RJD

Next Spring I want to spend a week in the Dordogne, perhaps using Perigueux as a base for driving tours. But I'd like some advice on the easiest way to ge there from Paris. Do I rent the car in Paris and drive? Or should I take the TGV to Bordeux or the train to Perigueux directly. I did train to Perigueux about 20 years ago and I remember it was a bit of a hassle. Anybody made this journey lately?
I might also appreciate advice on a base town for driving tours other than Perigueux.

ira

Hi RJ,

I would stay somewhere near Sarlat rather than Perigueux.

I wouldn't drive down from Paris.

You can take the TGV to Libourne (3:00 from Montparnasse). The Europcar office is just acrss the street from the train station. (See www.autoeurope.com for rental.)

It's about 2:15 hr from Libourne to Beynac-et-Cazenac, where we stayed.

You might find the Beynac part of my trip report helpful,

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645

RJD

Ira,
Great advice, thanks.
RJ

ira

You are welcome, RJ.

Have a great visit.

Michael

Check on PREM tickets to Libourne or Bordeaux. It would make the trip cheaper than driving. On the other hand, if you drive from Paris, you can stop in the Loire valley to see a couple of chateaux. Sarlat is a more common stop, but Périgueux has the advantage of more in the center of the Dordogne, givingyou the opportunity of visiting Bourdeilles and the Brantôme area.

StuDudley

I wouldn't stay in or near Perigueux, although it's a very lovely city to visit. The traffic and urban sprawl around there is a mess - not what you want to experience while enjoying the Dordogne. Most of the stuff you will want to visit is around the Sarlat area - so stay in that region. Click on my name to see past posts my me and others about the Dordogne - there have been many recently.

Stu Dudley

StCirq

It's not much of a hassle to take the train directly to Périgueux (leaves from Gare d'Austerlitz, sometimes stops for 10 minutes in Limoges), but these days it's almost always a LOT less expensive to take the TVG to Bordeaux or Libourne (often for s mere 25 €, sometimes evenless), and then take the choo-choo to Périgueux (13&euro.

I wouldn't base in Périgueux - it's a royal pain driving in and out of there, though it's certainly well worth a visit. Rather, stay near Sarlat in a mid-sized town with some commerce if you need that, or there are loads of lovely villages from which you could drive to get your café/shopping fix.

Mid-size towns to consider would be Domme,Beynac, La Roque-Gageac, St-Cyprien, and Le Bugue. All are within a 20-minute drive to Sarlat.

Sue4

I agree, stay nearer Sarlat rather than Perigueux. Last May I spent 2 weeks in the Dordogne and divided up my time in several areas, starting in the northern part of the Dordogne - in Bourdeilles.
Since I was starting out in the north, I took the TGV to Angouleme from the Gare de Montparnasse (2 hrs.l5 min.).Rented my car at Avis at the station - very easy out of Angouleme on the wonderful road leading to Brantome/Bourdeilles/Perigueux. After arriving at CDG on 9:20 A.M.plane, I was in Angouleme by 2:30 P.M. and at my
hotel in Bourdeilles by 3:45. I highly recommend this route. I worked my way south during the 2 weeks, and ended in Figeac, training back to Paris. Starting out in the north is especially good if you have more than a few days for the Dordogne.

JeanneB

We took the train direct to Limoges and picked up our AutoEurope car right in the train station (after making the typical 1st timer mistake of arriving just as the rental office closed for lunch!).

Very easy drive down to Sarlat.

RJD

Much appreciate the advice. All are interesting options.

susan_Carlux

I agree that Sarlat is a more interesting place to be near than Perigueux. Also, consider the train from Paris to Brive - only about 40 min. from Sarlat. Rental agency is right outside train station, and only 4 hours from Paris. No need to take the TGV, which is not the most direct route. (Also drive from Paris is not bad now, only about 5 hours)

Amart

We trained from Paris (Aus) to Brive in June. Brive should have rental cars. It was an easy trip, but was not on the TGV. It was a lot less hassle than renting a car in Paris and driving.

If you do go through Bordeaux, stop at St. Emilion for a day. But,the drive to the Dordogne from there isn't exciting.