After a week in Paris we will have 7 or more days to travel to Dordogne, staying in Sarlat to begin and ending with Chateau Treyne..
First of all I am so confused reading the french version of the train site - IS there a TVG that can get me close to Brive or another train station in the area? I will need it to get our return air, unless I plan another night near CDG..
Would really appreciate info on that part.

Second I am trying to decide where to stay for 2 or 3 nights between my Sarlat stay - whose B&B owners have been so helpful to me via email in planning and our end
at Chateau Treyne ( who have also been informative and responsive with their emails.)

But we like to move aournd and stay in different places - that is part of the travel fun for us..

We wander, take our time, do not rush and check sites off; enjoy good food, nice places, beauty, history etc. A few caves, Chateaus, lots of drives to pretty places - stoll around, try the food out, drink some wine..and we are pretty happy. Esp after a few glasses of wine!

Should I try the R&C Moulin Abbaye - looks gorgeous on website or do you have any suggestions..We are really not budget as it is our anniversary - and hey we made it this far, let's spend it! LOL

One recommendation was Hotel Pont de l Ouysse but it is may be too close to Treyne.
Apparently their restaurant is good, but rooms may be worn. Anyone stay/eat there?

SO...suggestions on lodgings and more impt train is highly appreciated!
Thanks to all for the great help I receive on this forum thorughout the years!

I hope to be able to continue to travel through to the 50th and cannot wait to see what we come up with, esp, with all the recommendations and help from youall.

FP
(Please excuse typos and/or misspellings; I am not a great typist)

I'm not even sure why you are moving from Sarlat to Souillac, seeing as they're about 20 minutes apart - adding more places in between them would just be an exercise in canvassing hotels.

Yes, you can take a TGV to Brive, Libourne, or Bordeaux, from Paris or directly from CDG. PREM fares go n sale 3 months out, and you should be able to get to one of those destinations for 30 euro or under. Schedules and prices are at www.voyages-sncf.com.

But back to the hotels. The part of the Périgord that you'll want to see given the days you've allotted, is small. You don't need to move around from hotel to hotel when everything you'll want to see is within a half-hour or so of Sarlat. Everything: the caves, the castles, the Most Beautiful Villages, the lovely river views, the good cafes...Everything. And trust me, it's all so lovely you'll kick yourself if you spend one second longer than you have to packing up and moving to a hotel two miles down the road.

To train from CDG to Brive, unless you first go into Paris.

Stu Dudley

Right. Sorry, you can only get TGVs from CDG to Libourne and Bordeaux.

Well you all were quick thank you...so I have to go to CDG to get a TVG; well that's as bad as changing hotels;
so how long will the regular train take from Paris (7th) to Brive and then Brive to CDG?

Just trying to figure my air;times on return so I can book. I guess I can o/n in Paris or CDG if I cant make a flight I want.
I know I have to wait to book the train -.Is 170 euros r/t too high or about right for 2 -that is what I was quoted from a person in Paris who looked for me. Would like to know if I should be trusting them.
Thx!
FP

Any thoughts on hotels I chose? Rec's for nice "area" style with a view of something - garden, river (tops) clifffs? We usually do 4 star here but in France I've always stayed R&C as I know them. But very open to options!

Thanks again
FP

>>so I have to go to CDG to get a TVG; well that's as bad as changing hotels;<<

You can catch all these trains directly from Paris - no need to go to CDG.

>>so how long will the regular train take from Paris (7th) to Brive and then Brive to CDG?<<

I can give you a fish, or teach you how to fish
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

for CDG enter "CDG TGV"
for Paris enter "Paris"
for Brive enter "Brive la Gaillard"
dates are in DD/MM/YYYY format
time is military eg 2pm = 14:00
dates past mid June are not in their system yet.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu,

Though my husband has been trying to teach me to fish for 30 years - I was the first in Africa to catch a tiger fish and it did not do any good...those teeth, wow. But I appreciate both the info and the thought.
If I did fish he'd be taking me to Patagonia not Paris...so the brain is still working, haha

I will ATTEMPT to learn though. ONLY because you contribute so much and I know you get a bit frustrated with us newbies.

