Hi, I'm looking for some advice as to the best route from Calais to Chambord, Loire valley.
After months of agonsing we have taken the plunge and decided to take the van to France for a family holiday. As it is likely that I will be the only one driving, and I have never driven outside of the UK before, we will be stopping at a site very close to Calais, leaving a whole day refreshed to drive through France. I booked the sites through the C&C club, and they advocate going via Le Mans to avoid Paris. Although I'm looking for as stress free a journey as posible, I worked out that this route will mean a 350 mile trip to do in one go.
Any help would be gratefully received.....
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We usually follow the mappy.fr route rather than the AA or whatever.
I'll be interested in the responses here because we noticed that to get to Tours mappy recommended the Le Mans route, but to get to Chambord it reckoned going via Paris for a journey of 4H 49. (Tours is a bit further, and via Le Mans is 5H 16) I reckon then that there isn't much in it - depends on what time you would be going round Paris, and where your campsite near Calais is.
We are travelling on a Sunday - so should be quieter and we'll just take the shortest route.
We have found mappy timing fairly accurate - max we do is just under 70 on motorways because we have a roof box and bikes on the tow bar.
Unless you want to see Paris, there's no need to go that way. That said, my experiences of getting round it have not been at all bad, but I think I've been lucky.
So, one route option is Rouen, Evreux, Dreux, Chartres. This is a more complex route, and so arguably more difficult to navigate, even with SatNav (mine took me along some terrible little roads near Dreux...).
Having done the two routes above , if going today I would go: Rouen, Alencon, Le Mans, Tours, Blois.
If you're concerened about the lengthy drive, I don't know if maybe you could stop over a couple of hours further on than Calais, instead of somewhere just off the boat, say toward Rouen (as I would)? I guess it depends how far you've driven to get to Dover.
Enjoy your trip, is it Chateau des Marais? If so, nice site, and walkable (for some) to Chambord Chateau.
We are scared of Rouen... twice now it has totally spoiled our journey home when we have tried to pull off for a bite to eat and to fill up and have ended up not being able to find a petrol station - well, thats not 100% true we have either found stations that only take French CC's or that have 1.9m height limits and with bikes or roof box on top we are too big.
We KNOW there is a big shopping centre with McD's type places and a hypermarket petrol station just off a dual carriageway that would take us directly through - we passed it the first time, but decided not to double back to it - and the 2nd time we tried to find it but took a wrong turning somewhere and ended up in an industrial estate.
Both times we have been heading to a Calais ferry and by the time we have found somewhere to fill up (at a really pricey station on the route out of Rouens which takes our CC but always has a big queue as its a one pump outfit) we haven't had time to eat so we have ended up tired, stressed and hungry at Calais having blamed each other for our incompetance!
We have swore blind that this year coming back from the Vendee we will avoid needing gas/food at Rouens at all cost!
Christine
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The Rouens route is good but seems a bit out the way from Calais. There is nothing wrong with going round the south of Paris proving you take the righ route. From Calais take the A26 south and then the A1 towards Paris. As you get near to C de G Airport to take the A104/N104 which will take you to the A10. The route via Rouen will be quieter , except for Rouen its self!!!
Thanks TT, yes you've right, I've chosen Chateau des Marais. I hope there will be enough around abouts to keep my 3 kids aged 12, 9 & 9 happy.
I'll be travelling from Birmingham on a Monday morning, and as a family we arn't very good at getting up in the middle of the night to set off. So the theory was/is take it nice and steady and aim to get to the site outside of Calais somewhere between 4 - 5pm and relax. I aim to set off the following morning at around 9, and estimate that I'll be doing 350 miles if going via Le Mans.
We stayed at Chateau des Marais last year, travelling from Zeebrugge via Paris using the Franciliene route. Found it a bit easier than going through Rouen. Site is good, we're stopping off there again on our way to Millau.
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cant advise you on best route but can tell you the site is safe for kids, loads to do, loads of space to play, kick a ball etc,lovely area. I could go on and on. We loved it.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Quote: Originally posted by WythallCamper on 24/1/2008
Err.... the Franciliene route??? Which way is this? Excuse me but I'm a complete novice driving through France!
Martin
That is another name for the A104/N104 route I suggested above. Might be wise to buy the Michelin big yellow road atlas of France so that you can visualise the routes.
We've done the Francilienne route (A or E104) lots of time, and would recommend it. You can actually buy a map detailed enough to negotiate it and even petrol stations and supermarkets are shown! Basically at the Charles de Gaulle airport junction you take the A or E104 and keep heading for Marne la Vallee, then head for Bordeaux/Lyon. This would cut your mileage down a little.
The other alternative is to book an overnight stop site a bit further into your route - and break the journey in two. Most French campsites don't mind overnight stops, and some have particular areas set aside for overnighting.
We have done more than 350 miles in one day and it's not as stressful as it would be in England, but I don't think I'd recommend it for a first-timer.
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We have done this journey now for quite a few years and reckon the Rouen route is as good as any, especially if you are not in too much of a hurry and prefer to avoid the toll roads. Calais, Abbeville, Rouen Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Chateaudun, Blois, Chambord would be our preferred route. The bit from Boulogne to Abbeville is a bit dull, Rouen itself is easy, through the tunnel and head for the N15 and Evreux, although the next few miles are a bit bumpy. The bit between Nonacout and Dreux is a bit busy but then its plain sailing all the way. Coming out of Chateaudun head for Ouques / Blois on the D924, its easier than the Vendome way.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Chambord - Best route from Calais
