jjmcg

I am arrivng in the dordogne on June 2 (train form Paris), departing evening June 5th (evening plane from Bordeux. I know, not nerly enough time, but I will be back. I originally was going to take the train to Brive, rent a car and drive to Sarlat (already have res at Villadeconsuls). However, after reviewing the cadogan guide, it looks as though I can connect by rail to sarlat if I take the train down to Souillac, then Sarlat. I was thinking I could rent a car there and return on the 5th then take the Sarlat/Bordeaux line back to BDX and stop off in St. Emilion on the way back. The other alternative would be to take the other train route and stop off in Perigeaux on the way out. I am still working on the itin for the 4 days. Would love input from Stududley or St. Cirq. Thanks in advance! Traveling with active mother in law and 13 yr old daughter.

ekscrunchy

I am not either of those posters, who know far more than I do about the region, but I will tell you that I took the train as far as Perigueux on one of my visits. From there it is an easy drive to Sarlat.

The rental car place in Sarlat is not located at the train station, but a few blocks away..

I think that trains into Sarlat run infrequently; that is the reason we did not take them..

ira

HI jj

The Souillac/Sarlat connection is a bus - not a train.

If you will have a car, would it not be easier to drive Sarlat/BDX with a stopover at Ch Monbazillac)just S of Bergerac off the N21) and St. Emilion, instead of the train into the city and then transport out to the airport?

jjmcg

Ira,

i was assuming if i rented a car in Brive or Sarlat, that I would return it there. If Brive, drop off and take train through Perigueux. If Sarlat, Take the alt train back through St Emilion to BDX. How far is the station to the airport. Should I skip St. Emilion and spend extra time walking through Bordeaux.

KeyWest

I would take the train/bus to Sarlat. Enjoy the area and then either train to Bordeaux - which is really in Libourne and then rent a car there to go to St. Emilion and then drop at the Bordeaux Airport.
I spent two weeks at the Villa de Consuls a couple of years ago. Great spot, location and host. Free washer and dryer also

ekscrunchy

How is Bordeaux really in Libourne? There are train stations in both places!! If you are renting a car to see Sarlat and around, you don't want to return the car, take the train,and rent another car..that last post makes no sense to me. Sorry!

PalenQ

Libourne is perhaps the closest TGV station to St-Emilion but some Bordeaux-Paris TGVs may not stop there so less options and maybe you can't return you car there.

Libourne is well north of Bordeaux

Carlux

I don't quite understand your schedule - you may have 4 days from 2nd to 5th June but there's a fair amount of travelling time in there, which I think you are underestimating. In addition, as noted, trains from Sarlat are slow and not very frequent. And with such a short time I would not be going back to Brive to get to Bordeaux.

I think there are two main options. First, train to Brive, pick up car there and drive to Sarlat – about 45 minutes to an hour. Remember that you won’t get here until late in the afternoon I suspect – you would probably take the train from Paris around 10, which arrives in Brive 4 hours later, probably get here around 4p.m.So not much time to see anything other than Sarlat.

The other possibility is to continue on to Souillac 4 1/2 hours from Paris. It is not a rail connection to Sarlat from Souillac, but a coach from the station (there’s a very nice bicycle path on the former railway track) again probably arrive around 4 p.m. Again, you could easily spend what's left of the first day walking around town, and then pick up a car from Europcar, the only car rental agency in the town, the next day.

Going back it's probably easier to drive to Bordeaux and leave the car at the airport- you can usually leave the car at any Europcar agency with no extra charge. I don’t personally see that you have time to see St Emilion and Bordeaux.

I would spend as much time in the Dordogne as possible, driving along the river, past chateaux, 'most beautiful villages' etc. possibly breaking the drive at Montbazillac as suggested. That way you would get the advantage of seeing more of the countryside while getting to your destination.

jjmcg

Thanks Carlux.

I will train to sarlat and rent car there. Not sure about return. I plan to take early train from Paris and arrive around noon or one. You are correct, I only have two full days, and two half days. Will probably just get to Bordeaux and if I have time walk around. Now time to work on itinerary.

Carlux

Before you go much further, make sure you have a look at the SCNF train schedule. There are fewer trains stopping at Souillac lately, a source of much concern in the area. There is a train leaving 6.41 with a change at Brive, but there is no connecting coach shown for that train.

Check www.voyages-sncf.com and check schedules to Sarlat or Souillac for connections. It's also possible to leave from Paris/Montparnasse and change at Libourne for Sarlat.

One word about Bordeaux - I would not suggest driving into the city if you only have a short time. Lots of construction, lots of one way streets, and easy to get lost. It's an attractive city, but I don't think you would get much benefit from a few hours there.

ira

Hi J,

>Take the alt train back through St Emilion to BDX. How far is the station to the airport. Should I skip St. Emilion and spend extra time walking through Bordeaux.

Bordeau Airport is BOD.

The train arrives at Bordeau St Jean station.

You can see where the airport is with respect to the station at www.viamichelin.com.

It will be much easier for you to drive to the airport. See www.viamichelin.com for the route via Bergerac.

I would spend the time in St. Emilion rather than in Bordeaux.

Carlux

I agree, drive to St Emilion, then to Bordeaux airport.

PalenQ

St Emilion was one of the nicest towns i've ever been to in France

and great wine to boot

vineyards swirl around the old town

the train station however when i was there was deserted and unstaffed and in appalling conditions - not many use it

jjmcg

Thanks again for everyone's input. I have reserved a car for pickup at Brive train station and will drop off at Bordeaux airport. I am trying to fit in some Dordogne on the two 1/2 days I have as well as the two full days. I have requested english tours and res for either the 3rd or 4th (the full days) and Lascaux and Font de Gaume,but not sure what days I will get. Also wondering if I should just limit it to one. There are lots of differing opinions on which is best.

I was thinking of after arriving in:

Monday 6/2-Arrive in Brive and head towards Sarlat, lunch in Sarlat mid day, venturing out to la Roque Gageac and Domme and Have dinner @ L'Espanade. Wish I could fit in a boat ride though? could I move to another day?

Tuesday 6/3 -Full day in Lascaux area (either FDG or Lascaux) with St. Christophe and possibly Castelnaud & Beynac.

Wedensday 6/4- Morning market in Sarlat then off to Rocamadour, Martel, Carennac area? any other towns?
or should we try to do these towns on the way down from Brive on alt route to Sarlat?

Thurs 6/5- Early am drive to St Emilion for a couple of hours and arrive at BOD airport for 5pm flights.

Opinions? Many thx in advance

ekscrunchy

You could fit in a boat ride on Monday after lunch. Especially if you lunch in La Roque. (Several places there are closed Monday so check beforehand)

Boat rides from La Roque:

www.norbert.fr

You can eliminate the Monday visit to Sarlat and the lunch there since you will be there for the Wednesday market.

Near Brive you have Collognes la Rouge which is achingly beautiful, even if touristy.

Plenty of time on Tuesday to explore..drive along the Vezac River to St. Leon, etc. La Roque had a fire so may be closed to visitors but you can get an overall from the road..

ekscrunchy

Sorry..Vezere River, not Vezac!!

Truly, there is so much to see and explore and everyone will have their favorite routes, etc. I think your plan sounds sensible and you are not rushing around too much...