Driving from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France to Barcelona.via Pyrenees
 

After 6 weeks travelling by car around Europe we will be finalizing our last week spending 1 night in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France before we head to Barcelona. We have originally intended on travelling to Barcelona spending one night in Torla Spain thence travelling over the Pyrenees to Andora for another then the next day travelling down to Barcelona for 4 nights.

However we like going off the beaten track and We have decided on traveling close to the Pyrenees (French side ) heading towards tBagneres du-Luchon...maybe as night 1.... I am wanting to stop to view cirque de Gavarnie. Any ideas????

I did that drive, although I began in San Sebastian. (By the way, I much preferred the less touristy Ciboure to St Jean de Luz, and would probably stay in Espelette if I went back to that area, but you might want a beach)

http://www.naryves.com/pj/france/espelette/index.shtml

Anyway, if you want to view the Cirque de Gavarnie I believe you will need to hike to it. That and Lourdes are probably the only 2 places in the Pyrenees that are NOT off the beaten track when it comes to foreign tourism. (St Jean pied de pont is also very touristy, and I found Lourdes just awful).

http://www.pyrenees-holiday.com/web/...2-gavarnie.php


Don't know about Bagneres du Luchon, but I enjoyed staying in Cauterets

http://www.pyrenees-holiday.com/web/...-d-espagne.php

If you want to go to Spain by way of Andorra, consider staying in Ax-en-Thermes, which has some charms (including a nice market).

I hope you are going in prime summer weather. I drove a few times back and forth over the border between Spain and France, at various passes, which can be rather tiring, especially if clouds and fog set in. I am now a bit sorry I didn't go to Andorra. Everybody says it is awful and trashy, but I think I would have been curious (and I have heard some parts are quite beautiful). Be prepared for people to try to talk you out of it.

But if you are not traveling in prime weather, you need to keep out of the high Pyrenees or only venture those roads having consulted with locals. The weather can change very rapidly around the peaks.

We will be Laing for our European trip Saturday week and anticipate be in St Jean De Luz the 2 nd week of September. I am interested in your comments regarding St Jean De Luz...I had thought it looked a bit touristy..I will look into your suggestion of Cibourne. We only chose St Jean as we wanted to meet the ocean as most of our journey is landlocked....

We too have heard that Andorra is quite trashy..and just another city for Duty Free goods. Loudes is another place we do not intend on going...no interest...just another tourist town. ...I will take note of your suggestions tho of staying in Ax-en-Thermes

I have read up on Bagneres du Luchon and it appears to be an elegant city..with its boulevards and avenues..... We are still up in the air....

We are spending 8 days in Sarlat France......any ideas on day trips?

The trashy part of Andorra are the shops especially in Andorra la Viela and Pas de la Casa. Go to Engordany or Encamp, visit the natural reservations, the Romanesque churches or the old iron mines.
Bear in mind that the Puymorens tunnel between l'Hospitalet d'Andorra (near Ax-les Thermes) and Porté (in France) is closed until November and the only way to get to Puigcerda from Ax is via the Puymorens Pass.
There is a parado in La Seul d'Urgell.
Which route are you planning to take to get to Barcelona? through Spain or through the Têt Valley down to Perpignan?

We drove from Hondarribia to the Costa Brava via the French side of the Pyrennes. We spent two nights, did not have reservations and found wonderful small hotels along the way. Beautiful,mountain views.

Sorry for my mistake about the name of Ax-LES-Thermes.

And just to be clear, the other town is Ciboure.

Never been to Sarlat. You should start a different thread for that, since people who have been won't necessarily open this thread, given its subject line.

Hi S,

This is the route we took - sort of. Very scenic.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz --> Sauveterre-de-Bearne--> Oloron-st-Marie--> Laruns--> Sallent-de-Gallago--> around Huesca onto the hiway and a straight shot to Barcelona.

You can plot the route at www.maps.google. About 7 hr.

We stayed overnight at http://www.hospederia-rdi.com/

Highly recommended.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

tag