidays in Spain – including car hire in Barcelona and to the Terra Miticac theme park in Benidorm.  Here we offer a suggestion for a driving trip from the capital Madrid to El Escorial

Driving from Madrid to visit El Escorial

The Spanish capital, Madrid, is a popular tourist destination and is a great place to visit. There are plenty of attractions in the city, including monuments such as the Palacio Real (Royal Palace of Madrid), museums, art galleries, theatres and sports venues. However, if you hire a car during your holiday, you can visit some of the attractions outside of Madrid, such as the World Heritage Site of San Lorenzo del Escorial, which is also known simply as El Escorial.

Car Hire Madrid

If you want to take a driving holiday in Spain, you can arrange to rent a car online. Online car rental specialists have offices throughout Europe, including offices in Madrid and other cities and offer good deals on car hire at spanish airports.

Getting to El Escorial from Madrid

It’s easy to get from Madrid to El Escorial if you book a rental car and it will only take you about 45 minutes to drive there. Simply leave Madrid on the A-6. Leave the A-6 at exit 47 and then take the third exit at the roundabout to get onto the M-600. This will take you to El Escorial.

Visiting El Escorial Monastery

El Escorial’s main attraction is its monastery (Monasterio de El Escorial), which was constructed for King Philip II of Spain, as he wished to offer thanks to God for his victory over the French at the Battle of St. Quentin (1557). The initial architect of El Escorial monastery was Juan Bautista de Toledo but the project was later taken over by Juan de Herrera. The monastery was finally completed in 1584.

The monastery is huge but not all of it is open to the public, as it is still in use. You can, however, take a self-guided tour or a guided tour in order to see some of the highlights, which include:
•    The Library – Located on the second floor, the monastery’s library contains more than 40,000 books dating from the 5th century to the 18th century. These are, unusually, placed on the shelves with the spines towards the wall, in order to allow the pages of the books to air. There are also glass cases in the room which house some of the library’s most valuable manuscripts. The ceiling of the library is decorated with frescoes by Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527-1596).
•    The Basilica – Constructed in the shape of a Greek Cross, the basilica has 45 chapels. The 30m high altar is flanked by bronze statues of King Philip II of Spain and Emperor Charles V, together with statues of other members of the royal family. There are also paintings by artists such as Navarette, Coello and Urbina, and frescoes by Cambiasso and Giordano.
•    The Royal Pantheon – Located under the Basilica’s Royal Chapel, the Royal Pantheon has been the burial place for almost all of Spain’s monarchs since it was constructed and also contains the remains of Emperor Charles I (who was also King Charles I of Spain).
•    The Museum of Painting – The museum’s collection includes works by Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, Veronese and Giordano.

You can also visit the monastery’s Museum of Architecture, La Casita del Infante (a villa in the grounds which was constructed between 1771 and 1773) and La Casita del Príncipe (constructed in 1772).

Previously on Europe-Autos.com we featured ideas for driving trips around Barcelona.  Here we take the opportunity to check out the Terra Mitica Theme Park if you are planning to hire a car during a holiday based in Alicante.

Car Hire Spain

If you are planning a car hire holiday in Spain, Alicante is a great place to stay. Located on Spain’s Costa Blanca, it’s an extremely popular resort and has a lot to offer, including fantastic beaches, great nightlife, parks and gardens, and historic buildings such as the Castillo de Santa Barbara (St. Barbara’s Castle).

Alicante is also situated near to some excellent theme parks and water parks, making it the perfect place for a family car rental holiday. One of the theme parks that you can visit if you hire a car in Benidorm during your trip to Spain is Terra Mitica, which is located just outside of Benidorm.

Car Hire Alicante

You can hire a car for your Spanish holiday easily by using low-cost car rental specialists. Many of these companies have offices in most major European locations, including Alicante, and offer some excellent deals.

You can grab a cheap flight to Alicante from pretty much any airport within the UK.  Alicante airport has 2 terminals with a 3rd terminal due to be completed by 2009. Travel from the airport can be easily arranged, there are numerous airport car hire depots, buses or taxis. The city of Alicante itself is roughly a 20min drive from the airport

Terra Mitica Theme Park

It will only take you about 35 minutes to drive to Terra Mitica in your Alicante hire car. Just head out of Alicante on the AP-7 toll road and follow it for 25.5km. Then follow the signs for Benidorm onto the 65A toll road. Follow the signs for CV-70/la Nucia. At the first roundabout, take the second exit. At the next roundabout, go straight on. This will take you to Terra Mitica.