St.Cirq - had no idea we live 100 miles apart; I am in VA...we should talk - I come that way often. Does this forum have a PM button somewhere?

So where should I center myself for 7 days to see the "beautiful villages, caves, et al)
Will take your suggestions as I've obviously read the wrong time/mileage charts (those damn glasses again)
Tx
FP

Oops - CDG is "Paris CDG TGV"

Stu

Hey Stu, I hooked a fish - only one problem; on return I could not figure out how to put in CDG (to catch my flight) vs. Brive La Gallard

Looked around to see if I could make a change for return - did I miss it as I was tying my fly?
Thx
FP

fp:

You don't have to go to CDG to catch a TGV to the Dordogne. You can get a TGV at the Gare Montparnasse to Libourne or Brive. Many options each day, except holidays. You can also take the regular trin from the Gare d'Austerlitz to Périgueux, which I often prefer to do as it's a much shorter drive from there to my house and as it is, I've usually been on an overnight flight and a 6-hour train trip. No matter how you slice it, it will take you about 6 hours to get from Paris to Sarlat.

TGV prices can be as low as 19 euros apiece for Paris to Libourne or Bordeaux. You have to start looking for them three months before your travel dates, though, and grab them. There should be absolutely no need to pay 170 euros - that's WAY more than I've ever paid!

The Château Treyne is a lovely property, and I wouldn't discourage you from staying there for a night or two toward the end of your trip, but be advised that it's not in the "heart" of the area you'll be wanting to visit, and getting through/around Souillac is a pain (honestly, I've forgotten if you even have to do that to get to the château, just throwing that out there).

I wouldn't book at the Moulin de l'Abbaye either, if you're thinking that might work. Too far north and away from the main sites.

If you tell me your dates, I'll be happy to suggest some hotels and other things. A lot depends on the time of year.

No PM here on Fodors, but feel free to email me at [email protected].

>>Gare Montparnasse to Libourne or Brive<<

The trains to/from Brive use Austerlitz.

fp - to catch your flight home, best options are:
1. Take the train from Brive back to Paris, stay overnight, and fly out the next morning.
2. Drive to Toulouse or Bordeaux, visit these interesting cities (I prefer Toulouse), stay overnight, and catch a flight to CDG the next morning. Chances are same-day trains won't get you to CDG on time. Both Toulouse and Bordeaux are too far away from Treyne or Sarlat to drive there in the am & catch a flight to CDG in time to catch the flight home.

Where to stay:

Near Sarlat for at least 4 nights, then move to Treyne (lovely property) for 2 nights. Friends who stayed there were required to dine at the chateau for at least 1 meal each day (lunch or dinner)

Stu Dudley

Hi Stu,

Checked air out of CDG and can get a 4:45pm; so, early train out of Brive - 4 1/2 hrs - I should be able to do that one - correct
?
OR are they as unreliable as US?
I will double check Toulouse though, just in case.
Mr. doesnt want to get tangled up in here there and everywhere...so would prefer if we could to use Brive - so close.

Finally was able to navigate the french version of rail! yay me..just takes a while to catch on

Booked Sarlat,
Booked Treyne

Almost there! Thanks so much for your help; if i ate at all the restaurants in your itinerary you sent me I would have to book 2 seats just for moi! But very detaied and interesting; so thanks.

Nancy,

Glad you got some places booked! You found sncf site easy to use after I coached you a bit! Now you will be ready when they come up to purchase!

It looks like you will be able to work out the return by having the late afternoon flight homeward.

You will have no problem with dining. You may need some reservations, though. You can have your hotel do some of that for you..and then there is the car rental...

a bientot..

Joan

Trains in France are very reliable - more reliable than airplanes.

