I was after some advice on a route to the south of France.

We are on holiday in Collioure nr Perpignan in August.

The change over day for our accomodation is a Sunday so we are due to take an early morning tunnel to calais on the Saturday.

We are 2 adults and our laid back 15 year old son.

My main concern is the first days driving and avoiding Paris and its traffic.

I have been told by a couple of people that Paris will be quite in August because the locals head south?

I would appreciate any advice on passing Paris....

By the time I get to Calais and off the train we will have been travelling for approx 5 hours. So I was looking for another 5/6 hours of toll roads to get to an overnight stop. With this in mind Google maps show :

Calais - Orleans 262miles / 4.5 hours

Calais - Bourges 331miles / 5.5 hours

Calais - Clarmont Ferrand 440miles / 7 hours 10 mins

I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

I would try to make for CF have a look at this link

http://webbooking.louvre-hotels.fr/PC/default.aspx?t=db48028ad6ae4&s=PC&__utma=1.1265327217.1332448351.1332448351.1332448351.1&__utmb=1.7.10.1332448351&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1332448351.1.1.utmcsr%3dwww.google.co.uk%7cutmccn%3d(organic)%7cutmcmd%3dorganic%7cutmctr%3dpremiere+classe&__utmv=-&__utmk=123638283&l=en-GB#

you can then look at the Milau bridge

John

Paris is fine,just get on the peripherique and don't exit it at the wrong place. Remember prioritaire a droite, watch out for filtering motorcyclists. Mid week early morning rush hour is 'interesting' but Saturday mid August and mid day? no worries.

Easily make Millau in one stretch, we made it to Nimes in a single stint with an hour or so sightseeing at the viaduct. Remember once on the Autoroute you can sit at 85 mph just slowing down to pay (through the nose )

We are heading for the Gorge du Tarn in June. We visited the same area last year and stayed at Montlucon to break the journey, travelling from Calais via Rouen and Chartres and picking up the Autoroute near Orleans. Montlucon itself is just a few minutes drive from the Autoroute and there are plenty of budget hotels there to choose from (Ibis, Etap, Campanile, Premiere Classe etc). If you feel up to the extra drive, head for Clermont Ferrand. The more you do the first day, the less you have to do to get to your eventual destination on the second.

The A75 from Clermont Ferrand is a great route, albeit not the cheapest with the tolls, but you get the benefit of crossing the Viaduc du Millau. There is a visitor centre just north of the bridge which offers some brilliant views of the structure and is well worth taking a few minutes to check out and there is a stunning section of Autoroute a few miles south of Millau near Le Caylar with quite a steep descent (for a Motorway) and some great views.

Have a great time!

I am not very keen on traversing unknown/unfamiliar cities at the best of times. I have used the Peripherique too often to think it fun. Only once, very early on a Saturday, was it anything less than nightmare-ish. Should you choose to try it, then you need to plan very carefully as you don't always get much warning, certainly not like here where there are lots of repeated signage. You must remember your exit, it doesn't say to where, just Porte Something. Once you miss, and come off to do a U, you can find yourself in backstreet hell. If it works, its fine but add traffic, road works, CRS on manouvers and its hell. There are possible looking alternatives shown like the Francilienne. Avoid. No signs. Roadworks. Nightmare.

My prefered method is to basically draw straight lines from say Calais to Chartes. Then look for decent roads near that line. Adjust the line to avoid potential trouble or include POI's.

I have found that travelling round to the west of Paris is easier and more interesting, usually crossing the Seine at Mantes or Vernon. Which has the Monet Gardens at Giverney nearby.

Or take the A16, toll from Boulogne, via Amiens to just shy of Beauvais, across to Dreux then on to Chartes. Then a short hop to Orleans and ick up the A71.

Obviously the chain hotels like F1 and Etap are to be found mostly near cities, but if you use something like Google maps you can home in each town and see whats available and where. You can print all this route stuff off with turn by turn directions, but I prefer Via Michelin for the restraunt guide. Sure the *** places are expensive but they list most of the eateries by distance from your chosen base. And most restaurants in the guide do excellent value meals. often less than €20. There are also lots of recommended places which are not starred, look on the site for a red R or the Bib symbol.

I used the A75 from Riom/Clermont Ferrand to just shy of Millau last october and it was toll free. I think the viaduct cost €6.40 to cross, or come off into Millau town, nice central square for a coffee, and view the structure from below. A75 very scenic route BTW, but watch the speed cameras as you go past towns.

