Drive to Lyon and then what?

I find it very hard to follow your itinerary the way you have laid it out, and I can't figure out where you are intending to stop for the night anywhere, but you have given the Dordogne short shrift, it would appear to me.

Where I drive to a destination that is my night stop and where there are blank days I will be using the previous stop to tour from, e.g. Drive to Amboise then followed by 2 full days touring Amboise using it as a base. From Lyon I return car and fly out.

You have put a lot of thought into your trip.I hope you like driving. You are seeing most of the best of France. But you need to add 2 nights to the Dordogne. The best I could come up with is:

Day 1: Early start from Paris.Drive to Bayeux. See tapestry. Take D-Day tour in the afternoon.
Day 2: Drive to Mont St Michel. Get there before the tour groups arrive.Tour Le Mont. Drive to Ambois.
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5: Drive to Dordogne area (probably Domme or Sarlat) stopping at Oradour-sur-Glane on the way.
Day 6:
Day 7:
Day 8:
Day 9:
Day 10:
Day 11: Drive to Albi via St Cirq Lapopie, Cordes sur Ciel
Day 12: Drive to Carcassonne. Tour Carcassonne.Drive to Provence (St Remy)
Day 13:
Day 14:
Day 15:
Day 16Optional)Drive to the Luberon. spend 2 nights at http://masperreal.com/index.html
day 17:
Day 18: Drive to Annecy
Day 19: Visit Chamonix (return to Annecy)
Day 20: Bastille day in Annecy
Day 21: Drive to Lyon

Thanks for your advice and yes I have put a lot of time and thought into the trip and I would like extra time in the Dordogne also.
I thought the first day as you've suggested might be too rushed, especially as I need to pick up a hire car.
I also thought the evening at Mont St Michel would be worthwhile and that driving from Bayeaux, visiting Mont St Michel and then driving to Amboise would be far too much for one day as would be driving from Albi, seeing Carcassonne then driving to St Remy?

I had thought of missing Bayeux and Mont St Michel and driving straight to the Loire which would give me extra days for Dordogne.

Or would you suggest I cut one day from Provence for Dordogne?

>>as would be driving from Albi, seeing Carcassonne then driving to St Remy?<<

I would certainly do this in 1 day.

Albi to Carcassonne
2 hrs 8:30-10:30

visit Carcassonne 2 1/2 hrs, lunch 1 hr 10:30-2:00

Carcassonne to St Remy
2 3/4 hrs 2:00-4:45

Use this "saved" day to stay in the Dordogne longer.

Make sure the weather on Mt Blanc is perfect before you head out from Annecy. If it isn't, cancel Mt Blanc (Chamonix itself is a big nothing, IMO) and just drive around the Alps near Annecy. We stayed in a Gite in Talloires for 2 weeks and had plenty to do there - without going to Mt Balnc (which we did on a prior trip).

Stu Dudley

>> I thought the first day as you've suggested might be too rushed, especially as I need to pick up a hire car.<<
OK. Stay in Bayeax one night and in or near the Mont for one night as you planned.

>> I also thought the evening at Mont St Michel would be worthwhile <<
OK The abbey is open until 7PM in June. The hotels on the Mont are expensive and the food rates as the worst in France.So you might want to stay at a hotel nearby and not on the Mont.

>> Or would you suggest I cut one day from Provence for Dordogne?<<
Yes. This is not a slam dunk decision.

>> as would be driving from Albi, seeing Carcassonne then driving to St Remy <<
No it isn't. Stu, an expert on this form, agrees.
" Use this "saved" day to stay in the Dordogne longer."

>>I had thought of missing Bayeux and Mont St Michel and driving straight to the Loire which would give me extra days for Dordogne.<<
If this is a one time trip to France, I would not do this. Bayeux Tapestry and Mont St Michel are world famous sites.

Day 1: Drive to Bayeax (possible stop Caen Memorial museum, Bayeax Tapestry)
Day 2: D-Day beaches morning(guided tour), drive to Mont St Michel (visit evening)
Day 3: Drive to Amboise
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6: Drive to Dordogne area (probably Sarlat) stopping at Oradour-sur-Glane on the way
Day 7:
Day 8:
Day 9:
Day 10:
Day 11:
Day 12: Drive to Albi or Carcassonne for overnight.
Day 13: Drive to Provence (St Remy)
Day 14:
Day 15:
Day 16Optional)Drive to the Luberon. spend 2 nights at http://masperreal.com/index.html
day 17:
Day 18: Drive to Annecy
Day 19: Visit Chamonix (return to Annecy)
Day 20: Bastille day in Annecy
Day 21: Drive to Lyon

thanks so much Stu and dugi-otok.
I will change my stop at Carcassonne and drive through to St Remy to give me an extra night in Dordorgne.
1. Are you recommending in my day 1 to stop at Caen Memorial museum in place of Hornfleur?
2. Can you tell me what is the guided tour you refer to at D-Day beaches?
3. With the extra day in Dordogne would you still suggest to stay in one place (Sarlat) which is 5 nights?
4. With my drive to Albi or Carcassonne are you suggesting I drive directly there and not via St Cirq Lapopie, Cordes sur Ciel?

