Hi All,

Am thinking of a driving itinerary from Carcassone to Barcelona. We would be going for a little over a week. Are there any places you would suggest staying? We are on a budget but not a strict one so any suggestions--budget or otherwise would be welcome...

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Hi S,

It's under 200 mi.

Do you want to spend a week getting there?

Well, we've driven this route before and the driving alone took us just about 4 hours.

With stops at Perpignan for lunch and at the Dali Museum at Figueres (near Cedaques), we were back at Barcelona just before dinner.

Is this the same week you are going to be in Southern Spain and/or Southern France?

You could stop for a night or two at Cadaques. There are so many options, really, depending on whether you want to travel along the coast or inland; village such as Rupit and Besalu would make wonderful stops inland.

Hi:

If you are looking for an interesting drive and a different kind of holiday on this route why not drive through the Pyrenees on the less travelled roads.
From Carcassonne take the D119 through Mirepoix then a short trip on the D12 and south onto the N20 through Foix, Ax les Thermes and through the Col de Puymorens and cross the border at Bourg Madame/Puigcerda. Take the N152 through the Pyrenees. If you wanted a place to stop you could park the car in the little village of Ribes de Freser and take the cogwheel train up the the vall de Nuria for a fantastic night or two in the mountains.
You should book the hotel in advance if you want to stay there. The website is http://www.valldenuria.com/indexing.html
From Ribes de Freser south you can turn and head out across the N?260 through Olot, Besalu and Figueres then turning south onto the A7 into Barcelona. This road is through the mountains at first. Or you could head straight south on the N152 to Barcelona as well.

Some spots on the roads through the mountains are breathtaking so if you aren't good with heights the A7 avoids all the scary bits. But you really see some great little places in the mountains taking the other routes.
By the way if you have time while in Carcassonne on your list of things to do should be the village of Mirepoix (a very old Bastide town), Limoux,(check out the sparkling wine "champagne" places in the town; St Hilaire and just a day driving around the area.
We love this area and have returned quite a few times to see it all.
Enjoy