Gail

This spring we are going to Provence. We are thinking about going to Carcassonne for either the day or to spend the night. Should we take the train from Arles or drive? If we take the train how long will it take? Also there is no direct train so where would we transfer?

StCirq

I would definitely drive. As you say, you'll have to change trains to get there (probably Montpellier, but you can check all schedules at www.sncf.com) and once there you are in the lower city with either a long, long walk or a taxi ride to get to the walled upper city. Driving is easy. You can actually see Carcassonne up fairly close from the autoroute - very hard to miss it! I would definitely spend the night and enjoy the place after most of the tourists have left.

sghosh

I think it depends on how much you like to drive. In France, parking is often difficult, streets are narrow, and toll roads and gas are expensive. If you can live with all that, then by all means opt for the independence a car will afford you. <BR>I did not take the exact route you're planning last time I was in Provence, but I did rely on trains and cabs (for remote locations not served by the trains) and I was very pleased. <BR>

Gail

How long will it take driving from Arles to Carcassonne?

lynn

Hi Gail: <BR>We did almost the same route last year but we went a bit further than Carcassonne. The motorway would probably take you a couple of hours and can get pricey but if you want to get there quickly then it's the only way to go. (I am sorry I don't remember the exact amounts of the tolls) There are lots of secondary roads that do not require a toll and while they are cheaper they can be alot slower due to traffic etc. <BR>I would choose the drive over the train for sure however. The poster also says about parking but there is lots of parking areas for the old city at Carcassonne. We have arrived both early morning and mid day and found parking spots for the old city without a problem. The crowds tend to be awful in summer but hopefully not as bad for you in the spring. Lots of them come on bus tours. <BR> We didn't encounter any roads in France last summer that were impassable because of their narrowness. <BR>Have a good trip.