Dordogne - Brive - A good base without a car?
Jul 12th, 2004, 04:56 AM
#21
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Hi
I have just returned from a holiday in this area.
I too disagree with the comment about Bergerac. We visited it with various 'health warnings' ringing in our ears but thought it was a lovely place to wander. We also enjoyed Brantome.
We tried to get tickets for the English tour of the Font du Gaume but were told they were fully booked for the next month. They did say if we turned up early when they opened we might stand a chance of getting in but as it was a fair journey from where we were based we didn't go for this option.
I have just returned from a holiday in this area.
I too disagree with the comment about Bergerac. We visited it with various 'health warnings' ringing in our ears but thought it was a lovely place to wander. We also enjoyed Brantome.
We tried to get tickets for the English tour of the Font du Gaume but were told they were fully booked for the next month. They did say if we turned up early when they opened we might stand a chance of getting in but as it was a fair journey from where we were based we didn't go for this option.
Jul 12th, 2004, 05:18 AM
#22
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Picking up a car at the Brive train station is easy. Many car rental agencies are on an adjacent street. Just make sure you don't arrive when they're closed for midday. Brive has nice wide roads and it was easy to get out of.
Jul 12th, 2004, 06:57 AM
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My preference regarding training to the Dordogne is either to take the regular train from Gare d'Austerlitz through Limoges to Périgueux (about 5 hours) or, if I can get a PREM's fare to Bordeaux, take the TGV to Bordeaux, then the local train to Périgueu (about 5 hours).
I always rent a car with EuropCar through AutoEurope, and the rental office is just around the corner from the Périgueux train station. Since Périgueux is small, even in "rush hour" traffic I can get out into open countryside in under 20 minutes.
It's a longer trip from Brive to the Sarlat area, and after 5 hours of train travel, I'd rather be in the car less time, especially if I've spent the night on a plane as I usually have.
Regarding Bergerac, I have NO idea what the reference to "health warnings" is, but I've just found it rather "ho-hum" compared to other towns in the area.
I always rent a car with EuropCar through AutoEurope, and the rental office is just around the corner from the Périgueux train station. Since Périgueux is small, even in "rush hour" traffic I can get out into open countryside in under 20 minutes.
It's a longer trip from Brive to the Sarlat area, and after 5 hours of train travel, I'd rather be in the car less time, especially if I've spent the night on a plane as I usually have.
Regarding Bergerac, I have NO idea what the reference to "health warnings" is, but I've just found it rather "ho-hum" compared to other towns in the area.
Jul 12th, 2004, 05:04 PM
#25
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Thanks for the replies re Brive/car rental. Guess I'll figure it all out when I actually start making hotel reservations, etc. Sounds like Brive or Perigueux would be an easy option. I always seem to worry too much about the car rental location! I guess that's because I've done it solo several times, and driving AND navigating alone isn't all that simple. But great fun, and empowering!
Jul 12th, 2004, 05:57 PM
#26
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Sue4, you didn't happen to mention whether you'll be renting a manual. If you need an automatic, note that there may be an extra 300 euro fee to have one dropped off for you in Périgueux, where the normal fleet doesn't include automatics.
Newyorkais, if you'd consider traveling with a small group (5 to 15 people) tour, you might enjoy a one-week walking/hiking tour in that area. I took one with BCT Scenic Walking a few years ago, but I notice that it hasn't been offered the last few years, and their tour prices in general have gone up quite a bit. There are other companies that offer hiking tours in the Dordogne, e.g., ATG-Oxford, and I think Country Walkers. Generally walking tours range from pretty expensive (the ones I mentioned) to extremely expensive (e.g., Butterfield and Robinson). That type of tour gets you into rural areas and small towns that would be difficult to see without a car. If you are a strong walker and don't mind being alone on trails and paths for hours, it IS possible to hike from one town to another, in a few cases (I forgot which, but you can probably figure this out by studying maps and the itineraries of commercial walking tours in the Dordogne). It's of course a MUCH slower way to travel and you can't cover too much, but it can be very enjoyable.