If you are only spending two days in Normandy I think you'll have to bag either Caen or MSM--or both. And Honfleur.
We found we could do the beaches VERY well on our own by using the Michelin Green Guide to Normandy. I can't imagine what you would see in a "morning guided tour".
there is also more to Normandy than the beaches so be sure to sort of look around en route to Bayeux. YOu will also probably want to choose which beaches you visit. My suggestion would be Omaha, Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, the American Cemetery. There are innumerable small "museums" you will see on the roads, but the main museums are more than adequate.

>>1. Are you recommending in my day 1 to stop at Caen Memorial museum in place of Hornfleur?<<

Those are two completely different experiences. A museum vs a port/interesting town. You are going to have to make the choice.

We got to the Caen museum when it opened at nine, spent 3 hrs there, then visited the Pegasas bridge/museum, Arromanches/museum, then some D-Day beaches, and stayed in Bayeux. Next morning the tapestry, D-Day museum in Bayeux, then Omaha, cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, Ste Mere Eglise, then finished by 3PM.


>>3. With the extra day in Dordogne would you still suggest to stay in one place (Sarlat) which is 5 nights?<<

Yep

>>4. With my drive to Albi or Carcassonne are you suggesting I drive directly there and not via St Cirq Lapopie, Cordes sur Ciel?<<

What is "there"? You should drive from the Dordogne to Cahors, St Cirq, Pech Merle, Cordes, perhaps Figeac (which I like a lot (no pun) more than Cahors) then to Albi (long day). Then from Albi, get on the Autoroute/freeway (vs directly south) to Carcassonne.

Stu Dudley

1. Are you recommending in my day 1 to stop at Caen Memorial museum in place of Honfleur?
Yes

2. Can you tell me what is the guided tour you refer to at D-Day beaches?
The Caen Memorial Museum organizes guided informative Tours of the D-Day Beaches. Of course,if you do your homework, you can self tour.The beaches themselves are not much to look at. You have to imagine what was happening on June 6, 1944. The 27 British and Commonwealth cemeteries and the two American cemeteries are a somber and emotional experience.

3. With the extra day in Dordogne would you still suggest to stay in one place (Sarlat) which is 5 nights?
Yes. I recommended Sarlat because there are many budget hotels and restaurants and happenings in the evenings. We spent a festive Bastille day celebration there in 2011.

4. With my drive to Albi or Carcassonne are you suggesting I drive directly there and not via St Cirq Lapopie, Cordes sur Ciel?
No. I am saying that you could spend your one night enroute to Provence in either Albi or Carcassonne after stops along the way. See some of Stu's suggestions. You might reserve ahead for 9AM tour of Pech Merle to start your long day. The sight of Carcassonne all lite up at night is similar to Mont St-Michel at night.If you skip Albi,your next day drive to Provence is a couple of hours shorter.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/9368466

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/entries/48548/view/

Thanks again. I am almost complete with just the overnight at either Albi or Carcassonne.
I would like the overnight at Carcassonne as I think an evening visit is appealing but looking at the Michelin drive time from Sarlat to Carcassonne with the stopovers mentioned it's 7 hours driving which doesn't allow much time for stops on the way. Are the Michelin times conservative?
Am I right in thinking it's more balanced in drive time, stopping over in Albi then just stopping to visit Carcassonne and onto to St Remy the following day.
If there was enough time would it be worth driving through Castres to Carcassonne?

I disagree with the post that the beaches are 'not much to look at". Yes, you do have to imagine what happened, but those beaches were faced with high cliffs from which the Germans had an unimpeded 180* view of the channel all the way to the horizon--how anyone survived is a testament.
Honfleur is a darling seaside town. With only two days allotted for Normandy I do not see how the OP can "spare" the time for it. And basically the same for the Caen Museum, as excellent as it is. It comes to priorities as always with travel.
And again, the Michelin Green Guide gives an excellent tour.

When using viamichelin, click the "fastest" if you want to get to the destination as fast as possible. The times are usually accurate - except if you exceed the speed limit on autoroutes. On a trip over about 3 hours, I usually add 15 mins to 1 hr for pottie breaks, lunch, roadwork deviations, etc.

Sarlat la Caneda to Albi 3 hrs
Albi to Carcassonne 2 hrs
Carcassonne to St Remy 2 3/4 hrs

I would overnight in Albi to allow stops at Pech Merle & St Cirq. Then check the time. It is about a 50 min drive along the scenic Cele river to Figeac - one of our favorite towns. Allow about 1 hr to pick up a walking guide at the tourist office & visit Figeac. Then it is a 2 1/4 hr drive straight south to Albi. Or you can retrace your route back to the St Cirq area along the pretty Lot river. There are some interesting houses built into the cliffs along the Cele route. Then about 2 1/5 hrs to Albi.