Like many theme parks, Terra Mitica is divided into different areas, each of which has a slightly different theme. There are six areas in Terra Mitica and these are themed around ancient history in different parts of the world: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia, The Islands and the new Ocionía zone. You’ll find rides and attractions, together with a range of shops and food outlets in each area.

In Greece, you can ride the wooden Alucinakis coaster or travel through a labyrinth whilst shooting at targets on The Labyrinth of the Minotaur ride. You can also explore the virtual world of the Kinetoss Temple or get soaked on the Tritons Fury flume ride, and thrill-seekers will love the Synkope ride, on which they will be strapped into a large disc which swings to a height of 30 metres from the ground at a speed of 90km per hour. For a gentler experience, you can try the Los Icarus swing ride or the Arriarrix carousel.

Tizona Rollercoaster

The highlight of the Iberia zone is the 60mph Tizona rollercoaster, but you can also have fun on the Arietes bumper cars. There are also smaller bumper cars (Jabato) for young children and you can see the Red Beard pirate show.

In the Egypt zone, you can get drenched on the Falls of the Nile water rollercoaster. Younger children won’t miss out either, as the zone includes a smaller version of the ride, Akuatiti, which is designed just for them.

The Rome area has some great rides, including the Magnus Colossus wooden rollercoaster and The Flight of the Phoenix freefall ride. You can also test your nerve on Inferno, a vertical coaster which will send you flying upside down at 60mph. There are plenty of rides for younger children in this area, including the Torbellinus swings and the Rotundus merry-go-round, and you can take time out from the rides to watch gladiators fight in Roma Square.

The Islands zone is home to the Rapids of Argos river ride and Ulysses’ Adventure, on which you’ll take a trip to places mentioned in the Odyssey.  You’ll also find the Mithos carousel and The Anger of Akiles pendulum-style thrill ride, and you can stop off and watch the Tarentela circus-style show.

Ocionía is the most recent zone to open at Terra Mitica and it’s packed with things to see and do. You can take a boat trip from the Port of Alexandria, play indoor paintball at The Battle of the Pyramid, explore the Pyramid of Terror or get a bird’s eye view of the park from the Infinnito observation tower. You can also fly through the air on the zip lines at the Atalaya Adventure Park or speed around the Minikarts race track.  Other attractions include the Dances of the Karnak show and the Queenwater multimedia show.

The Nurburgring – Car hire in Germany

The Eifel mountain region in Germany is a great place to go for a holiday, but why not hire a car and travel to one of the most famous racetracks in the world: The Nurburgring?

The Nurburgring is located 43 miles south of Cologne and 75 miles northwest of Frankfurt. Situated in the Eifel Mountains and built around the town of Nurburg and its medieval castle, the track was originally opened in 1927 as a showcase for German engineering and driving talent. Over eighty years later, the ‘Ring is still regarded as the most challenging purpose-built racetrack in the world. At roughly thirteen miles long and boasting corners of every type, the track will severely test even the most experienced racing driver.

When originally built, the Nurburgring consisted of a North loop (Nordschleife), a South loop (Sudschleife) and a start/finish area linking the two with pits and grandstands.  Although the southern loop is now derelict and the start finish area is now part of the short Grand Prix circuit currently used for F1 and Touring car races, the Nordschleife still exists and you can drive it!

Despite being a racetrack, the Nordschleife is classed as a one way toll road, allowing anyone to drive it for a fee. However beware, this track is incredibly demanding and will bite hard if you do not drive within your limits. Also ensure that you check the official website for track opening times as the ‘ring is used regularly for manufacturer test sessions and driver training.

Before you go on the trip do some preparation by learning the track on a console or PC game. There are several games which have fairly accurate reproductions of the ‘ring, including Gran Turismo 4. When you are at the circuit, you can pay to be driven around it on a ‘Ring Taxi’ to allow you to familiarise yourself with the many challenges the Nordschleife offers.

