Next March we are going to France.
Cote d'Azur, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, Dordogne, Loire Valley and Paris.
What can we see or do in the itinerary between Carcassonne and Blois, that you have liked or did ?

Thanks in advance,
Ismael

I hope you have a nice long time - like a month or so - to get to all these different parts of France and enjoy them. The Dordogne, which is on your list, is between Carcassonne and Blois, so are you asking what you can see and do in the Dordogne? If so, there are caves and prehistoric sites, Hundred Years War and other castles, bastide towns, hilltowns, beautiful river valleys and gorges, incredible food markets, and stunning villages. Easily enough to keep you fully occupied for a week or two, and that would just be scratching the surface.

Of course, there's lots else between Carcassonne and Blois, too: Cahors, Oradour-sur-Glane, and Poitiers, just to pull a few names out of a hat. But what's of interest to you? There are innumerable itineraries one might devise, but it would help to know how much time you have and how you think you might want to spend your time.

Hi

I took this route a couple of weeks ago, en route for Languedoc.
As St Cirq says there are plenty of places to visit.

I guess your choices are :
1)Take the autoroute and make one sightseeing stop
2)Take some of the smaller roads and enjoy the scenery
3)Take 2 days and see a bit more of the Dordogne area.

On previous visits to the area, I've found Oradours and St Emillion well worth visiting as well as the treasures of the Dordogne.

Peter

Stop at the Pech-Merle cave near St. Cirq Lapopie. It is a fabulous cave with both prehistoric paintings and natural growths.

If you do a search here you will find StCirq and others have posted extensively re: La Dordorgne, and they were dead on.

Absolute favorite was Beynac. Close by is Sarlat, great market (Wednesday and Saturday) but I wouldn't want to stay there, myself, as there are so many other charming villages along the river to choose from with all kinds of activities like canoeing and hot air balloons.

We really enjoyed St. Emillion, but be forewarned that (like Carcasonne) it is a tourist haven. We tend to accept that as part of the experience. Also, like Mont St. Michel, these places take on a whole different aura after the tour busses leave. I concur with others Albi is a great visit too with its very original church and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.

For a little bigger town, we have a real thing for Bergerac. Lots to do, a great "vieille ville" which has a flea market the first Sunday of the month. Even the civil servants at the Post office are friendly there!

Though I know there is lots to value in Poitiers, we arrived with the intent to spend the night, took a drive around and just decided it wasn't for us. Too big, too je ne sais pas quoi...definitely a large enough city that you would want to know the neighborhood to stay in/NOT stay in. We moved on to La Fleche and had a marvelous time. Wonderful pedestrian area. Highly recommend Le Relais Cicero (a 17th century convent turn hotel) and the restaurant "Fesses des Anges" (or something along those lines, I don't have my journal handy).

Don't know your experiences, but the older we get and the more we travel we definitely are deciding travelling less mileage=experiencing more of the true local flavor/culture.

Have a wonderful time!

Thank you all for very good and extensive recomendations.
I know that are many beuatiful things to do and to see.
Your personal experiences make the difference.
We're going on March, 15th. next year.
Thanks again,
Ismael

klondike:

<<Fesses des Anges>>??? If that's really the name, that's pretty "cheeky."

Libanio,
Have a Cassoulet for a dinner in Carcassone to make your stay memorable. Ah...but a little Fleur De Sel de Camargue to take home! Beautiful trip....hope you relax, stop when you want and don't try to "see" everything.

Any rec's of where to stay in Carcassonne. I've done research but hotels either seem to be extremely expensive or not too nice. I'd prefer not to pay more than $200/room. Also, do I want to stay inside? I'll have a car. Thanks in advance.

We stayed at the Hotel du Pont Vieux **NN
32, rue Trivalle (tel. 68-25-24-99), though it has been some years since we stayed there.

It is at the foot of la cite so some of the rooms had a great view out the window. It also had a garage and a good restaurant down the street. Maybe they now have a web site or could send you a brochure.

I just checked with lespages jaunes, and this hotel does now have a web site: www.hoteldupontvieux.com. The rooms are only 54-40 euros and they don't mention a garage or show pix of rooms. Wish I could give you current info. on condition of rooms.

Klonkide,
a beautiful hotel near Carcassonne (7 km.) is "Chateau de Cavanac" with restaurant. It belongs to the "Logis de France", a group of more than 4 thousand small hotels, with familiar administration and local or regional food.
I have stayed at various Logis and liked them very much.
It is near Limoux with the famous sparkling wine.
Enjoy your trip,
Ismael

Two summers ago we went from Toulouse to Carcassonne to Romorantin-Lanthenay (in the Loire Valley) as part of a trip. We spent a couple of days in Albi. It is is the birthplace of Toulouse Lautrec and there is a museum dedicated to him. There is a magnificent Cathedral-cum-fortress, St. Cecile well worth seeing. It is huge. We stayed at La Reserve about 3km outside Albi. It is a delightful place, we liked it so much we stayed an extra day. There were no Americans, some French, Brits and Germans. It is a Relais & Chateau but is very afordable - 2003 red book lists rooms at 130/280. Also the dinners there were quire wonderful and would highly recommend eating there.

We then drove past Rocamadour - which is not to be missed. We drove in from the south and seeing it perched up on the mountainside is unbelievable. We then went to the Lascaux Caves. We spent the night in Limoge (mainly because we couldn't find an interesting place with vacancies in Sarlat or Brive - hight of the summer season.)

We then went to Romorantin-Lanthenay where we stayed at the Lion D'Or for a major birthday. It is a 2 star Relais & Chateaux and quite expensive - but for a big celebration it was wonderful.

Then stopped in Orleans on the way back to Paris.