Driving Route thru Pyrenees
Mar 22nd, 2016, 09:24 PM
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Driving Route thru Pyrenees
Hello Fodorites, Today we bought our air tix to Barcelona in Sept. So, this thing is getting closer. I need advice on a driving tour through the Pyrenees.
Anywhere scenic thru the Pyrenees. We won't be hiking (my wife hates that). History would be a plus, but the main interest is nature.
We will be starting in Cadaques. I'm kind of thinking to drive to the French side of the Pyrenees, so Cadaques - Perpagnan then on N116 then N20, then N22 thru Pas de Casa to Andorra la Vella. This seems to be a 4-hour drive; we would likely stop for the night somewhere before we get to Andorra (thoughts on hotels?)
Andorra sounds like a big shopping mall; not our sort of thing. We would just drive through. We will drive south toward Tarragona. I'm thinking of one night at the parador in La Sue d' Urgell
Is this a good route? Seems like there are a lot of alternatives.
Anywhere scenic thru the Pyrenees. We won't be hiking (my wife hates that). History would be a plus, but the main interest is nature.
We will be starting in Cadaques. I'm kind of thinking to drive to the French side of the Pyrenees, so Cadaques - Perpagnan then on N116 then N20, then N22 thru Pas de Casa to Andorra la Vella. This seems to be a 4-hour drive; we would likely stop for the night somewhere before we get to Andorra (thoughts on hotels?)
Andorra sounds like a big shopping mall; not our sort of thing. We would just drive through. We will drive south toward Tarragona. I'm thinking of one night at the parador in La Sue d' Urgell
Is this a good route? Seems like there are a lot of alternatives.
Mar 22nd, 2016, 11:01 PM
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You can do part of the trip on the French side, but I would head to Val d'Aran first, by way of Ripoll, then over to La Seu d'Urgell before driving to Vielha, over the pass to Baqueira. From there you can head to Formigal and over the pass to Oloron-Sainte-Marie before heading back to Spain by way of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Roncesvelles, which will take you to Pamplona.
Of course you need enough time. This route take more then one day. I would probably stop at the Parador in Vielha on the first night, and around Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for the second night. There's an excellent restaurant in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port called Les Pyrénées (hotel-les-pyrenees.com).
Of course you need enough time. This route take more then one day. I would probably stop at the Parador in Vielha on the first night, and around Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for the second night. There's an excellent restaurant in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port called Les Pyrénées (hotel-les-pyrenees.com).
Mar 22nd, 2016, 11:55 PM
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Your itinerary is very doable. If you have the whole day, take the coast road from Cadaques to the French border, Cerbère, Banyuls and stop for a coffee in Collioure.
From Perpignan to French Cerdania, stop at Villefranche de Conflent and Mont-Louis, both Unesco world heritage w&alled city and overnight at La
From Perpignan to French Cerdania, stop at Villefranche de Conflent and Mont-Louis, both Unesco world heritage w&alled city and overnight at La
Mar 23rd, 2016, 12:05 AM
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..sorry ..at La Seu d'Urgel or Puigcezrda (nice hotels near the lake).
If you are not interested in Andorra, why do you want to get there?
You could drive down to Barcelona via Ripoll and eventually Vic.
If you are not interested in Andorra, why do you want to get there?
You could drive down to Barcelona via Ripoll and eventually Vic.
Mar 24th, 2016, 07:57 AM
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Thanks, all!
Kja, yes I have the Michelen Green Guide. That is a big part of my problem: there are 9 suggested driving routes in the Pyrenees...my little brain is overwhelmed. Yes, I'm pretty sure I read your report. Will recheck.
Robert2533, I have to check your route a bit more. I don't want to end up in Pamplona; after Pyrenees we head to Tarrogona. We have just two days (two overnights in Pyrenees) budgeted to get from Cadaques to Tarragona.
Pvoyageuse, yours looks like a good route for us. I have been considering the parador in La Seu d'Urgel. As to "if you are not interested in Andorra, why do you want to get there," I am indeed not interested. It is just that some of the recommended routes seem to go through El Pas de la Casa and into Andorra. Your route neatly skirts Andorra.
Stated another way, Andorra la Vella sounds like a big shopping mall. We are mostly interested in the natural beauty of the mountains.
Pvoygageuse, from La Seu d'Urgell we will be heading to Tarragona (not Barcelona). Would it then make sense to drive C-26 through Tarrega (2.5 hrs) or possible C-26 through Manresa?
Kja, yes I have the Michelen Green Guide. That is a big part of my problem: there are 9 suggested driving routes in the Pyrenees...my little brain is overwhelmed. Yes, I'm pretty sure I read your report. Will recheck.
Robert2533, I have to check your route a bit more. I don't want to end up in Pamplona; after Pyrenees we head to Tarrogona. We have just two days (two overnights in Pyrenees) budgeted to get from Cadaques to Tarragona.
Pvoyageuse, yours looks like a good route for us. I have been considering the parador in La Seu d'Urgel. As to "if you are not interested in Andorra, why do you want to get there," I am indeed not interested. It is just that some of the recommended routes seem to go through El Pas de la Casa and into Andorra. Your route neatly skirts Andorra.
Stated another way, Andorra la Vella sounds like a big shopping mall. We are mostly interested in the natural beauty of the mountains.
Pvoygageuse, from La Seu d'Urgell we will be heading to Tarragona (not Barcelona). Would it then make sense to drive C-26 through Tarrega (2.5 hrs) or possible C-26 through Manresa?
Mar 24th, 2016, 09:04 AM
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"Your route neatly skirts Andorra."
I did it on purpose
There is more to Andorra than shopping malls but to discover the beauty of the mountains you have to get off the main road and have more time : Ordino, Encamp, the Engolasters lake etc...
To experience mountain roads, drive from La Seu to Pas de la Casa via the Puymorens pass. Driving to Tarrega seems to be a great detour. I suggested Ripoll because the road from Puigcerda and Ribes is very scenic and visit the church and the cloister at Ripoll.
Driving via Berga = highway - not very interesting but you could make a detour to Cardona and Solsona if you have time.
Remember that Andorra is not part of Schengen and that there are border AND customs checks.
I did it on purpose
There is more to Andorra than shopping malls but to discover the beauty of the mountains you have to get off the main road and have more time : Ordino, Encamp, the Engolasters lake etc... To experience mountain roads, drive from La Seu to Pas de la Casa via the Puymorens pass. Driving to Tarrega seems to be a great detour. I suggested Ripoll because the road from Puigcerda and Ribes is very scenic and visit the church and the cloister at Ripoll.
Driving via Berga = highway - not very interesting but you could make a detour to Cardona and Solsona if you have time.
Remember that Andorra is not part of Schengen and that there are border AND customs checks.
