Dordogne - Provence itinerary help
 

I am hoping I can get some advice on traveling between Dordogne and Provence this summer.

I am wondering if there is one region that makes sense to start in? I can fly into Paris and take a train to Bordeaux and drive to Sarlat or can fly directly to Marseille and then onto the provencal countryside. I plan on renting a car in both regions.

Is it easier to drive between regions or train? I understand that there are no direct trains but is it worth it to have transfers than undertaking an 8 hour car ride? If we decide to take the car is it a pretty and reasonably simple drive?

Thank you!

I had the original plan of driving from Paris to Amboise and then Sarlat and then Carcassonne before Barcelona. Unfortunately we had to change our plains so now I plan to train from Paris to Brieve pick up a car and then drive to Sarlat and then Carcassonne.

There are lots and lots of knowledgeable people on this site to help you but you will have to let them know how much time you have in total and what you are thinking as the amount of days in each place etc. Also, how many of you are in the travels.

I have been doing this for the last 2 months and things are really booking up quickly so I suggest you start searching on here for suggestions of places to stay etc. Good Luck!

You might want to take a look at my trip report from last summer in which we took a ten day vacation to go between the Dordogne and Nice; click on my name to find it.

Thank you for this information!

It is just my husband and me traveling. We are planning 7 days in Provence and 7 days in Dordogne, including a day of travel between. Depending on where we fly in from we may take a few days there (Paris or Munich, maybe).

We have a fairly flexible 17 days of travel and want to ensure we have a relaxing and sight filled trip!

I have been looking at the gites de france website and there seems to be a few options left in the cities I am interested in but I need to move quickly!

Btw - have Stu Dudley's itineraries so I am good on that part!

I am certainly not an authority, but I have been doing a lot of research for a Dordogne-Provence trip this summer. From what I have read, if you are flying into Paris and leaving immediately for the south, it is easiest to take a TGV directly from CDG to Avignon and pick up your car there to travel through Provence and the Dordogne. You can be in Avignon in a few hours, and there's no need to drive jet-lagged.

We are starting with the Dordogne, even though the logistics are not quite as easy. We wanted to leave Provence for the end in case we get lucky, and the lavender is blooming.

Viamichelin says the trip between Avignon & Sarlat is 5 hrs 38 mins. I would budget 6 hrs and hope you don't get a ticket for 10K over the autoroute speed limit.

Digbydog recommends the same thing I do - land at CGD, take the TGV from the airport to Avignon & start in Provence. Then drive to Carcassonne, visit Carcassonne for 2 1/2 hrs, then off to the Dordogne. Return to Paris on the train from Brive.

Stu Dudley

It's easiest to do the Provence week first, as you can hop on a TGV right at CDG and get to Avignon directly. Then take a day to drive to the Dordogne, stopping in Carcassonne if you like on the way. Then, after your week in the Dordogne, drop the car off at Brive and take the direct train to Paris.

If you start with Paris (CDG) to Bordeaux, you have to either drive that rather boring road into the Dordogne from Bordeaux, or take another train (to Périgueux, or to Sarlat, which involves a bus ride from the end of the line from Souillac). It's MUCH easier to do Provence first.

Thank you so much for this information. It is a great help!

One more question - is there a reason no one suggests flying to Marseille instead of taking the train from CDG? I understand most flights fly there but flying from Toronto I can transfer in Munich and fly Marseille then pick up a car. I understand this adds flying time but has anyone flown instead of taking the train?

We will have 17 days to travel and are planning on 14 between Provence and Dordogne so we could have a few days in Germany or maybe add a few once we get to Marseille and stay in Cassis or similar.

Thanks!

Given the limited time, I would choose to take a leisurely drive from the Provence to the Dordogne rather than add a third country to the mix.

I have flow into and out of Marseille, and if that's easier/cheaper for you, go for it. It's a very easy airport, and only about a half-hour drive or so to the Avignon area. But check train prices, starting three months out from your date of travel, as there are some amazingly cheap TGV fares these days, and it might be well worth it rather than a connecting flight in Europe.

Bookmarking

Actually, second country.

I like the idea of heading for Provence initially and then spending the absolute least possible time driving to get to where you're staying. From personal experience can attest to the fact that driving while jet lagged is dangerously foolish.

After Provence, an alternative route to the Dordogne is via Millau - up the A75 from Montpellier. Along with the incredible viaduc (for some of us, one of the engineering marvels of the world!)the town was a center of leather garment fabrication for many years and still has a few factory outlets near the old center. Very high quality stuff and a good place to overnight. From Millau the drive to Sarlat is via Rodez, Figeac and Souillac. It's not a fast route but very scenic.

We had a wonderful similar trip in 2009. We caught the train from Paris to Avignon. Bought Prem tickets and loved the comfortable trip in First class for 40e. Picked up our car in Avignon and spent 2 wonderful weeks travelling throught Provence using a small village in the Luberon for a base.

We then drove to Sarlat, a very easy drive (6hrs). And loved staying in Sarlat and touring the countryside. We then drove to Bordeaux airport dropped off the car and flew to our next destination. Friends flew back to Paris to catch their return flight home.
All very smooth.

I wrote a trip report if you are looking for ideas of what we did. We loved hitting the little towns on market days and saw some amazing sights, and had some wonderful experiences, you will love Provence and the Dordogne.

Enjoy