Stu Dudley

Hi FlowerPower (now MB),
As you requested in another forum here is our experience in the Dordogne Valley. We began our trip with a six day cycling tour through Bordeaux and surrounding areas at harvest time. As you might guess the focus was cycling and wineries. We then took the TGV to Paris for an additional 3 days in the St. Germaine area. I have to say that this trip was a favorite of mine. There is something truly special about biking along side the Dordogne River at a cycling pace. You really get to absorb the countryside in a manner you can't get from being in a car. We stayed in three decadent Chateaus for the cycling portion of the trip. They were the Chateau des Vigiers in Monestier, Chateau Grand Barrail outside St. Emilion, and Les Sources de Caudalie in Martillac.

The first was my favorite, a beautiful historic Chateau on gorgeous grounds made up of vineyards and a golf course. It was decadent. We cycled to the 16th century Chateau Le Monbazillac for a castle tour and wine tasting. We also took a tour of the Gallo Roman ruins in Montcaret, quite amazing.

The hotel near St. Emilion was less quaint but still very nice. If going again I would look to stay inside St. Emilion. We took a wine class in St Emilion and a walking tour in the evening. There is plenty to do and see in St. Emilion just in the shops and restaurants alone. It was lovely. En route to the next hotel we toured the Chateau de Pitray. Another amazingly beautiful example of history and wine making.

Les Sources de Caudalie was my second favorite. Also decadent food, rooms, and grounds surrounded by grape vines. In this area we toured the winery on the hotel grounds, Chateua Smith Haut-Lafitte. We also visited the ruins of an 11th century Benedectine Abbey in La Sauve. Something to see if you like history.

In Paris we stayed in the Hotel Madison in St. Germaine. It was chosen more for location than quaintness but perfectly serviceable. I’m sure you don’t need me to recommend sights in Paris. We went to all the obvious ones.

We used Backroads for the cycling portion of the trip. The route we took may still be on the their website. It was the only Bordeaux trip they had. It featured Premeir Inns. My website with photos was taken down but if I get it back I’ll post a link for you.

Hi Long2Travel,
I just lost my first reply so I hope it doesnt show up twice!

Anyway, thank your for coming over here from Africa forum and telling me more about your Dordogne trip. The cycling sounded wonderful. I always wanted to take a vineyard to vineyard cycle trip - until I realized I drank too much wine so I'd be in the back of a van!

We are looking forward to this portion of the trip; with the help of GraceJoan,StCirq,StuDudley and so many other experts here (but I asked THEM the absolute most questions one could think of) I would have never managed this.

Our stay in Paris is an apt. we rented (again with help from the aforementioned!)and I am excited about living in Paris for at least a week. I think it will convince DH to come back a bit more than a hotel room would.

I've kept up with you over on the Africa Page and hope your Samburu portion in August works out. Leave a few photo ops for us; we'll be right behind you in September!

I am sure I will be hearing more of your plans over there. But meanwhile I do appreciate you taking the time to share Dordogne with me.

Happy Travels!
MB

Africa is driving me crazy but almost there!

Here are a few screen shots I took from a book I made. A few, ha! There are lots but at least there several ganged up on some pages. They are not labeled but basically follow the outline from my post above.

As I mentioned, a wonderful trip!

Hope this link works:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/...6%3A1645371729

Quick question: If one wanted to go to Oradour-sur-Glane, is it possible to take train to Limoges, pick a car up there, go to Oradour-sur-Glane and then drive to Sarlat to bgein Dordogne experience?

Yes. But the drive to Oradour is in the wrong direction, and going through Limoges is a pain in the neck and it is a 2 to 2.5 hour drive to Sarlat from Limoges proper, maybe a little less using the autoroute. However, a shorter drive would be to stay in Brantôme or Bourdeilles after visiting Oradour. Bourdeilles has an interesting castle, with a Renaissance pavilion built on the remains of a medieval castle (the keep and the main hall remain). The Renaissance castle is furnished with period furniture and has a few interesting structural elements: Beams with zig-zag cuts for reinforcement and floors that are supposed to be reversed every few hundred years to maintain even wear. It is said to have been designed by the <i>châtelaine</i> in preparation for the visit of Emperor Charles V, which never happened.

What there is to see in the Périgord vert (Brantôme, etc.):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623282383670/