PS: If you have a Garmin GPS, investigate purchasing a pre-programmed data chip from Garmin with the French roads on it. It will probably cost you about $100, but that will be money well spent. You can (and should) get that chip before you leave Canada, you won't be able to buy it at a store in France.
If you don't have a GPS here in Canada, stick your head into a Media-Mart or other big box electronics store in France and buy a GPS on your first day. It will make a HUGE difference to your stress level and greatly enhance your driving pleasure.
Some rental cars come with a GPS, but the quality of the built-in GPS devices varies a lot. It will probably be cheaper for you to buy a map chip for your Canadian GPS - or even buy an inexpensive GPS at a store in France - than it will be to pay the premium for 2 or more weeks to have a rental car with a GPS in it.
Michelin road maps are by far the very best for route planning. They are expensive, but worth it. You might be able to buy them in Canada. Try and get a map that just shows 1/4 of France (the part you are going to) - if you get the map showing the entire country, it won't have sufficient detail for the 'Departmental' roads.
Michael
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