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Ideas for driving from Barcelona to Bordeaux

Ideas for driving from Barcelona to Bordeaux

Old Feb 26th, 2017, 01:44 PM
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Ideas for driving from Barcelona to Bordeaux

We will be picking up and dropping a car in Bordeaux starting April 10th and dropping it off again on May 2nd. The first part of the trip is planned and booked all the way to Barcelona. We will be driving from Bordeaux to Toulouse area from there to Narbonne and Roses then on to Valencia. We will end that part of the trip back up in Barcelona, where we will drop one of our travelers off for a flight and then spend a few days more in Barcelona.

At that point, we will have 7 nights to get back to Bordeaux and are trying to figure out an interesting route. We are inclined to stay on the Spanish side since we will be visiting a lot of France on the trip down. We are wondering whether maybe a route that takes us through Zaragoza and Pamplona would be interesting? We have visited the coastal areas of Spain like Bilbao, San Sebastian, etc.so wouldn't stop too long there, but have not visited the more inland stretches. Alternatively, we could plan a route through the Pyrenees up to Pau through Huesca for example. I am not sure I would love the mountain driving but would do some if it is a more interesting route.

Finally I would be interested in people's experience visiting Montserrat. I am not super fit with bad knees and I worry if access would be too difficult. I know you can park cars there but I am concerned that after that, that the climbing or stairs might be too much for me. So I would be interested to hear from folks who have visited if it is fairly accessible.

Thanks for any ideas!!
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Old Feb 26th, 2017, 03:04 PM
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If you are interested in good food, wine and outstanding scenery, then plan your trip from Barcelona through the Somnotano wine region, starting with a stop in Barbastro, the capital of the Somnotano (www.rutadelvinosomontano.com) and the medieval village of Alquézar (Huesca). While in Alquézar you will be very close to the Fuente del Truncho Cave, if interested in paleolithic cave paintings. The site is unique, dating from the Upper Paleolithic era.

From there you head to Huesca and over to Jaca before heading onto Pamplona, with a stop at the Monasterio de Leyre (www.monasteriodeleyre.com), where you might be lucky and get to hear the famous Gregorian chants.

From Pamplona you can cross into France over the pass at Roncesvalles, or follow the N-121-A/N121-B to the three-flower village of Ainoha (Pays Basque), with a stop in Zugarramurdi to see the witches caves and the Museo de las Brujas (www.turismozugarramurdi.com).
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Old Feb 26th, 2017, 03:42 PM
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Taüll is worth a stop for its Romanesque churches and frescoes. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7623190654780/ and subsequent pictures

If staying on the Spanish side, San Juan de la Peña is worth a stop: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7623190654780/ and subsequent pictures

In France: Saint Bertrand de Comminges and Gavarnie are places of interest.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7623717915043/ and subsequent pictures
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Old Feb 26th, 2017, 03:59 PM
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Thanks so much-I will take a look-they all look like wirthy stops
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