Newyorkais, if you'd consider traveling with a small group (5 to 15 people) tour, you might enjoy a one-week walking/hiking tour in that area. I took one with BCT Scenic Walking a few years ago, but I notice that it hasn't been offered the last few years, and their tour prices in general have gone up quite a bit. There are other companies that offer hiking tours in the Dordogne, e.g., ATG-Oxford, and I think Country Walkers. Generally walking tours range from pretty expensive (the ones I mentioned) to extremely expensive (e.g., Butterfield and Robinson). That type of tour gets you into rural areas and small towns that would be difficult to see without a car. If you are a strong walker and don't mind being alone on trails and paths for hours, it IS possible to hike from one town to another, in a few cases (I forgot which, but you can probably figure this out by studying maps and the itineraries of commercial walking tours in the Dordogne). It's of course a MUCH slower way to travel and you can't cover too much, but it can be very enjoyable.
Jul 12th, 2004, 10:41 PM
#27
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Hiya
"Health warnings" is a phrase used in England and means that people had said don't bother to go to Bergerac for various reasons but not related to illness!. Doesn't mean there's an outbreak of the plague there! We were prepared to be disappointed and came away thinking it was great - always a nice surprise.
"Health warnings" is a phrase used in England and means that people had said don't bother to go to Bergerac for various reasons but not related to illness!. Doesn't mean there's an outbreak of the plague there! We were prepared to be disappointed and came away thinking it was great - always a nice surprise.
Jul 14th, 2004, 07:33 AM
#28
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Hi everyone.
First off, I would like to thank evryone for all of their comments and suggestions to my original post. I am now quite interested in renting a bicycle in Sarlat. Could anyone recommend a good place to do this that isn't to expensive and suggest places in the area that wouldn't be too far to visit? I am in very good shape. I swim four times a week and could easily bike-ride several kilometers with no problem. I would also like to know what the roads are like in the area and if one has to contend with large trucks and what the safety factor is like on these roads.
Thanks in advance.
Have a good day.
Ross.
First off, I would like to thank evryone for all of their comments and suggestions to my original post. I am now quite interested in renting a bicycle in Sarlat. Could anyone recommend a good place to do this that isn't to expensive and suggest places in the area that wouldn't be too far to visit? I am in very good shape. I swim four times a week and could easily bike-ride several kilometers with no problem. I would also like to know what the roads are like in the area and if one has to contend with large trucks and what the safety factor is like on these roads.
Thanks in advance.
Have a good day.
Ross.
Jul 14th, 2004, 07:55 AM
#29
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Hi Ross,
It looks like you have found a great place for biking.
Here's a site I found that gives a tour.
http://www.experienceplus.com/bicycl...dogne_fun.html
It looks like you have found a great place for biking.
Here's a site I found that gives a tour.
http://www.experienceplus.com/bicycl...dogne_fun.html
Jul 14th, 2004, 08:23 AM
#30
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Ross--About four years ago we took a biking trip in the Dordogne with a cycling tour group (now defunct). I did a check through my files to see where all we biked.
We stayed in two different places: one was in Siorac-en-Perigord; the other was in Vitrac. Both were accessible by train.
From Siorac-en-Perigord, we biked to Cadouin (neat bicycle museum), Tremolat, Limeuil, Meyrals and Les Eyzies over the next two days.
We then biked to Vitrac to our next hotel via a route leading to Chateau des Milandes (Josephine Baker's home), Castelnaud, and then on to Vitrac.
From Vitrac we did Beynac, Sarlat, Domme.
I could fax our routes to you if that would be helpful but I don't know how we can arrange that without giving up precious anonymity on this website, though.
We stayed in two different places: one was in Siorac-en-Perigord; the other was in Vitrac. Both were accessible by train.
From Siorac-en-Perigord, we biked to Cadouin (neat bicycle museum), Tremolat, Limeuil, Meyrals and Les Eyzies over the next two days.
We then biked to Vitrac to our next hotel via a route leading to Chateau des Milandes (Josephine Baker's home), Castelnaud, and then on to Vitrac.
From Vitrac we did Beynac, Sarlat, Domme.
