A circular tour of France

[bjrocky]

My wife and I are planning a second honeymoon in France and briefly Italy during October - our first sojurn in 20 years!
Our plans are to hire a car in Paris immediately upon our touchdown from Australia and head to Dinard for 2 days with dear friends. Then we drive down to Biarritz for another 2 days with friends before a cross-country tour to Nice (more friends!). A 2 day trip to perhaps Lake Garda or Lake Como (zero friends) then a sprint back to Beziers where we join friends on a week trip along La Canal du Midi.
Some questions:
1. Sights and food in Normandy (no D Day stuff unless something new has appeared since 1985),
2. Sights and food on the way to, and in, Biarritz (we think we will stay at Hotel Chabrol, Brantome on the way down(Any info?).
3. Marseilles - Chateau D'If?? Tucker??
4. We'd love to stay on one of the Italian lakes for 2 nights in a cosy village with a view of the water - Maggie Smith was in a movie sometime back doing just that. Which hotel, which village??
Chowhounds, any advice would be greatly appreciated as we just love our food. Also please contact me for assistance in Melbourne - I distribute food to the best restaurants here and have a good working knowledge of the restaurant scene.
Sincere thanks for any wise advice.

[zuriga]

I'm envious of your upcoming trip! I've been through Brantome, and it's a lovely town. Nearby is one of the my favorite restaurants, Moulin du Roc in Champagnac de Bel Air. I remember a delicious lunch there with very fond memories. The Dordogne region has a great many interesting restaurants and don't miss the Lot Valley if you can also include that in your itinerary. The best caves are to be seen there. If you want to see any photos just email. As for Lake Como, it's another beautiful spot. I think you may be remembering Vanessa Redgrave in the movie about the villa on the lake? It looked like Cernobbio to me.. I had just been there but I'm not 100% sure. That or Bellagio are both great, small towns to stay in... one can travel around by boat and see a lot in one day. There are good restaurants in both. Enjoy!