milestogoneedadvice

Taking the information you shared about the area around Figeac, I am trying to figure out logistics and budget. Here are some thoughts, I'm sure I'm off beat somewhere!

We depart Sarlat on a Sunday morning. We have four nights. (After the fourth night we will start our drive to St. Remy.)

My first idea was to base in Figeac, I found what I think is a great Chambre d'Hotes (Chambres d'hotes Les Pratges).

We could explore the area staying 3 nights. After the third night we can drive to Carcassonne for one night, arriving in time to have some time that afternoon and into the evening.

Then I started looking at the map. Would it make more sense to base in Albi? It seems there are some modest basic hotels there. Stay there three nights, driving to Cahors, Figeac, etc. Then make the drive to Carcassonne from there.

No matter which plan we only need one night lodging in Carcassonne. Many of the B&B's require 2 or 3 night minimum. I think with this schedule this will truly be a place we just sleep for a night. I'm not hung up on it, I would like for it to be close enough to walk to the Cite', any ideas.

We could actually stay an extra day in Sarlat and drive to the Rocamadour area for the day and back to Sarlat. Just seems silly to back track.

Oh my, any insight would be appreciated. I know these plans are flawed, just not sure how to fix it. Milestogoneedsadvice still needs advice!

StCirq

If not backtracking is one of your goals, I don't see the value in basing in Albi and then going back to Figeac, Cahors, etc. Why not stay 2 nights in Figeac and 2 in Albi and forget a night in Carcassonne - just make a stop there on the way to Provence? You don't really need more than a couple of hours at Carcassonne.

The day that you leave Sarlat should be the day to head to Rocamadour, the Gouffre de Padirac, maybe Martel, and Collonges-la-Rouge.

From Figeac you can visit Cahors, the Pech-Merle cave, St-Cirq-Lapopie, maybe Villefranche-du-Rouergue, and Conques.

The day you leave Figeac for Albi, you can visit St-Antonin-Noble-Val and Cordes-sur-Ciel, maybe Castelnau-de-Montmiral. From Albi you can visit and maybe some small villages like Graulhet and Lavaur. Then get up early and had to Carcassone, spend a couple of hours, have lunch, then on to Provence.

This plan gives you a full day each in Figeac and Albi, which is enough, plus a full day from each of wandering around the area seeing some of the smaller out-of-the-way places, none of which will take up much time. And it would allow you 2-night stays in each town.

StCirq

Ooops, I mean "From Albi you can visit Castres, and...."

But don't continue south to Mazamet - A French horror if there ever was one.

milestogoneedadvice

Love this idea! Now all I need is to figure out lodging in Albi or somewhere around it.
Thanks St.Cirq!

kerouac

Gramat is another town very close to Rocamadour which is worth a stop, if not a night.

milestogoneedadvice

I'm looking at lodging for Albi. I found a Chambres d'hotes around Puyceici or just a $$hotel in Albi. Obviously the in Albi location gives us the walk around ease in Albi. The outer location allows easy exploring. I read a lot about the parking problems in most areas, so wondering if driving into Albi and parking to wander around there would be a problem. I know that either will be okay, just down to the minutiae, but it's those details that can save a trip. StCirq, if you are still out there, please advise. And anyone who has recommendations for lodging in this area jump in on this. I am finding that many lodgings are already "Sold Out"! After these bookings I am ready to start really looking at the itinerary so that I can read and get familiar with the areas we have chosen!

StCirq

Hi, milestogo...,

The last times I stayed in Albi were at the Hostellerie St-Antoine, but I've checked and since their most recent renovation their prices have gone way up from what we used to pay. I think you do want to be in town. From the bit of research I just did, I'd say the Hôtel Vieil Alby, right near the cathedral, looks pretty sweet, at 52-59 euros a night for a double. I've never found parking to be a big problem in Albi, though you never know when parking circumstances will change in a city. Wherever you decide to stay, I'd ask the hotel/chambre d'hôte specifically about parking arrangements.

There is, as is common, a pedestrian-only area in the center of Albi, but I never found it interfered with my having a car there, which I always did. I don't know Puyceici, but will just say that staying outside the city and going in to visit wouldn't likely pose a big problem - we're not talking a huge metropolis with major traffic here.

Hope that helps a bit.

milestogoneedadvice

Thank you to all who have posted to help me as I plan this trip. We won't travel until summer but the planning begins early! Now I look forward to continued reading and working on the itinerary. Beware, I'm sure there will be more questions along the way. Our France travel will takes us from Paris through the Loire Valley, Dordogne, through Carcassonne to Provence and back to Paris for a few days. If you have any websites or reading that you recommend as good resources for information, that would be great. I look forward to researching and learning more before we travel. Thanks again and Happy Trails to all!