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(This page is
credited to my dad, he & mum have spent a lot of time in France.)
I have been visiting France for 40 years by car, camping car and
frequent journeys to and from my house in Spain. In over a hundred trips I
have used just about every route possible,(A9, N9, A20, N20 etc) all the ferry ports in France
and Spain, and stayed in every manner of accommodation.
I am not
listing every route, only those that I have found usefull, scenic or
interesting.
I am assmming that Toulouse would be a good destination
to make for if you are entering Spain via Perpignan or
Andorra. (west side of France routes)
I
am not in too much of a hurry these days and spend at least 2 nights in
France on journey to Spain. For many years now I have avoided the A7
(via Lyon) I have seen some of the worst motorway conditions imaginable on
this road in winter. There are many good routes through the centre of
France and western side. I vary the roads I use, but do use motorways when
it suits me, often to bypass a busy town or to make some time up. There is
not much in the way of free motorways now but there is a 200 mile section
between Chateauroux and Montauban. Much of the A75 is free-Montpellier to
Moulins. Boulougne to Abbeville is also free. There are though, many
stretches of good dual carriageway roads, a good map will show these
routes.
I use http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm
to get street maps & town plans to locate hotels and up to date maps
are downloadable, for free, in all magnifications, for all of Europe.
Rennes, Nantes,
Bordeaux, Toulouse, Limoges, Le Mans, Angers have got excellent ring road
systems and are passed through quickly. Tours can be a problem and the
ring road seems endless. For getting around Poitiers, I always use the
motorway.
Caen, Le Havre or Cherbourg to
Toulouse is about the same distance which ever route you choose (to
within 50 miles) So it’s basically via Bordeaux or Limoges. The A75 down
the centre of France, via Clermont Ferrand, would more likely to be
used from Calais - Boulougne.
back to top of page
From
Cherbourg, I go via Laval, Angers, Poitiers,
Bordeaux, Toulouse.
This route has varied scenery, the Mayenne valley
is particularly scenic near Chateau Gontier, a nice town built on the
river, parking by the quai. Angers is a large but easily accessable
historic town. The road from Poitiers is particularly good with
interesting villages en route. Saumur, a historic town, can also be
visited from his route.
From Poitiers, you can also go via Bellac,
Limoges, Brive,Souillac, Cahors, Montauban, Toulouse.
The area to the east of Souillac is
full of medieval villages, indeed the whole area from Brive to Albi
contains some 350 interesting villages. See Photos
links
See listings at http://www.villagesdefrance.free.fr/page_france.htm
Some are described and listed on the following site along with
camping sites, wines and town descriptions http://francophile1.tripod.com/
Cahors is also an interesting town, modern & medieval with an
excellent Saturday food market.
From Poitiers the route to
Bordeaux and Toulouse is less interesting via Angoulême,
but you pass a good hypermarket 'Auchan' at Angoulême.
Vivonne, 12 miles south of
Poitiers has a very good hotel 'Saint Georges' and a seasonal
campsite, several restaurants and a brasserie.
From Caen or Le Havre I
would make for Alençon via the RN138 or RN158, then
national road to Le Mans. At Le Mans north you have two choices, take the
motorway west to La Fleche for 30 miles. then follow Saumur, continue to
Montreuil Bellay and Poitiers. Saumur, on the Loire is worth visiting, the
french cavalry was based here.
Alternatively, at Le Mans north, follow
ring road and head for Tours, use the motorway at Tours north to avoid the
traffic. This city is worth a visit, with many fine buildings, but it is
often very congested. I use the motorway then to Poitiers.
25 miles SE
of Tours, town of Loches can be visited. (you can then
continue on to Chateauroux and use the Limoge route to Toulouse) This is a
fine medieval town with many impressive buildings and ancient town centre.
There is no shortage of hotels here of all desciption.
From St
Malo I would take the shortest route to Spain, - Rennes, Nantes,
Niort, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Andorra & Spain. This is by far the
shortest route, approx 500 miles, although mostly motorway.
I have also used a
different route into Spain from Bordeaux. Take the A62 until Langon,
follow then Aire sur Adour, Riscle, Maubourguet to Tarbes. Use the A64
towards St Gaudens, and at Montrejeau, follow the D33 for Tunel de Viella
and Val de Aran into Spain. Continue on this road to Lerida, you can use
the national road N240 to the coast. (the 'tunel' is a bit daunting, not
well lit and after driving in sunlight, takes a bit of adjusting to)
Alternatively, you can continue at Bordeaux until Agen and take the
N21 to Auch and then Lannemezan, Viella etc. These two routes are only
475-500 miles Spanish soil from St Malo.
