Mare

Is it feasible to drive from Dordogne region to Provence, or is better to drop off the rental car, take a train, and pick up another car?

Jenny Treanor

Just the question I was asking myself. My husband and I are planning our first ever trip to Europe and plan to focus on Provence. I hope someone answers this, as we plan to do the same. Jenny

Rex

It's darn near one of those "can't get there from here" situations, though I must confess I cannot answer this based on actual personal experience. But I think that the drive is not so bad, and the train wouldn't offer any advantage that comes to mind.<BR><BR>Starting, for example at Perigueux, will require at least three trains to get to Nimes or Lyon (which is not, of course, in Provence - - but sort of a gateway to the south) And one additional change to get to Arles, Avignon or Aix.<BR><BR>Driving, the route would go north, south or cut right across the Massif Central. The website www.viamichelin.com prescribes a "hybrid" route which goes across (via Rodez) and yet still comes as far south as Montpellier and Nimes. It's 307 miles - - of which only 97 are autoroute. They estimate almost 7 hrs driving time. On a positive note, their route takes you very close to the Gorges du Tarn and right by Pont du Gard.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Betty

Whether you drive or take the train, it's going to be pretty much an all-day affair. ViaMichelin says you can drive from Sarlat to Avignon, using some D and N roads through some pretty hilly terrain, in 5h43. Somewhat less time, but a longer distance and higher costs in tolls and gas , if you take mainly autoroutes, heading south to Toulouse, Carcassonne, Montpelier and on east. In 1996 I drove that longer route from Cahors to Le Barroux (about 30km NE of Avignon) and it took me almost twice that time. We did stop for a picnic lunch at a rest stop around Carcassonne and it didn't help any that we got messed up in Carpentras, driving around in circles for an hour or so before we found the right road north out of town. By the time we arrived at our hotel, where we were doing demi-pension, the dining room was closed, but they insisted on giving us dinner anyway. Not one of my better memories of driving in France! Now, I'm sure you are a better driver than I, but it's a long day's drive, nonetheless.<BR>I also checked the SNCF site and the news doesn't look good there either. The best route from the area, time-wise, seems to be from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Avignon, leaving at 11:07 and arriving in Avignon at 18:10 with train changes in Toulouse and Narbonne.(48 euros) Cahors to Avignon took even longer from 8:41 to 16:13 (longer waits in Toulouse and Narbonne). From Perigueux or Bergerac, they recommend you go back to Paris and take the TGV south!<BR>So, I guess the answer depends on how much tolerance you have for long drives, how much you mind taking bags on and off trains and how much extra it might cost to do a second car rental as opposed to keeping the first for the whole time. (If you have a week or more in each area, it might not be any extra, but you would have to ask your car rental company about that.)<BR>Hope this helps some. If you do decide to drive, my main suggestion is to leave early!<BR><BR><BR>

Betty

It just occurred to me that a compromise might be the best solution here, i.e. drive down to Toulouse which is a pretty easy drive on good roads, turn in your car and get the train from there to Avignon. The SNCF site shows one leaving Toulouse at 11:52, arriving in Avignon at 16:13. It still requires a change in Narbonne but it's less than an hour's wait - long enough to pick up a sandwich for lunch? Just a thought.

mimi taylor

Marie, you see so much and get a feel of where you are if you drive. Every year, we pick up our rental car at the airport and visit a different part of France before we get to provence. One year, Normandy, Brittany, Another Mid pyrenees, last year champagne, Alsace-lorraine and lake annecy. if things go well this year It will be Dordogne-Perigord-Lot than to Provence.

Wayne

I've driven that route, from the vicinity of Rocamadour to Provence, and I can verify that it is a long but very scenic one-day drive of about 8 hours. The best route is to head south and east until you end up at Nimes, then east from there. As already pointed out by others, train connections are so contorted that you would probably be much better off (and much more free to stop at the sights) by driving.

Fred

Sure you can drive. Just head south through Cahors and continue south and pick up the autoroute just south of Montaban and head east right to Avignon. Figure about 5 hours. For Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

Mare

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies!

PB

One thing to take into consideration is WHEN you're going to be doing this drive. If it's during the end of June and the months of July and August, count on a longer drive, primarily because the smaller roads will be filled with tourists - and often in the Dordogne area, they will be tourists pulling campers, which slows traffic down considerably.<BR><BR>I live near Arles, and it takes me anywhere from 5.5 to 6 hours, taking the highways to get to Sarlat (and I drive at 'French" speeds) Taking the more scenic northern route can take a bit longer in normal traffic and much longer in heavier traffic.<BR><BR>PB

John G

I have not driven this personally but was in the back seat when my friend, Judith, drove from Bergerac to Figeac, crossed the Tarn, ended up by Nimes and right into Carpentras. It was fun, but, I wasn't the one who had to do the driving. I justed loved stopping at the routiers for lunch. Nothing like them in the US.

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Ron

Driving from the Dordogne to Provance we like to make an overnight stop in Albi, an absolutely delightful town.