If you want a break from driving (and it is advised that you do so), there are many things to see and do at the ‘ring. The Schloss Nurburg is a 12th century castle that over looks the start/finish area of the circuit and is an ideal attraction for non-drivers. This year sees the opening of the Warsteiner event complex, Nurburgring arena, four-star hotel and shopping mall, close to the start/finish area of the Grand Prix track.

Car hire Germany – Driving the Nurburgring track

It is not advisable to take your road-going hire car onto the Nordschleife, as car rental companies have now become savvy to such use of their vehicles. Some companies will give you a hefty fine for doing so and one company in particular will ban you for life. To assist them in preserving their cars, GPS tracking is sometimes used and locals are employed to spot them in the Nurburgring car park. If you have driven a hire car from the airport, do not leave it there!

Instead of breaking their cars, you can find several local German car hire firms that provide cars specifically for driving on the ‘ring. For more information on these companies and more general information about the circuit, visit Ben Lovejoy’s website here.

Switzerland Car Rental – Geneva

The city of Geneva, in Switzerland, is a great place for a holiday, but if you want to see more of what Switzerland has to offer, you can hire a car and drive to the nearby city of Lausanne.

Car Hire  Switzerland – Hiring a Car in Geneva It’s simple to hire a car in order to drive from Geneva to Lausanne – just visit online, low cost, car rental companies that offer some great cheap car hire deals and have car rental offices in more than 60 countries, including Switzerland. You can book a wide range ofwide range of rental cars, including compact cars and luxury cars online and pick it up when you arrive at offices for car hire at Geneva airport.

Car Hire Switzerland – Driving from Geneva to Lausanne

It will only take you about 40 minutes to drive from Geneva to Lausanne in your hire car and it’s easy to get there. Just head out of Geneva on the A1a and follow the signs for Lausanne.

Lausanne is situated on the banks of Lake Geneva and is the fifth largest city in Switzerland. It’s known as a city of culture and also the country’s Olympic Capital, as the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee has been located in the city since 1915.

Once you’ve parked your rental car, you can wander around Lausanne’s Old Town area, where you will find the beautiful Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame, with its carved choir stalls and 13th century rose window. Next door to the cathedral, you’ll find the Musée Historique, which is housed in the old Bishop’s Palace. This museum features displays of items relating to the history of Lausanne and includes a gallery of silverware from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Lausanne is also home to the fascinating Collection de l’Art Brut, a gallery featuring art works by people from around the world, none of whom have had any formal art training.

You can also explore Ouchy, the lakeside area of Lausanne, where you’ll find The Olympic Museum. The museum features exhibits relating to the history of the Olympic Games, including Olympic medals, Olympic torches and sports equipment used by Olympic medal winners such as Carl Lewis and Chris Boardman. You can stroll through the Olympic Garden and buy souvenirs in the museum shop.

Other museums in Lausanne include: the Musée de l’Elysée, where you can see more than 120,000 photos dating from the 19th century to the present day; the Musée Cantonal de Zoologie (Cantonal Zoological Museum), which features exhibits of vertebrates, insects and fossils; and the Lausanne-Vidy Roman Museum, which has a range of exhibits demonstrating what life was like in the area at the time of the Roman Empire.

You can also visit the Lausanne Vivarium, where you can see more than 200 animals, spiders and reptiles, including snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, lizards and crocodiles.

You can relax in one of Lausanne’s many parks, which include the Parc de l’Eysée and the Parc du Désert, go shopping or take a boat trip on Lake Geneva.

Cyprus Car Hire

Online car rental specialists have car hire offices around the world, including offices in Cyprus, and offers some great cheap Cyprus car hire deals. You can book your rental car online and pick it up when you arrive in Cyprus.

Driving from Limassol to Kourion and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates

If you are planning a holiday to the popular tourist destination of Limassol (also known as Lemesos) in Cyprus, you can hire a car in Limassol and drive to the ruins of the ancient city of Kourion (also known as Curias or Curium) and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates for a great day out.

It’s simple to drive from Limassol to Kourion and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hyates.

Kourion is only about 20km away from Limassol, so it’s easy to reach if you hire a car. You can pick up your hire car in Cyprus when you arrive at Larnaca or Paphos airport, or hire a car in Limassol.