Join up with the A9 to Perpignan, not terribily scenic but there you go. I made the mistake of trying the coastal route, not worth it really.

Last October, I had a week in Porte Vendres, nice sitting out side at 10pm, after a nice meal looking at the stars and the thermometer reading 27C.

Nice place, not very touristy and was the place where James Joyce lived out his final years. There is a museum to him there.

Reviving an old thread…

I’m planning a four week autumn trip to Millau and Bordeaux, may take in the Mediterranean coast &/or the Pyrenees too. Thoughts are out east of Paris via Troyes, Sancerre, Claremont Ferrand; back through Bergerac, the Auvergne, Tours (for the Loire chateaux) then on to Le Shuttle west and north of Paris.

Anything new or are the comments earlier in this thread still valid?

Thanks

Are you doing the drive in one hit or do you intend stopping over? In which case just to break the journey or do you want to stop somewhere worth visiting?

Where do you débarque in France, Calais, Coquelles, Dunkerque, Dieppe?

If its a direct route to Bordeaux or Bergerac do you want to avoid or minimise the péage sections of autoroutes or want the quickest simplest journey regardless of cost?

The quickest is usually the longer autoroute journey with the most péage fees and fuel cost, the cheapest is very long with lots of speed cameras that could wipe out any saving.

37 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Are you doing the drive in one hit or do you intend stopping over? In which case just to break the journey or do you want to stop somewhere worth visiting?

Where do you débarque in France, Calais, Coquelles, Dunkerque, Dieppe?

If its a direct route to Bordeaux or Bergerac do you want to avoid or minimise the péage sections of autoroutes or want the quickest simplest journey regardless of cost?

The quickest is usually the longer autoroute journey with the most péage fees and fuel cost, the cheapest is very long with lots of speed cameras that could wipe out any saving.

Thanks very much.

Using Le Shuttle to/from Coquelles and first night stopover at a favourite Chambres d’hôte near Saint Quentin. After that it’s still a bit loose; probably a combination of two or three night stops to see a bit of the area around Sancerre and the other places I mentioned. Perhaps a week walking in Auvergne area (national park, extinct (hopefully!) volcanoes).

Just remembered, also want to visit Oradour-sur-Glane memorial village so through Limoges area too, I think.

Will also be making the most of the numerous wine regions passed through; seeking the smaller independent producers in search of some authentic quality vintages - whilst being mindful of the post-Brexit and drink-drive limits.

It’s likely a combination of autoroute, péage, and Routes Nationale depending on length of the days journey and if it includes a visit somewhere (eg a chateau, Oradour…). Often use the Via Michelin app to get an estimate of tolls and inform thinking.

Too many variables most of which you sound like you will decide on the fly, I will give you the route I would take from Saint Quentin via Limoges on to Bergerac or Bordeaux.

My apartment hôtel is not far from Saint Quentin and I used to get a lot of customers using it for a stop over.

A29 East from St Quentin to A1 Junction 13

A1 South to A86 Paris outer ring road, follow signs to Bordeaux, do not allow your shatnav to direct you onto the inner périphérique.

Pass Aéroports Le Bourget and Orly then take A10 South still following directions to Bordeaux.

At A10 J14 Orleans you have the choice of continuing West on the A10 which will take you to Bordeaux via Tours and Poitiers or to take the A71 to Vierzon then the A20 to Limoges for Oradour sur Glane.

From Limoges to Bergerac or Bordeaux shortest route is across country on the A21 but its a killer at the end of a long journey quickest (longer) route if you are tired is to continue on the A20 to Brive la Gaillard & then Eastbound on the A89 via Périgueux to Bergerac (where I live) or Bordeaux.

Thank you @J.R. that’s really helpful; much appreciated.

We went down the East side on our way to Italy, so obviously went a different direction to you after Saint Quentin, but we got a Toll-Tag for the journeys there and back and it made such a difference - well worth the money 👍

I love driving in France, such a pleasure compared to the mostly shoite roads we've got 🙄

Gaz

At Calais you have the choice of the longer Western route A16 via Abbeville and Le Mans to miss Paris or the A1 via Paris, there isn't really a viable Eastern route to avoid Paris unless travelling to the East or South East.

Arriving at Dieppe no choice but the Western route, at Dunkerque the Eastern route is more direct.