I could fax our routes to you if that would be helpful but I don't know how we can arrange that without giving up precious anonymity on this website, though.
Jul 14th, 2004, 09:22 AM
#31
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The Office de Tourisme in Sarlat can arrange bicycle rentals for you. The roads are small, two-lane road and very windy and in many places very hilly. I personally would never venture out on them on a bicycle, but there are plenty of bicyclists around.
Pleacess you could get to easily from Sarlat that are "a few kilometers) are Domme and Beynac and La Roque-Gageac and Tamniès and Marquay and Ste-Nthalène and Castelnaud. It's a considerably longer ride to the well-known prehistoric sites around Les Eyzies and Montignac.
Pleacess you could get to easily from Sarlat that are "a few kilometers) are Domme and Beynac and La Roque-Gageac and Tamniès and Marquay and Ste-Nthalène and Castelnaud. It's a considerably longer ride to the well-known prehistoric sites around Les Eyzies and Montignac.
Jul 15th, 2004, 04:02 AM
#35
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Yes, it was very much appreciated after the first three days' accomodation. In Siorac, our nights were spent in a 2-star with U-shaped mattresses. There's nothing quite like getting on your bike in the a.m. with one's body already frozen in "biking hunch."
Jul 31st, 2004, 08:57 PM
#36
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Sorry to jump in so late in the discussion, but I was wondering if anyone knows a location near the Dordogne (Perigord? Limoges? Bordeaux? Sarlat?) to rent a motorscooter or a motorcycle? I will be spending a week in the Dordogne in early September. I have learned an amazing amount about the area from following the thread.
FJ
FJ
Aug 1st, 2004, 09:01 AM
#37
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Too bad you weren't in the area today - there was one on sale at the braderie in Le Bugue today for 150 euros.
I don't know,but I have to go to the tourist office tomorrow and will inquire and see what I find out.
I don't know,but I have to go to the tourist office tomorrow and will inquire and see what I find out.
Aug 10th, 2004, 01:10 PM
#38
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Hello, All...
What a wonderful website! You are all so helpful. I will be visiting the Dordogne next spring and have two questions:
1. Is the train service I've seen mentioned from CDG to Angouleme via SNCF? Is this the site where I'd get information on this? I'll be travelling with my Mom, who fatigues easily so wish to take the most direct route.
2. Any recommendations as to renting a house for 2 weeks - I'd like something nice yet rustic, in a small "patelain?" (must start practicing my French now!)
I too have rented cars in the past through AutoEurope at the gare in Perigueux and have had good luck with them.
Thank you in advance.
What a wonderful website! You are all so helpful. I will be visiting the Dordogne next spring and have two questions:
1. Is the train service I've seen mentioned from CDG to Angouleme via SNCF? Is this the site where I'd get information on this? I'll be travelling with my Mom, who fatigues easily so wish to take the most direct route.
2. Any recommendations as to renting a house for 2 weeks - I'd like something nice yet rustic, in a small "patelain?" (must start practicing my French now!)
I too have rented cars in the past through AutoEurope at the gare in Perigueux and have had good luck with them.
Thank you in advance.
Dec 7th, 2005, 08:08 PM
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this is the most awesome wonderful post!! I was about to ditch my plans to go to Sarlat because of public transportation problems. I am getting a glimmer of hope though now that I can consider biking....
Does anyone know exactly how far Beynac, Castelnaud and Domme are from Sarlat? How long it would take to bike? I was planning on basing out of Sarlat as well. My guidebook is poor at sharing the distance between places making it hard to get a realistic plan together.
Another poster on a different link suggested canoeing from one place to another as well (I'll try to get a link.) Personally, I am travelling by myself so I don't know if that would work, but great suggestions.
Thanks,
Murphy
Does anyone know exactly how far Beynac, Castelnaud and Domme are from Sarlat? How long it would take to bike? I was planning on basing out of Sarlat as well. My guidebook is poor at sharing the distance between places making it hard to get a realistic plan together.
Another poster on a different link suggested canoeing from one place to another as well (I'll try to get a link.) Personally, I am travelling by myself so I don't know if that would work, but great suggestions.
Thanks,
Murphy
