Half way betwwen Paris and Barcelona
 

Where would be the best place to stop for an overnight if travelling between Paris and Barcelona?

Traveling how? By car? Train?

I'd personally never drive between those two if I only had one overnight on the way.You could probably get a cheap flight and save yourself a lot of wearisome hours on the highway.

If you're taking a train, probably Bordeaux or Toulouse.

I would never drive either. According to ViaMichelin, it is 10 hrs of unsightly freeway (I've driven on all sections - many times so has St Cirq) via Provence/Montpellier.

I would take the fast & cheap TGV from Paris to either Nimes or Montpellier ( 1/4 hrs). Stay overnight in one of these towns, then the direct train to Barcelona Sants the next day.

OR

Don't stay overnight anyplace & take the 8 3/4 hr train to Barcelona Estacion de Franca, with a train change in Perpignan (another overnight option).

See
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
for schedules.

Stu Dudley

>>TGV from Paris to either Nimes or Montpellier ( 1/4 hrs)<<

3 1/4 hrs

Stu Dudley

I vote for Toulouse or Carcassonne.

I think there is a night train - otherwise maybe Carcassonne

Bt car:
Paris to Carcassonne - 7 1/4 hrs solid freeway driving. Budget 8 1/2 hrs for lunch, pottie stops, & "deviations"

Leave Paris at 9, arrive in Carcassonne at 5:30. Unless you're making this trip in June to Sept, you will have missed the last castle tour of the day. Next morning, visit Carcassonne (2 hrs - 1 hr for tour that starts at 9:30). Leave for Barcelona around noon, solid 3 hr driving - budget 4 hrs door to door) & arrive at 4PM. You've consumed 1 3/4 days & all you've seen is Carcassonne and encountered a tough drive to get there.

Stu Dudley

Assuming you are driving ?

1) You don't actually need to stop*. It is around 10 hrs (1000 kms) provided you don't stop too often, or hit bad weather / traffic.

2) Look at somewhere in the Millau / Mende / Chaudes Aigues / Marvejols area if you need a half way stop.

The A75 has some attractive stretches, but it doesn't really get exciting until you start the descent to the Med after Le Cailar.
Suddenly the climate changes and you are surrounded by vines, olives and palm trees !


*Just worth saying that Belgians reckon Brussels - Barcelona in 12 hrs.


Peter