Bazzamaroo

We are going to Sarlat from Paris by train (2 persons, retirees, do not speak French). We have been advised to take the train from Paris Austerlitz to Souillac and then take the bus to Sarlat. There is only about 15 minutes to leave the train and find the bus. If we miss the bus there are no more running for the day.

Has anybody done this? Does the bus leave from the railway station?

Carlux

The coach leaves from the train station - it is there to meet people arriving and get them to Sarlat. I wouldn't hang about on the platform, but you should have no problem getting to the bus -it's right outside the door.

ira

Hi B,

Are you planning on visiting Sarlat and the Dordogne without a car?

Bazzamaroo

ira - Yes. We are on a walking holiday from Sarlat to Domme to La Roque to Beynac and back to Sarlat (with some assistance from taxis). Also going up to Perigueux and Brantome. We have the wonderful French IGN maps and walking books with loop walks around some of the towns. Have done this sort of thing before in France. In Australia we drive on LH side of road, too hard to adjust to RH side in Europe.

But please, you obviously are concerned. Like to hear your comments.

mayhewga

We are also Aussies, and also doing some walks in that region in May and will be taking a train from Carcassonne up to Souillac to get a bus across to Sarlat, and I have found the bus time table, and here is the link:

http://www.cg24.fr/FCKeditor/upload/...t-Souillac.pdf

It appears the buses meet the trains going north and south.

Over the years we have spent a month at a time in France doing various walks and always using public transport, and we agree its not worth the hassle of getting cars and driving when the train systems, buses (and esp the school buses) can get you just about anywhere.

This trip we are spending 2 weeks based in Cahors then about 10 days around Sarlat and Bergerac, as part of a 2 month trip.

We too do loops as well as point to point, by taking a train/bus/taxi whatever to one town, walk to the next and get transport back to base etc.

We are retired and when we aren't in France we are poring over the GN903 map, all the walking books, and guide books, and the various ICN guides we pick up from earlier trips, as well as the internet, to plan our next trips.

We have over the years, completed most of the walks in Frank Booth's "Independent walkers guide to France", and some of Gillian and John Souter's "Walking in Franc" and Lonely Planets "Walking in France".

Carlux

Just don't expect there to be buses, or school buses that will accept you in this area. There is virtually no public transportation other than trains, which don't go to the places you will want to see.

If you are real walkers, and also don't mind missing some beautiful places, it's possible to do without a car. But don't expect much public transportation here. (The bus from Souillac to Sarlat is designed to replace the train link, which was torn up long ago. It isn't often, and it doesn't go to many places you will want to see.

Also see my other post about construction on the train line between Sarlat and Bergerac.

La_Tour_de_Cause

I want to allay any fears about finding the bus at the Souillac train station. Walk outside with your bags, and the bus will be a little to your right. If it isn't there already, waiting for you, it will be there in a few minutes. The driver can put your bags in the luggage compartment for you, if you wish, or you can schlep them onto the bus with you. It's comfortable, and a pretty drive to Sarlat. It will end AT the Sarlat train station, so you don't need to worry about where to get off.
Are you staying in downtown Sarlat your first day? If you need a taxi from the train station to your first hotel/B&B, there may be a couple hanging around outside - there's also a sign posted on the outside wall of the train station with some taxi phone numbers.
Otherwise, if you're staying in downtown, most everything is downhill from the train station, so it shouldn't be a difficult trek.
Have fun!

mayhewga

Thanks for all the info, it is all very helpful.
Yes we realise that there are many areas without any viable public transport, which can limit our activities so sometimes we find we have to take cabs to start and finishing points.

One of the good things about being on foot is that one can get to places that cars/buses/trains cannot and therein lies the attraction; being somewhere that takes effort to reach and being there on your own.

Of course one has to have plenty of time to do things this way which we have.
On these holidays we limit ourselves to a total load of just 7kg each, which is the carry-on limit for our flights, therefore it is very easy to step from a bus or train and wander into town to find a bed.

Carlux

I do understand, having just gone around the world with carry on luggage. (And we did manage to drive in New Zealand and Australia on the other side of the road)

You just have to realise that in the Dordogne there are very few buses, the trains don't go to the most beautiful areas, and that for a taxi you will have to arrange ahead of time - and probably keep it there, or phone for another one to come out and pick you up. There are not many large towns, mostly villages. It is mainly a rural area, where people come to see markets, churches, caves, chateaux. You might want to consider renting a car for at least a day or two. It's up to you.

LadyDar50US

As I am unclear on the bus timetable and our train from Cahors to Souillac arrives at either 8:59 or next at 1:10 on the 5th May(thursday)will a bus be there headed to Sarlat? Otherwise I was given a taxi number which I am trying to avoid $$$$$
Thanks in advance.

How hard is it to get to Toulouse from Sarlat(we have a train to catch to Barcelona).

Darlene

StCirq

Darlene, what do you mean you are unclear on the bus timetable? How did you end up planning a trip to a place where you don't have firm plans to get where you're going? Yes, if there isn't a bus, you'll have to call a taxi. That's how people have to get around in this area, which is devoid of easy public transportation options.

Getting anywhere on a train from Sarlat is a PITA. If you have a train to catch in Barcelona, you should have checked out connections in advance. In all likelihood, the connections aren't from Sarlat. You can check out all French train connections on the SNCF (French national railway) website.

Carlux

Someone has already given a link that shows the bus timetable.
http://www.cg24.fr/FCKeditor/upload/...t-Souillac.pdf

Or if you check the SNCF website and indicate that you want to go from Cahors to Sarlat, it will usually show the connection with the bus.

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

Your train from Cahors has almost certainly come from Toulouse, and normally the bus will meet those trains - check the timetable.

It's not such a PITA to get from Sarlat to Toulouse. Just do the reverse of what you did to get to Sarlat - take the bus from the centre of Sarlat to the train station, pick up the train that goes to Toulouse (passing through Cahors)

I agree that it seems more logical to do this planning ahead of time, but we had people staying with us once who asked only AFTER they arrived how to get to Prague from Carlux. It's possible, but not easy - took them many many hours.

Michael

There are public buses in the Dordogne, but not very convenient.

This might help:

http://www.cg24.fr/modules.php?name=...tid=262&page=1

Click on <b>carte du réseau</b> to get a map of the bus system.

Carlux

Nice looking buses - I have to say I have NEVER seen one on the road.They obviously exist, but usually just to meet the train and get people to a major location - Angouleme to Perigueux, for example. And only a few times a day. In fact we were with a friend looking at a house in Sarlat a few years ago, and there was a municipal bus stop right outside the house, which we thought would be useful. Except that the bus went into town once a day, and out again once a day. And not every day. Still a long way to go here for real public transportation