mmoroz

Thank you! I'm already in Europe, and will get to Collioure on Tuesday. I'll follow Pvoyageuse's advice, so it's train Collioure ->Perpignan (rent the car) ->Maury ->Peyrepertuse ->Quillan. Luckily, hotels in Quillan still have rooms.

I forgot that these towns are small, so I expected a dozen hotels in each.

I assume it's worth staying overnight in Albi?

After that the plan is:

Walk around Albi
Stop by Cordes S Ciel
Stay overnight in Conques (good idea?)
Explore Conques

Drive somewhere near Ste Enimie (Lot Valley) and stay there for a few days:

1. Entraygues-sur-Truyère (canoe, hike)
2. Look at Millau Viaduct from Peyre
3. canoe from Ste Enimie to Pas de Soucy
4. Driving tour around Canyon de la Dourbie (Michelin Green Guide)
5. Driving tour: Ste Enimie to Le Rozier (Michelin Green Guide)
6. Aven Armand
7. Walking tour: Corniche du Tarn (p. 170 Michelin Green Guide)
8. Walking tour: Tarn Valley footpath (p. 171 Michelin Green Guide)

Any suggestions about where to stay and if anything should be added/cut much appreciated!

Thank you ~

Pvoyageuse

In Quillan I recommend Hôtel Pierre-Lys, half a mile out of town on the road to Limoux. Very reasonable, excellent restaurant and free parking.

If it is as windy as it is today, they won't let you go up to Peyrepertuse and Queribus as it can be dangerous. Go to Lapradelle-Puilaurens instead.

mmoroz

Thank you - I already booked Logis Hôtel La Chaumière, but will try the restaurant at Hôtel Pierre-Lys.

I am leaving Barcelona for Collioure now, and to my disappointment I haven't found many of the Catalonian dishes my guidebook mentioned (e.g., Conill amb cargols - Rabbit with snails). Perhaps I'll be luckier on the French side, since I think Catalonian influence is still quite strong there.

StCirq

Not in my experience; but it's not that vast. Once you're in France it's French cooking primarily. Not that that's bad. Collioure is famous for its anchovies. I have jars of them still here in my kitchen in the USA (and in my kitchen in France).

mmoroz

I love French cooking, so it won't be a problem Just a note for myself that it's not easy to find the "common Catalonian food" in Barcelona, and next time I'll need to plan this in advance..

Pvoyageuse

Try Can Pla in Collioure !

mpprh

I'd think about staying in Uzes when you are visiting Pont du Gard and Avignon.

And consider Aigues Mortes for the Nimes etc hotel stop

Peter

Pvoyageuse

Don't expect to find Catalan food near Quillan, it is not Catalan country ! Though part of Pyrenées Orientales, the Fenouillèdes (the area from Estagel to the Aude Départment "border") is more Languedoc than Catalonia. Ethnic Catalans (!) call the people living there "bean-eaters" and it is not a compliment
When France was divided into départements during the French revolution, Fenouillèdes was arbitrarily made part of Pyrenées-Orientales which would otherwise have been too small.

You will find many restaurants offering Catalan specialties in the area around Perpignan.

mmoroz

Very enjoyable trip so far. Thanks for all the advice. Have seen Collioure, Peyrepertuse, Queribus, Carcassonne, Albi, Cordes sur Ciel, Conques, and now staying near Entraygues-sur-Truyère. If anyone knows any good half-day hiking trails near here (or around Etaing or Espalion), let me know please!

Tomorrow going to Gorges du Tarn for caves and cayaking, then driving to Montpellier.

I still have 4 days left for Provence. So I guess it's going to be:

Tue night staying at Le Rozier
Wed night staying at Montpellier
Thu see Pont du Gard and Avignon
Thu night staying at Uzes?
Fri see Nimes, Les Antiques, Les Baux
Fri night staying at ???
Sat finish whatever I didn't have time for
Sat night staying at ???
Sun see Marseilles

mpprh

You'll have fantastic weather when you arrive closer to Montpellier.

Currently : cloudless skies, virtually no wind, low humidity, around 25C by day, cooler at night, unheated pools running at 25C.

Local webcams : http://the-languedoc-page.com/langue...ather-cams.htm

Peter