A Memorable Road Trip to Saumur: Exploring Normandy in Our 964 Targa!

Just under a week away, we found ourselves gearing up for a familiar destination. Sometimes, the best trips don’t have to be epic in scale to feel special! We wanted a break that mixed a bit of exploring with a place we already knew and loved. So, we packed the 964 Targa, booked the ferry, and set off for Saumur!

Crossing the Channel: An Adventure Begins!

We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen. What a great crossing both ways! Although sleep was out of the question, thanks to the constant racket of car alarms below deck and what sounded like the captain throwing a box of spanners into the funnel every half hour. But hey, we arrived in one piece and ready to explore!

Pegasus Bridge Cafe

Normandy Coast and Pegasus Bridge: A Taste of History

Our first stop was Pegasus Bridge, where we enjoyed an omelette breakfast at the famous café right beside the bridge itself. The owner, who was just a small girl when the gliders landed in 1944, was incredibly welcoming. Meeting her was surreal, given the history of the place. She witnessed the opening minutes of the Allied invasion of Normandy!

From there, we followed the Normandy seafront, stopping at Ouistreham, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, and Courseulles-sur-Mer. We even visited the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, a moving and beautifully kept site.

Hotel de France: A Night Steeped in Motorsport History

Next, we headed south to La Chartre-sur-le-Loir for a night at the Hotel de France, a place steeped in motorsport history! We managed to park the 964 outside for a photo before heading in for an excellent dinner. While there, we chatted with three friends from the UK who were doing a road trip through the Alps in a pair of Astons and a Jag. We felt a twinge of jealousy as we reminisced about our own Alps trip last year. The town itself is full of antique shops, which suited us perfectly!

Stunning HY van hiding at the back of the Hotel de France

Back to Saumur: A Charming Return

The next morning, we enjoyed an early start and a lovely drive down to Saumur via Angers. We’d been there before and always said we’d return. It’s one of those towns that just sticks with you! This time, we stayed at Hotel Saint Pierre. Saumur is full of beautiful architecture, riverside drives, good food, and a laid-back atmosphere.

Exploring the Local Delights

It made a great base again! The Saturday market was as lively as ever. On Sunday, we followed the river to Montsoreau for a refreshing beer, then on to Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, which was stunning! Finally, we headed to Château de Brézé for a bit of wine tasting (and a few bottles to bring home).

We couldn’t resist a stop at the tank museum just outside Saumur. It was far more interesting than we expected! It was hard not to eye up the Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen as potential souvenirs. The Vespa-mounted rocket launcher was a particular highlight!

The Journey Home: Reflecting on Our Adventure

On the drive back, we spotted a fleet of air-cooled T2s belonging to Ernest Le Combi, a company that runs escape games in Bay Window buses. There’s definitely a reliability joke in there somewhere!

Monday came around far too quickly! We started with the Mushroom Museum just outside Saumur, which turned out to be a surprise hit. Then, we headed north, passing through Chinon. We made a brief stop there, but it looked so lovely that we promised ourselves we’d go back for a proper visit next time.

Obligatory Le Mans pic!

Next, we headed to Le Mans and took a few photos of the car in carefully chosen locations (it's the law!). Le Mans didn’t offer much in terms of food stops, but luckily, we’d picked up some takeaway savoury tarts that morning from a roadside café in Candes-Saint-Martin. They were perfect for a riverside stop at Saint-Jean-d’Assé before the final leg to the ferry.

The return crossing was even smoother than the outbound… and somehow even noisier! Neither of us slept a wink, but it didn’t matter. We’d had an amazing time, the car didn’t miss a beat, and the weather was kind enough for plenty of roof-off miles!

Let’s plan our next adventure soon! What do you think?