Drive from Toulouse to Perpignan
 

Next May we'll be driving between Toulouse and Perpignan, both ways. We'll be going from Perpignan through Carcassonne on the way to Toulouse. On the return, is it worth driving from Toulouse to Foix and then heading east on the D117 -- will this be a scenic enough drive to make up for the longer travel time? Thanks.

Yes, I would go back on the D117, not necessarily for Foix itself (which has some interesting landmarks and is in a scenic setting, but is a kind of gritty town), but for the scenery along the way. Quillan and Pamiers are worth stops.

The D117 will take you to Quillan and the Cathar
castles of Lapradelle-Puylaurens, Queribus and Peyrepertuse (the last two with a small detour). It is a very scenic road.

You could also drive from Carcassonne to Limoux and
visit Rennes-le-Château, Couiza and Esperaza before Quillan.

Strange. I found Quillan to be a nothing town when we stayed there one overnight in 2000. If going to Foix, I would recommend going up into the Pyrenees to La Tour de Carol via Prades and Villefranche de Conflent (a <i>plus beau village</i> although I was not crazy about it)and then down to Foix. Anokther alternative would be to go over the Col de Jau (Prades, Moligt les bains, Col de Jau to Quillan. But then I would go on through Mirepoix (a nicer town than Quillan) toward Toulouse rather than going back to into the mountains to Foix.

"I found Quillan to be a nothing town when we stayed there one overnight in 2000."

Quillan itself is not very interesting - apart from the ruins of an old castle - but it is close to some Cathar castles, Rennes-le-Château and the Pierre-Lys canyon.

Going to Toulouse via Latour de Carol is a very long drive.

<i>Going to Toulouse via Latour de Carol is a very long drive.</i>

It all depends on how one wants to travel. In 2000 we went from Barcelona to La Tour de Carol to Prades to Quillan in one day. Yes, it was long but enjoyable since we avoided super highways once we left the Barcelona area. Perpignan to Toulouse via La Tour de Carol would probably be shorter.

Thanks for the information -- very helpful and much appreciated.

Years ago I drove from Toulouse to Perpignan via Foix and the D117. The ride takes you past Cathar castles and east of Quillan, the vineyards of the Corbieres appellation. A 4 hour drive with some scenic sections along the way, but you can also get to Perpignan via the A61 to Narbonne then south along the A9 right into Perpignan.. It boils down to how much time and curiosity you have if you take the D117 route.

Hi Dedlaw, we will be driving from Collioure to Toulouse in May of next year. There seems to be lots of quite interesting routes to try.

any one add anything ?