Drive time and advise. CDG to Lyon
 

Hi there! Getting more detailed in our trip planning to France in May 08' We will be flying in to CDG from Toronto, and arriving around 9:30 am. We are staying in Uzes for the first week and then in the Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne) area for the second. Since we will get there one day early for our accomodation in Uzes, we were thinking of staying one night in Lyon. Could you give me your thoughts on drive time and if this is the best place to stay for a stop over? When could we reasonably expect to arrive there? Your advise and thoughts are so appreciated. Thanks

Lyon is a great place for a stop. Wonderful city - you'll be upset to leave after only one night.

If you're flying into CDG, I'd just hop on the TGV to Lyon from there. It's about a two-hour trip and you can get PREM fares for cheap. You can pick up a car in Lyon for the drive south the next day.

Hello fellow Canuck,

I did a long weekend on 2005 (Wed-Mon) in Lyons. Landed in Paris, then took the TGV.

I don't know why you would drive, since the TGV is so fast, cheap, right at the airport, and saves holiday time for your destination, not getting to yuor destination (and back).

I like what St Cirq said :)

Lyon...nice place, great Old Town, classic old buildings, nice squares, scenic views, roman ruins, gastronomy capital of France. Not too large, it would take a few days to see the major sites, but in a day you could do a nice overview.

Ditto what others have said - don't know why you would want to drive when the TGV takes you right there. Driving in Lyon is difficult. I would take the TGV all the way to Avignon (with overnight in Lyon). Most of the freeway from Paris to is not that scenic - actually the TGV route is prettier, I think. Unless you're doing this on a Sat or Sun, the traffic around both Paris and Lyon will be a mess.

Stu Dudley

You Fodorites are great! Okay.so you are saying TVG to Lyon, drive to Avignon, pick up a car there ..then drive to Uzes, do our touring from our home base there and drive to our next destination in the Auvergne..tour the area and drop off car at CDG? Would ou know how frequent the train leaves Lyon for Avignon, and the length of time? Thank you. all and felow Canuck!

Thanks for the heads up on that one.We are arriving on a Thursday, so the traffic would be a factor. Good advise. Just have to talk DH into that one and find a car company that doesn't charge a fortune to do a pick up and drop off at a different location. We will be landing at T3 in CDG. Will the train be well marked? Is there a website for the TVG? Sorry about all the questions...but I know I am getting the best advise here!

Why niot take the TGV right to Avignon and stay there? You'd have then have a shorter drive to Uzès the following day .

True!!! Does seem less complicated. I just wasn't thinking about the train at all until all the good ppl on this thread have started me thinking....Thanks Underhill
Cathy Toner...

www.sncf.com for train schedules and ticketing. Look for PREM fares (they'll be highlighted as such) - they're nonexchangable and nonrefundable, but sometimes incredibly cheap on the CDG>Lyon>Avignon route.

And yes, I guess I'd agree with taking the TGV from Lyon on to Avignon (after a night in Lyon) and picking up a car there for the drive to Uzès.

The TGV station is clearly marked at CDG. The TGV in Lyon arrives at the Part Dieu station, which is not, IMO, where you want to stay. There are easy & frequent short connections to the Perrache station which is closer to Old Lyon.

The TGV station in Avignon is called "Avignon TGV". Take the train there - Uzes is close by.
I use the German Train site to determine schedules
http://www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Use MorganB's excellent write-up to purchase tickets on French Trains. Search for it here.

We rent 3-4 cars every year in France, and only once encountered a drop-off charge.

Stu Dudley

Thanks StCirq...that's a great idea. Thanks for the quick response and the site. Would anyone know of a good hotel in Lyon that's not over the top for just one night, but nice and close to the old city area?
Cathy Toner

If you had a choice, I would drop off car where rented it...and not drive back to CDG.

If you do go to Lyon, it does have a good Metro system.

A website for CDG

www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/en-GB/Passagers/

Stu....thank you soooo much for all that valuable info. I have emailed the page to myself as reference!! I'll get this sorted out and then start fine tuning our week in the Auvergne area!! Thanks again....I may be back with more questions...
Cathy Toner...

If you don't want to deal with the hassle of navigating a large-ish city such as Lyon , you might want to check out la Domaine de Clairefontaine, in nearby Chonas l'Amballan. A lovely restored manor house with a Michelin one-star restaurant. Close enough to Lyon (10 minutes) to have absorbed the seriousness of la cuisine lyonnaise, but with a country feel. We had sticker-shock when we looked at our bill, but because it was so reasonable! :-) - msm4

Thanks Michel...Only problem is, we have a second week in a more remote area of France that does require a car, as there will be day trips from there as well...Hmmmm I suppose the only way to find out the pricing is put all the variables together and check the prices.

ctoner, the TGV leaves from terminal 2 at CDG. You can look up terminal maps and directions on how to get from one terminal to another here:

www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/en-GB/Passagers

Uzès and the Auvergne: you've chosen two places we love. Are you planning to rent houses?

And just in case you haven't searched Fodor's yet, here's a link to the trip report I wrote about our two weeks in Auvergne. It's beautiful and uncrowded, with lots of Romanesque architecture:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34742279

Anselm

TGV station is at bottom level of Terminal 2, located just east of 2C/2D. Note that the RER (local train) and TGV stations are located in the same area, so if you follow the train signs you will get to the TGV station. They are on separate platforms. My last trip the TGV was on time to the minute.