Stu Dudley

The Michelin times are right on for "driving only". If you want to see "a lot" in Lot and/or Cordes, Albi, with its top attractions, Cathedral and T-L museum, you must sleep in Albi.

I am unfamiliar with Castres and the scenery on the highway Albi to Carcassone via Castres. I would probably take the motorway Albi to Carcassonne via Toulouse because it saves 33 min of driving time.

After all the wonderful help and deciding on the extra day in Sarlat and a stopover in Albi I have been booking my accommodation to find there is nothing reasonable available in Albi which I think must be due to the Tour de France in Albi on this day.
I am now thinking to drive through to Carcassonne still on a scenic route but limit stopover to one or two places only as this will be a long drive.
1. Should I avoid Albi knowing the tour de france is on route.
2. Select a scenic route using viamichelin via one scenic town such as Cordes-sur-Ciel.

Yes, you should avoid going anywhere near the Tour de France unless you want to get detoured and/or stuck in horrible traffic. Yes, Cordes-sur-Ciel is a great destination. So is Castres, a fascinating old silk town. And while I am not generally one of them, many people will tell you that Carcassonne is worth little more than the spectacular view from the autoroute. I would far rather wander around the little towns in between Albi and Carcassonne - Revel, Castelnaudary, Puylaurent, etc. - but I don't think you have time for that.

We were "boxed in" by the Tour de France this year. Certainly avoid crossing the path of the race on the day of the race. I think you should determine the actual route of the Tour, and where it goes the next day. Let that determine your itinerary.

Personally, I would not head out from Sarlat, visit a "1 or 2 places" (Pech Merle, St Cirq, Cordes) and try to get to Carcassonne in time for dinner - and risk the chance that you will be "stopped" by the tour.

Consider skipping Carcassonne altogether and try to visit the lovely Gorges du Tarn, Figeac, and Conques instead. We've vacationed for 10 weeks in the Dordogne, 2 weeks near Cordes, 2 weeks on the Lot river near Espalion, 4 weeks in other regions of the Languedoc, and 18 weeks in Provence. I would do the following "route to Provence".

Head out from Sarlat and visit Pech Merle, St Cirq, Figeac, Conques (similar to Cordes - but much better). Then follow the pretty Lot river through Entraygues, Estaing, Espalion, & Ste Eulalie. Overnight in 1 of these last 4 charming villages. Next day continue east the lot, through la Canourgue (my favorite village that doesn't appear in any tour book), then the very pretty D998 southeast to Ste Enemie (visit) and the explore the Gorges du Tarn (see the Michelin Green Guide). Then hop on the A75 south over the Millau bridge and on to Provence.

Stu Dudley

The Tour de France starts in Montpellier and ends in Albi on the day in question (July 5). The next day(July 6) the Tour d F starts in Castres and ends in Ax 3 Domaines to the south.Exact routes not yet published.So you need to avoid those areas.Last year we watched the Tour d F in both Figeac and Carcassonne.

Stu's recommendation above, which would appeal to me, would maximize your site seeing.

If your heart is set on seeing Carcassonne you could wake up and spend Saturday morning (July 5) at the fabulous Sarlat outdoor market, then drive to Carcassonne for an overnight.
We stayed here last year:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/chateau-de-palaja.html?aid=334783;label=postbooking_confem%20ail

Another option is to spend the Saturday day tripping from Sarlat(add a night in Sarlat). The next day drive to Provence, with a stop in Carcassonne. I have done this on a previous trip.

Like I stated earlier, we were boxed in by the tour. We stayed in a gite close to Foix. The tour went by our little village. This was the first day of the Pyrenees mountain stage and the tour passed our village on the "Route Vert" (famous - main road through the Pyrenees in the Ariege Dept). We arrived at the Gite on Sat Bastille day, and the stage finished in Foix on Sunday. We were close to Foix, so the riders were pretty spread out by the time they passed by us. Many roads were blocked off in the region starting about 10:30am on Sunday, and didn't open until much later in the early evening. Several days in advance there were signs posted everywhere announcing which roads would be blocked in the area (not just the Tour road) and at what time.

If next year's tour goes from Montpellier to Albi, you might not be able to take any "scenic roads" from St Cirq to south of Albi, unless you get west of Toulouse - and that area is not scenic. Of course, you could take the A20 Autoroute to Carcassonne - but that isn't pretty either. As Dugi stated, the next stage goes from Castres to Ax (les Thermes??). That means the tour might go right by Carcassonne - perhaps interrupting your itinerary on that day also if you stay in Carcassonne & want to take a "scenic drive" the next day. BTW, Ax les Thermes is in the Ariege dept cose to Foix - but south of Foix You'll see that it is almost a straight shot from Castres to Carcassonne to Ax. Carcassonne might be "booked up" too with photographers for the tour

I would travel north of Albi/Castres, and Carcassonne. Or stay on the Autoroute (A8, A61, A9) from Cahors to Provence (with a overnight in Carcassone) - but you won't see as much stuff between Pech Merle/St Cirq and Provence (except for Carcassonne) as you would on the route I described earlier.

Stu Dudley