mcburja

At the beginning of August, we'll be driving a rental car, which we pick up at the Gare de Lyon in Paris, to Amboise, where we'll be staying for a few days.

Mappy gives us a direct route through Orleans and on to Amboise, in 2 1/2 hours or so. Alternatively, Mappy shows a non-toll route through Chartres, on to Vendome and then to Amboise, with this route apparently clocked at 3 1/2 hours. We're not in any rush to reach Amboise (although I'd like to find the hotel before dark), and we'd much rather enjoy the journey, but I have no sense of how much highway traffic there might be, and if we're better off taking even less popular roads.

Any suggestions for us?

rex

Factor this in: there is no way, IMO, that you can (or should) drive anywhere near Chartres, without stopping to see the cathedral, one of the greatest treats in all of France. You'll start seeing it 10, if not 20 miles away.

Time well spent.

Best wishes,

Rex

Suki

We did the drive from Paris to Chartres to Amboise. Rex is right - you should stop in Chartres, have lunch in the very nice town center, and then see the cathedral. You could even book an afternoon tour. Do a search and you will find the name of a knowlegable Englishman who conducts tours.

If you really don't want to stop in Chartres, then I think the route through Orleans would be fine. The countryside was not particularly beautiful between Paris and Amboise so you would not be missing scenic landscapes. You could stop in Orleans and go to the Joan of Arc museum (but Chartres would be a better choice.)

PalQ

ditto to Rex as regards Chartres and the cathedral - the views are especially remarkable south of Chartres when like he ways miles away you see Chartres Cathedral, built on the highest land in town, regally crowning the landscape. The autoroute via Orleans is a drag but obviously quicker plus extortionary tolls every few miles it seems. I'd take the Chartres route. both routes go thru the Beauce, France's cereal basket with miles and miles of wheat and corn fields - one of the finest agricultural areas in Europe - helped by the fact that there is a large subterranean water source so irrigation on wide spread basis is practiced. There is mainly farms punctuated by small villages in the Beauce. The Chartres route no doubt routes you on N-10, the national route via Chateaudun and Vendome and this type of road can be a drag as well - lots of trucks and traffic perhaps - i would suggest taking some minor roads such as follows to get a real taste of the Beauce and the small villages:
Take A 11 L'Aquitaine autoroute out of Paris (or else spend days on other roads to get out) to Ablis then hop on D177 (D for departmental, or local road maintained by the local department) which soon becomes D18 when it crosses the department line and then D7 and D17, running thru Auneau, voves to bonneval where you join the N10 to Vendome, etc. this 50 km (31 mile) stretch of D roads may even save you time as it's shorter distance wise and you can make good time on these well-paved D roads as there will be no traffic. Otherwise you'd be on the super busy A11 or N10 - the D roads will let you savor the Beauce countryside. And you' snag great views of Chartres cathedral in the distance. this D route follows the course of the high-speed TGV line so you'll see trains blowing by at 186 mph from the roads. You could take D roads all the way Paris to Amboise but this would take many hours - the cut-off i've outlined won't take much longer and will be much more enjoyable.

StCirq

Definitely take the scenic route and stop at Chartres. It's well worth the extra time. A gazillion Parisians will be pouring out of the city onto the autoroutes heading south in the beginning of August, so by taking the sceneic route you not only get to see Chartres but possibly avoid unpleasant highway experiences.

And I wouldn't worry about finding the hotel before dark, as it will be light until after 10 pm that time of year.

mari5

It will take you a little extra time to get out of the city from Gare de Lyon probably...
A few years ago we drove from Amboise to Orly airport to turn in the car (and then took the aiport shuttle into Paris). Drove the direct autoroute through Orleans.....certainly can make good time, but it really wasn't very scenic! (and this from two people who ALWAYS find any countryside beautiful).
Yes, the Chartre would be more interesting and pretty and really would not take that much longer. even with a stop for lunch !
Sounds like you already have your hotel in Amboise reserved and that is good....and certainly with an early getaway from Paris you would be there in the afternoon.

ira

One more vote for stopping in Chartres.

mcburja

Ira, St. Cirq, Pal Q, et al. Thanks to all for your advice. I found information about the English tour at Chartres (Malcolm Miller, who has just written a book on the cathedral), and we'll definitely plot this route now. And with the money we save by not taking the toll routes ($$$$!!), we can enjoy an idyllic lunch near the church instead.

jody

I'd try to manage a stop in Vendome , too. It's a lovely little town and good for a walkaround!

mr_go

Yeah, stopping in Chartres is the way we did it, and we're glad we did. But be advised, there is a large amount of road work / construction going on right now, according to someone I know. Rush hour might be problematic.

But the cathedral is a 5-star attraction. Believe the hype.

Catbert

I was very glad that we took the train to Fountainblue and rented the car there. Much easier than trying to get through and out of Paris. For that matter, you could take the TGV to Tours and save time and tolls.

mcburja

Catbert - that was the original plan, but I somehow got my heart set on driving a convertible Pluriel, and Paris was the only way to get one!

RonZ

You may wish to stop by the day before to make sure they have the car you want and get the lay of the land before returning with luggage. Maybe have lunch at Le Train Bleu.

The street entrance to the rental places is slightly confusing--through an unmarked door and up an escalator.

Very easy to get from the gare to the highway.

mcburja

That sounds like the voice of experience. We'll be sure to do that - thanks.

Betsy

Several years ago we had a delicious inexpensive lunch near the cathedral. When you're facing the front of the cathedral, look to your right. There's a restaurant just across the little side street by the name of Serpente, if I remember correctly. We sat outside for lunch. Would love to return there.