Auch is an interesting old
town and is worth a visit.
However the landscape to Lerida and Zaragoza
is very boring landscape, just desert. The interior of the triangle made
by Lerida, Zaragoza and Huesca is to be avoided, bad roads, dusty and
incredibly hot in summer.
This route however is usually clear of snow
in the winter.
Passes to be avoided or treated with respect, are Col
du Somport, Tunel de Bielsa, Col du Puymorens, and Pas de la Casa-Andorra
at times. Pas de la Casa is normally open easily passable unless there has
been heavy snowfalls. A tunnel now under Pas de la Casa makes life easier.
However I did once hit heavy sudden snowfalls on the way up to Andorra and
suffered the worst conditions imaginable. (In really bad weather the pass
is closed and the only alternative is to go back and enter Spain via
Perpignan.)
Several times, on the way back to the
UK, I have cut across the Auvergne from Toulouse, Albi, Rodez,
Espalion to St Flour (A75)
Or from Montauban, Caussade, Figeac,
Aurillac to the A75. These are much slower routes, but the scenery is
worth it. The area around Cordes sur Ciel has many medieval villages and
is rich in culture. See Photos
links Aurillac is also an interesting
medieaval town with arcaded streets.
Cordes is known as the 'City in
The Sky'. Cloud covers the botton of the peak and it is a strange sight
when viewed from the north west. back to top of page
Worth a
visit
Brantôme
Built inside a loop on the river
Dronne, this town is very appealing and is much visited. Not unlike Cahors
but smaller.
Confolens
Very popular with
the British, beautiful location but very very peacefull. Exceptional
original old bridge. Only 2 hotels - Hotel Emeraude - Hotel Mere Michelet.
Campsite nearby.
Rodez
Spectacular setting, old medieaval town at
the top of town, varied architechture.
Cahors
Old & new parts of town, set on loop
of river Lot. The Lot valleys in either direction of town are
spectacular. Food market
on Saturday in lower town near wine museum. Bric a brac market off main
thoroughfare also on Saturdays. Good camping site by river 'Camping
Cabessut'.
Cordes
set
on a hill, very steep ascent. Top of town shows through low cloud if
viewed fron N, NW in a morning, hence name 'sur ciel' in the sky
Loches
medieval town, unspoilt, fine
architechture.
Handy
Hotels
Castelsarrasin
Hotel Artel, at gare de peage-. I use
this hotel frequently as the rooms have capacity for up to 5 people with
not much extra charge. ( approx 45 -55 euros per night for 2 to 5
people). It is a good day's drive from St Malo or Caen, mainly
by motorway. From Peñíscola it is about 6-7 hours via Andorra or
motorways. Reasonable restaurant, and there is supermarket over the
road.
This hotel gets fully booked, for reservations tel-Int code plus
05 63 32 86 86 (drop the zero)
Air sur Adour
Hotel Airtel( 2km north)
If you going to
Spain via Tunel de Viella, this hotel is a good half way stop. A
good days drive from the ports, the hotel is similar to one listed above,
similar price and accomodation. There is also a Premiere class type hotel
next to the main hotel. The main hotel has a buffet style restaurant, very
resonable and there are more resturants in the town. From here you can be
in the Dorada-Azahar region by late afternoon the same day.
Agen
After the peage, at the Agen exit from the
motorway, there are several hotels of all description all with
restaurants.
Langon
Similar to above,
after peage, there are several hotels, Horus, Plantation, Mauleon
and on road towards Bazas. Leclerc, Lidl & commercial centre
adjacent. back to top of page
Speeding & Fines
I have been stopped twice
by the police for traffic violations. In France I was fined on the
spot and had little spare cash at the time. 6 months later I received
re-embursement from France with no explanation.
In Spain similarly, the
police insisted I pay and took me to a local bank despite my protestations
that I had used my limit that day. The gave me a ticket to pay at a later
date, I did not pay this and heard nothing more of the
matter.
The Spanish police do now have random breath tests as do the
French. I have been stopped several times in France for random ID
checks and breathalizer.
Photos
Castelnau - medieval
town, SE of Tours
Puycelci - from air
Brantome -
showing loop in Dronne
Cordes
from air
Cordes - city in the sky
Confolens -
pont vieille
Larresingle medieval village
Please feel free to contact me
for any comments, errors and constructive suggestions.
Thank You -
Justine's Dad
peterfga@ya.com
or pmolieff@hotmail.com
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