mrsrvk

Thanks to everyone who regularly post to these forums. The information gleaned here have been helpful in planning for our upcoming trip to France which includes a couple of days in Saint Emilion.

We are a family of six (ranging from a toddler girl to my parents who are in their 70s). My father needs a walker a good portion of the time. We will be driving a nine-passenger van and will be staying in the center of town. We plan to do tuktuk tours to help us navigate the steep and narrow streets.

I just wanted to check if anyone can kindly recommend a street map or guide that mentions which streets are drivable, or which are too narrow or steep and need to be avoided - anything to help us plan our driving routes and where to park. For example, we'd like to have a meal at Logis de la Cadene, if possible. Their website mentions that their hotel includes rooms with disability access. If they can accommodate persons with physical disabilities, I wonder if this means that there is way to get there other than the very steep cobblestones street that many post pictures of online. On Google maps, it looks like the place is only accessible via Rue dela Cadene.

Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

StCirq

What time of year is this? Traffic in high season in St-Emilion is a nightmare, and the entire center of town involves very steep, narrow uneven cobblestoned streets. The crowds are close to unbearable. Last (and it will be the last) time we went it took us more than an hour to find a parking space, and then we had to walk a mile into town. Ordinary cafés were offering 3-millileter sips of wine for 32 euros. The placewas jammed shoulder to shoulder with people swinging selfie-sticks around like it was the World Series.

Sorry, I don't know the Logis de la Cadene, but I do know the Place du Marché au Bois and I believe it's right on Simard/D122 in the heart of the old town. The logis does say it has parking, so that's a plus, but honestly, and I hate to tell you this, but a 9-person van, 6 people, and St-Emilion is a truly bad proposition unless you are going in winter, and even then...

The tuk-tuk tours go around the perimeter of the town, some of them into the vineyards for wine tastings. All well and good, but you won't get into the historic old center.

Honestly, I would cancel your plans to stay in St-Emilion and jut go into town for dinner at the logis. Stay somewhere nearby where you won't have the logistical hassles you are inevitably going to face. St-Emilion was a lovely place 20 years ago; today it resembles a freak show.

bilboburgler

There is a carpark at the bottom and one at the top.

There is also a car park at the station, but that is a bit away from town. But at least there would be space to get out and stretch legs safely etc.

I'd park at the top, the views are better but there are not many spaces.

9 person van, I got to tell you medievel villages are not designed for 9 people vans.

nanabee

Can you stay in one of the hotels outside of the old town? We did years ago (in August) and loved the area.

mrsrvk

Thanks to all for the responses. We're going the last two weeks of August. I'll see if I can cancel our hotel reservations. We were planning to go to Oradour sur Glane after Saint Emilion and then Versailles for three days.

bilboburgler

Begerac is pretty, but probably too much walking, Montbasillac is also a nice little place and chateau pleasant but lots of gravel. Angouleme has a nice side, I like Royan, massive fortress on the river, I think you can drive inside for a small fee and park, with lovely views over the countryside

StCirq

Oh man, you couldn't pay me enough to try to visit St-Emilion in August! Cancel your hotel and stay out in the countryside somewhere and venture into town if you must for that Michelin meal (which trust me won't be ALL THAT - you could do way better in a lot of other restaurants at half the price).

Oradour-sur-Glane is a beautiful, sobering place, and you'll be glad you visited.

You're not really going to spend 3 days in Versailles, are you?

TDudette

FWIW, I was in St. Emilion on May Day, 2016. There were jitneys available at the station. Whether they were special for that day, I can't say. Neither the desk clerk at the hotel nor StCirq above was aware of them. Anyone know?

Although I don't need a walker, my asthma has an effect with hilly areas. St. E is hilly so if you do decide to go, take a tour in which you can be driven. I did see some parking places at the summit but do plan ahead. You might be OK if you get there early and not on a weekend day.