First time travellers to France next year, staying at le port de limeuil in the Dordogne. Which is the best route via Paris or Rouen? Please advise most beneficial route. Also if anyone can advise a stopover town approx 3 hours from Calais (to stay in a Hotel) Would like a pretty town/village (Not a motel on the side of the motorway) Thanks Kellie
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The best way imho, is Calais, Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Avoids going thru Paris which it itself ain't that bad as long as you switch off yer satnav & just follow the signs.
If you go via Rouen, 3hrs from Calais, you will be between Rouen & Chartres, hardly the prettiest part of France.
I preferred to take the long way round, avoiding the motorways, take a few days to do it & sample a few of the municipals in Normandy & the Loire Valley/Val de Cher while you're there.
It's nice on the Auvergne mountains as well, you'll probably have to cross them en-route.
Use Tentz' route, but try to get as far as Chartres - rather than around Rouen for your overnight stop although Rouen itself is not bad in the centre - with some lovely old buildings. Chartres has a lovely Cathedral (with a bit of mystery about it too - DaVinci code style) and at least some character in the town, plus some more interesting hotels and Chambres d'Hote rather than anonymous motels.
We stayed at port de limeuil this year. We went from Calais and on the way down stopped at a campsite at Rambouillet. On the way back we stopped at Orleans. We went via Paris and the traffic wasn't too bad, perhaps we were lucky!
Don't get the preference many show for Rouen route. We did that on way back from dordogne. Found A roads boring and slow, outer Rouen a pain (loads of traffic lights). On way down had gone via Paris on francilienne (old Paris ring road N104 I think). Was busy but traffic kept going. Does tho depend how nervous a driver you are - not for the faint hearted but definitely managable! Even towing our Eriba for first time.
So, after going through the same dilemma a yr ago - Paris or not Paris - would definitely do francilene again having experienced both. IMHO!
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We prefer the Rouen route because we're on a very small income, and we can do it without paying anything in tolls. We also like N roads and the variety of scenery and places to stop. The other way, towing a caravan and using the Francilienne will cost 31 euros in tolls from Calais far as the Francilienne turn off near Charles de Gaulle airport and 27.40 euros from there down to Orleans. For us that's at least one week's campsite fees!
I think those who prefer the Rouen route are perhaps like us and don't want to spend money where they don't have to, or those in less of a hurry. When we were both working we used to use the Francilienne, and outside peak hours it's a lovely road. I wouldn't advise using the peripherique, towing, though, as it's a very very busy route with people cutting in and it's not easy to stop with a caravan on the back!
You only have to be held up in a snarl up arund Paris once to avoid it like the plague for the remained of your life! I know quite a few people who have been stuck for as much as 6 hours.
Go one way and come back the other - breaks any monotony! Going East of Paris gives you better scenery for the first part but becomes more urban after Paris; Going West of Paris can be a bit tedious over the wheatfields of Centre!
I personally think, as first timers, you really need to prepare yourselves for just how big France really is.
Everyone seems to think the further you drive the better your holiday will be, & this simply isn't true.
It's a long drive down to the Dordogne, & it's a very busy area once you get down there, so whichever way you choose to go, make sure you leave plenty of time for your journey (I would say it's a 2 day event really, just to be on the safe side). France is a massive country, & a very beautiful one as well. Take as much time as you can & enjoy. But don't expect to get there quickly & start enjoying yourselves, you'll need a day to unwind after a drive like that. I took a good couple of weeks to get that far, but I was lucky enough to have the time. I very much doubt I'll have that kind of time on my hands again, not for a very long while at least.
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As the previous few posters have all touched on, depends on your circumstances.
We have 2 young kids and we like to get to our holiday destination as quickly as we can so we can start unwinding as soon as possible. I would agree that it's a long way down so does take a few days to recover.
we are lucky tho to be able to go for 4 weeks (combining vendee and dordogne next year) . Also feel it's worth it because further south increases chances of nicer weather - although by no means guarantees it!
By the way jellies, we stayed at limeuil - lovely campsite and village. We also found it's at the quieter end of the dordogne so don't have to suffer traffic jams you find nearer the sarlat end.
Check out my blog & visit Peter Checkley, an English guy who rents canoes right on the campsite (well, right next door to it).
He's a lovely bloke, I even helped him out for a few days while I was down there.
It is a lovely spot, & yes, it is the quieter end of the Dordogne, with some lovely towns & villages all over. Most of which have an evening every week where they have an outdoor food selling evening thingy (can't remember what they call it, but I'm sure you get my drift) where you can get some lovely local food at very very good prices.
I would love to get back down there myself again next summer, but I've decided to give Brittany a try this time, that's if I ever get the money together to get over there again.
I would also love to see more of Normandy, lots more of Le Massive Central & I would really like to see some of the Alsace & Lorraine regions.
The night markets are great. One in particular which I can't remember name of - either le buisson or cadoin? Takes over Market sq right on front of lovely imposing church
There's a fantastic night market in Cadouin - which I think is the one with the church (or rather an abbey, with cloisters) and there's a day market in Le Buisson. There's also a flea market in Cadouin on a Sunday morning. We visited them all whilst in the Dordogne this year.
Incidentally in the Cadouin flea market we saw a British stall-holder selling what looked like very authentic old door knockers for 250 euros - and he sold a couple whilst we were there. In the Quincaillerie in St Pons de Thomieres four days later we saw exactly the same things for sale (without the antique patina) for 9.50 euros! We were sorely tempted to buy his entire stock, a tin of brown shoe polish and a brush, a bit of elbow grease, and head back to the Dordogne to pay for next year's (and many more) holiday!
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: calais to dordogne preferred route ?