Cyprus Car Hire Trip – The Ancient City of Kourion

The ancient city of Kourion is the perfect place to visit on a day-trip by car if you are staying in Limassol. Situated on the cliff-tops, the ruined city offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and you can see the remains of a number of significant Roman buildings. The city is believed to have been abandoned following a series of devastating earthquakes during the 4th Century.

The Roman Theatre, for example, was originally constructed in the 2nd Century and, although it was destroyed during the 4th Century, it has now been restored to its former glory and is used as a venue for concerts and plays during the summer.

You can also see the remains of the Roman Stadium, which is believed to have been constructed in the 2nd Century. The stadium would have been able to seat up to 6,000 people and would have been used for athletics events, such as the Pentathlon, where competitors would take part in running, high jump, long jump, javelin and wrestling, as well as for chariot races. The stadium at Kourion fell into disrepair during the 4th Century.

Other things to see at the ancient city of Kourion include the remains of the House of the Gladiators, the House of Achilles, the Agora (or market-place), the public baths and the Nymphaeum (a large building which contained baths, a meeting chamber, an atrium and fountains).

The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates

One of the other most significant sites near the ancient city of Kourion is the Sanctuary of Apollo Hyates, which overlooks the city. The origins of the buildings that made up the Sanctuary are believed to date back as far as the 8th B.C., but most of the construction took place during the Roman period.

Legend has it that anyone who touched the Sacred Altar of Apollo would be flung from the cliffs into the sea, and you can still see the remains of the altar at the small Temple of Apollo. You can also see the Treasury of Apollo, where priests would have made votives to the Sun-God.

Another key part of the site is the Circular Monument, which is likely to have been dedicated to a woodland god and constructed before the site was dedicated to Apollo. Processions would have taken place here around seven sacred trees.

Car Hire London

Visiting London Theme Parks – Chessington

When you’re planning a trip to London, you might not initially think about hiring a car. After all, the centre of London is packed with attractions such as the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and many famous museums and art galleries.

However, if you book a hire car for your trip, you can explore some of the places on the outskirts of the city. If you are taking your family on a London holiday, you can visit several theme parks in the London area, each of which is packed with rides and attractions to keep everyone entertained.

In this article, we’ll be looking at what you can see and do if you visit Chessington World of Adventures as part of your London car hire holiday.

Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington World of Adventures incorporates a theme park, a zoo and a new Sea Life centre, and it’s easy to get there in your car. If you pick up your hire car at Heathrow Airport, it will only take you about half an hour to get to Chessington. You can park your rental car at Chessington World of Adventure free of charge.

The theme park at Chessington is divided into nine areas: Beanoland; Forbidden Kingdom; Land of the Dragons; Market Square; Mexicana; Mystic East; Pirates Cove; Toytown; and Transylvania.

Thrill-seekers will love rides like the “Rattlesnake” rollercoaster and the “Black Buccaneer” pirate ship ride. You can also take a trip on the “Runaway Train”, fly through the air on the “Vampire” coaster or take to the water on “Seastorm”. There are plenty of rides for young children as well and they will love the Toytown area, where they can ride flying elephants on “Flying Jumbos” or drive one of Toadie’s Crazy Cars.

Chessington Zoo opened in 1931 and is now home to more than 400 animals. You can see Sumatran tigers, Persian leopards, Asiatic lions and gorillas on the Trail of the Kings; watch Californian sealions perform at Sealion Bay; enjoy watching the monkeys in the Monkey and Bird Garden; or get up close to spiders, snakes and lizards in the Creepy Caves.

The Sea Life Centre at Chessington opened in 2008. Its 250,000 litre aquarium is home to many different marine creatures, including clownfish, stingrays and sharks.

There are a number of food outlets at Chessington World of Adventures and there are also souvenir shops throughout the park. If you are travelling with young children, you can also take advantage of the park’s new “Kidspotter” service, which allows you to hire a tag which will track your child via GPS and mobile tracking technology, making it simple for you to be reunited with them if they get lost.

The great thing about visiting Chessington World of Adventures as part of a car hire holiday is that you can visit the park when you want to, without having to rely on public transport. It’s easy to hire a car in London, as well.  Easycar the online, low cost car hire specialists offers some great cheap car rental deals and has car rental offices in cities and at major airports throughout the world, including car hire from UK Airports.