Calais To the south of France

[daisymay]

Hi, Can any one advise us on the best way to the south of france, avoiding toll roads and stopping on Aires, We have 3 weeks so dont mind how long it takes. *-)

[PJay]

Can you be more specific , where in France

[Clive]

Other than give a wide berth to Paris there are so many ways you can go. Do you have any specific places you want to visit on route?

 

Have you like or a dislike for the west coast?.

 

How about the wine regions?

 

Get a Michalin map and just follow your nose as we do.

 

C.

 

 

 

 

[Brian Kirby]

If you don't have a specific destination in mind, hunt out a Michelin National 1/1,000,000 scale Route Planning map of France, Number 726.  It shows recommended "Bis" routes across France, plus a number of alternative good roads, generally avoiding N roads and major D roads, and always avoiding autoroutes.  Not sufficient for navigation, for which the Michelin 1/300,000 scale spiral bound road atlas is far better, but excellent as a route planner.

[daisymay]

Hi, No we do not have specific places, Quite new at this only the 2nd time in France .

Now hubby has decided he only wants to spend about 3 to 4 days getting to the south of France .

Have brought the aires book ,that has l600 aires in it.Will get a michalin map and like you say follow our nose.

Happy holidays B-)

[Minstrel]

Do you want beaches, culture, rivers or countryside?

[daisymay]

Love the rivers and would like to follow that path,

[BrianR]

If you want to do it in 3 to 4 days, with no toll roads and lots of rivers, i would suggest you head for Abbeville and Rouen, using the N1 from Boulogne to Abbeville. The motorway is then free to Rouen. Take the N15 from Rouen to Pont de L'Arche then following signs for Evreux take the A154/N154 to Evreux, Dreux and Chartres, then D935/D3 to Meung-sur-Loire. Cross the river on the D18 then the D15 to Ligny then to Neung and La Ferte Beau harnais where there is an excellent aire by a lake. This would be a days run from Calais. then head to Vierzon and pick up the free motorway South. You have a choice here - The A20 via Limoges to the Dordogne - free as far as just south of Brive, where you coninue on the N20 to Cahor and Toulouse. A days run would take you there, but there are several aires en-route - Uzerche is good, or Montauban. Alternatively you could branch off on the N140 to Figeac then the D922 to Villefranche, Cordes (worth a stopp at the aire here to see the fortified town) to Gaillac, Castre and Carcassonne then Narbonne and the coast. Turn right for the beautiful area of the Corbieres mountains and hilltop castles and the Cote Vermeille with its rocky coves - there is a good aire at Port-Vendres, with lots of other good aires, or left for the sandy beaches stretching as far as Ma**eille. This would take at least 3 days. Going back to Vierzon, you could take the A71/A75 which is free all the way to Bezier, apart from a 7.50€ toll over the famous Millau Bridge. Going this way there is an aire 1 days journey south at Campagnac, exit 41 then D37 for about 6kms. A very attractive aire. If you want to stop near Narbonne, try Peyriac de Mer, just off the N9 10 kms south of Narbonne.

[Clive]

Looks like a plan to me!

C

 

[maggyd]

There is some good tips for us there Brian :-D Ill be making notes or copying that out Thanks.

[daisymay]

Wow Brain, Never expected This. You must be well travelled. Thanks so much for the info, Off in a week will let you know how we get on.

[gordonaldson]

Wow, steady here I want a print of this answer from BrianR too for my travel notes.

Em, got a print of the whole thread,but to sqeeze it down, how do I get a print of BrianR answer on its own ????

Mmm, sounds a nice route !!!

 

[Philman]

Highlight the text you want, press ctrl c. Then open a word processor like notepad or Word, click once in the text area then press ctrl v, this will put the highlighted text into the document. Save as whatever filename you choose.

 

Phil.

[tonyishuk]

Try the via michelin site for routing, it gives you cost of fuel, tolls and other quite interesting information.

 

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm

 

Some of the main routes are toll free, you just have to pick your route The AA route maps give a much clear idea of what is Peage (tolled) and autorute (no tolls)

 

Takes us 2 to 3 days from Calais to Perpignan on the main routes with a little stop time driving 300 miles be day (6 hrs inc breaks)

 

Rgds

[gordonaldson]

I did it, got it, thanks Phil.

Something new !!!

[Patricia]

BrianR - 2009-08-01 8:52 PM

 

If you want to do it in 3 to 4 days, with no toll roads and lots of rivers, i would suggest you head for Abbeville and Rouen, using the N1 from Boulogne to Abbeville. The motorway is then free to Rouen. Take the N15 from Rouen to Pont de L'Arche then following signs for Evreux take the A154/N154 to Evreux, Dreux and Chartres, then D935/D3 to Meung-sur-Loire. Cross the river on the D18 then the D15 to Ligny then to Neung and La Ferte Beau harnais where there is an excellent aire by a lake. This would be a days run from Calais. then head to Vierzon and pick up the free motorway South. You have a choice here - The A20 via Limoges to the Dordogne - free as far as just south of Brive, where you coninue on the N20 to Cahor and Toulouse. A days run would take you there, but there are several aires en-route - Uzerche is good, or Montauban. Alternatively you could branch off on the N140 to Figeac then the D922 to Villefranche, Cordes (worth a stopp at the aire here to see the fortified town) to Gaillac, Castre and Carcassonne then Narbonne and the coast. Turn right for the beautiful area of the Corbieres mountains and hilltop castles and the Cote Vermeille with its rocky coves - there is a good aire at Port-Vendres, with lots of other good aires, or left for the sandy beaches stretching as far as Ma**eille. This would take at least 3 days. Going back to Vierzon, you could take the A71/A75 which is free all the way to Bezier, apart from a 7.50€ toll over the famous Millau Bridge. Going this way there is an aire 1 days journey south at Campagnac, exit 41 then D37 for about 6kms. A very attractive aire. If you want to stop near Narbonne, try Peyriac de Mer, just off the N9 10 kms south of Narbonne.

 

I am sure that you have helped quite a few people with this post Brian and sorry to correct you but the A71 from Vierzon is not free. Only at Clermont-Ferrand where you run on to the A75 does the road become free.

[BrianR]

Patricia - 2009-08-03 8:26 PM

 

sorry to correct you but the A71 from Vierzon is not free. Only at Clermont-Ferrand where you run on to the A75 does the road become free.

 

Thanks for this reminder - I generally use the A20 and had forgotten this.

[maggyd]

We have bought the Michelin Camping France book plus the route planning map we already have the spirel book but we find that the directions for the campsites are very vague the book says for guidence GPS ! but there isnt any co-ords to the sites! can anyone help as to how to find the campsites on Tom Tom. Do we just put in the place and then look around for camp site.