And of course...no one mentioned that when you land, probably not a good day to be driving to Lyon or anywhere , due to likely lack of sleep and jetlag. So, sleep on the train. The scenery leaving CDG is bland, but gets better as you go South.

Hi Anselm! Yes we are renting a villa in Uzes, which I managed to retain through VRBO site and we have exchanged our timeshare week into a place called Chateau-du-Malmont (sp) which is beautiful in Randan. I'll be excited to read your trip report and print it out! Thanks sooo much.
Cathy Toner

Michel,

We have managed jetlag very well in the past, but you do have a point. That was driving Glasgow to the Midland in the UK last year....different traffic for sure I think! thanks though
Cathy

Those are beautiful regions. We rent houses, and have recently spent 16 weeks in Provence (2 near Uzes), and 2 weeks in a house in the Auvergne near Pontgibaud - west of Clermond-Ferrand.

My favorite restaurant near Uzes is l'Olivier in Servier. They have a great web site where their current menu is posted - but I can't find the site in my bookmarks right now. Google it.

My favorite restaurent near Pontgibaud (an area not noted for it's food) is L'Ours des Roches in La Courteix. Both of the above restaurants are in the Red Michelin Guide.

Do you have my 20+ page itinerary for Provence? If not, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll send you one. I did not do a similar write-up for the Auvergne.

Stu Dudley

Thank you all so much for everything. Anselm, Your beautifully scripted journal will be so much of enspired trips we will take! You are all so generous with your advise and time..I can't thank you all enough. Thanks as well Stu, for the offer of the 20 page report. I'll email you...The restraunts sound great and I will google.. Did you ever try Zanelli's...great Italian and a beautiful back patio with a beautiful view of the Dutchy.
All the best to all who helped me and I will let you know how the trip is shaping up.Take care
Cathy Toner

I really enjoyed the Hotel La Residence in Lyon, as I believe several other Fodorites have. I think I booked there on the recommendation of several on this board.

Hi StCirq,
Thanks, I actually tried to book there, after reading this forum recommends as well!! They say though, they won't be able to take bookings until next January....doesn't that seem odd?
Cathy

Cathy, I googled Chateau-de-Maulmont in Randan; it's an interesting looking place.

We didn't get as far north as Randan (or Vichy), but only because there was so much to see where we were, just south of Clermont-Ferrand. I hope you have the opportunity to look at the countryside south and west of Clermont-Ferrand. It's very beautiful.

Anselm

Hi msm4...thanks to you for the suggestion of the smaller town...We will keep all our options open and check that out as well!! Sorry for the delay in thanking you...
Cathy

We didn't dine at the Zanelli. When we're in France we eat French food - which I prefer to Italian anyway. We also enjoyed dining at the Chateau d'Arpaillargues (beautiful garden dining), and Table de l’Horloge in St Quentin du Poterie - but I notice that the latter is not in the current Michelin Red Guide so it may have closed (it was a 1 star).

Stu Dudley

Yes, that seems really odd, unless they're closed for renovations or something. Did you email or call them? If you emailed, I'd pick up the phone and call them.

Sometime we get the hankering for Italian wherever we are. It's just a change and nice atmosphere. Table de Horloge was amazing when I was there in 02' and LOVED it!! I tried to email, but it kept getting bounced back. I have the phone # somewhere in the pile, but my bro-in-law did hear that they were closed. I'll check further and check out the other place you mention Stu. Is it in Uzes?

Do you have Horloge's number StCirq?
thanks
Cathy Toner

l’Oliver 04 66 22 56 01
Table de l’Horloge 04 66 22 07 01

l'Oliver is just north of Uzes in the village of Serviers

Stu Dudley

Thanks for the ph# Stu...I will call him and hopefully he is still there. The meal we had there was a memorable occasion!
Cathy Toner

For dining in Uzes (last week of Sept 2007) we enjoyed the food and decor at Les 80 Jours - though we had some difficulty getting our bill.

Bistro de Grezac seems to have changed owners and staff and now, alas, is just an ordinary bistro.

A couple of years ago, we dined at the (Ostellerie?) Provencale and were most impressed with its formal, stylish service and food.

Zanelli has a fine setting but for a casual meal we also liked Pizza du Duche -- NOT just pizzas, those those are excellent. We found that a large salade composee was almost enough for us at dinner, though we did force ourselves to split a pizza thereafter.

Au Fil de l'Eau gets positive reviews though we have not eaten there.

Anselm: If you are reading this, the place we rented in Uzes was EVEN MORE incredible than the photos. Think luxury Manhattan loft in an equally luxurious 17th century shell. And I have sent you a new Burgundy B&B gem.........

tedgale, sounds wonderful.

Too bad about Bistro de Grezac; we've dined there happily in the past.

AA

I would leave heartbroken if I only had a few hours in Lyon! What an amazing, interesting, gorgeous French city! I strongly recommend the TVG and La Machonnerie restaurant (local friends took us there; great place!; http://www.lamachonnerie.com/)