How many nights in Sarlat?
Sep 16th, 2005, 02:20 AM
#1
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How many nights in Sarlat?
We are happy to do as suggested here on Fodors of using a few places as bases instead of different stops each night (so far decided on Sarlat and St Remy for prolonged eg more than a night stop)
Im working on Sarlat now and Im unsure of how many nights we should allow to comfortably cover the following places in the area. (keeping in mind that we also want to move on asap as there are sooooo many places to see..)
The towns I have noted to check out are Les Eyzes, La Roque Gageac,Domme, Monpazier Monbazziac. (any other good ones near Sarlat that are must sees while staying here?)
Would appreciate feedback from you all for timelines here.
thanks all.... 2 weeks today until we leave....
Im working on Sarlat now and Im unsure of how many nights we should allow to comfortably cover the following places in the area. (keeping in mind that we also want to move on asap as there are sooooo many places to see..)
The towns I have noted to check out are Les Eyzes, La Roque Gageac,Domme, Monpazier Monbazziac. (any other good ones near Sarlat that are must sees while staying here?)
Would appreciate feedback from you all for timelines here.
thanks all.... 2 weeks today until we leave....
Sep 16th, 2005, 02:49 AM
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Just this past Saturday I saw one of Rudy Macklin's (unsure of spelling) travel episodes, and the bits about Domme and Sarlat were breathtaking. You have not even left yet, and already I'm waiting for your trip report. Bon Voyage and please come back with lots of details. J.
Sep 16th, 2005, 03:17 AM
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Thanks JMW44 - I promise to post on our return as a way of thanks to everyone who is always so helpful.
Ive been so busy that the reality of acually going to France is only just setting in. Ive busy planning but not really going if you know what I mean? hee hee. We went to Europe (from Oz) 4 years ago but I purposely left France out because I refuse to just hit and run .. I wanted to be able to saviour even for a little while or not see it at all... well almost there!
Ive been so busy that the reality of acually going to France is only just setting in. Ive busy planning but not really going if you know what I mean? hee hee. We went to Europe (from Oz) 4 years ago but I purposely left France out because I refuse to just hit and run .. I wanted to be able to saviour even for a little while or not see it at all... well almost there!
Sep 16th, 2005, 07:38 AM
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If Monbazziac is meant to be Monbazillac, I do not think that it is worth an extra trip unless you are an amateur of its wine which can be sampled at the chateau. I also do not consider Les Eyzies a destination except for its prehistoric museum and the nearby cave (Font de Gaume); the town itself is nothing special. But lunch in Le Centenaire is probably something to do--definitely dinner if you are willing to splurge.
Sep 16th, 2005, 12:59 PM
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I saw the same Rudy Maxa travel show that jmw referred to. It looks like a wonderful place to visit and definitely on my list of must sees. Rocamadour looks like a place not to be missed. Bon Voyage!
Sep 16th, 2005, 01:35 PM
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I think you should plan at least 4 full days in the area, more if you can spare them. I also don't think Monbazillac merits a visit, nor Les Eyzies except to visit Font de Gaume or Combarelles. But you mentioned doing a canoe trip - that's at least a half day (if there are still outfits running in late October).
Other places I'd put on my list to see are Beynac and La Roque-Gageac and Castelnaud and La Roque-Saint-Christophe and Belvès and Lalinde and heck, there are so many! You don't want to breeze through this part of the world. It's all about slowing down and meandering through the tiny villages, finding a tiny, fabulous restaurant hidden up at the top of St-Chamassy or coming across a folk festival in a field or a choral concert in a romanesque chapel, or whatever..
Sarlat itself deserves most of a day. Take a walking tour. They have them in English every Wednesday at 10 am (at least that's what the summer schedule was). I should think you'd want to spend a few hours at least at one of the magnificent outdoor markets. A tour of some of the bastide towns could easily eat up another day. Another day for prehistoric sites. And yet another for castesl. See what I mean? The time will fly by and you'll only have scratched the surface.
Rocamadour doesn't hold much appeal for me, but it is a major site. You could combine that with a visit to the Gouffre de Padirac, Collonges-la-Rouge, and Martel. But instead of making that a day trip from the Dordogne (Rocamadour isn't in the Dordogne), I'd head there when you leave Sarlat and then get back on the A20 and head south.
Other places I'd put on my list to see are Beynac and La Roque-Gageac and Castelnaud and La Roque-Saint-Christophe and Belvès and Lalinde and heck, there are so many! You don't want to breeze through this part of the world. It's all about slowing down and meandering through the tiny villages, finding a tiny, fabulous restaurant hidden up at the top of St-Chamassy or coming across a folk festival in a field or a choral concert in a romanesque chapel, or whatever..
Sarlat itself deserves most of a day. Take a walking tour. They have them in English every Wednesday at 10 am (at least that's what the summer schedule was). I should think you'd want to spend a few hours at least at one of the magnificent outdoor markets. A tour of some of the bastide towns could easily eat up another day. Another day for prehistoric sites. And yet another for castesl. See what I mean? The time will fly by and you'll only have scratched the surface.
Rocamadour doesn't hold much appeal for me, but it is a major site. You could combine that with a visit to the Gouffre de Padirac, Collonges-la-Rouge, and Martel. But instead of making that a day trip from the Dordogne (Rocamadour isn't in the Dordogne), I'd head there when you leave Sarlat and then get back on the A20 and head south.
Sep 16th, 2005, 02:22 PM
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Thanks StCirq - happy to follow your advice and will now plan perhaps 5 or 6 days so that including a Saturday Market day and Wednesday walk day still wont have us rushing around the area checking out all the other places.
It sounds like such an amazing area, it would be silly to tickbox it just to move on to a lesser area.
AND NOW... I have to digress.. Ive just found your travel report and am enthralled.. still on the early part (I have it opened in another window and just popped over here to see if I had any answers to my posts)... your currently in the canoes! - Your writing is amazing. Your really should write a book (if you havent already?)
During the past 2 weeks I keep seeing StCirq6 posts for example but didnt let myslef get hooked by looking because I tried a Fodors search and couldnt find the beginiing and so decided I didnt want to be frustrated by starting in the middle.. and now I just chanced across the first posting....I LOVE... the way its going my how many nights in Sarlat question will be irrelevant as we will be staying 2 weeks there due to your report! hee he (or buying a house..I wish)
so Im back to my "other window" to see how the day unfolds for you all... you may hear me groaning from wherever you live if I cant find the 2nd thread to this report when I get to the end of this one.
I wish Fodors would fix their search function. Im sure it worked better years ago!
THANK you!
It sounds like such an amazing area, it would be silly to tickbox it just to move on to a lesser area.
AND NOW... I have to digress.. Ive just found your travel report and am enthralled.. still on the early part (I have it opened in another window and just popped over here to see if I had any answers to my posts)... your currently in the canoes! - Your writing is amazing. Your really should write a book (if you havent already?)
During the past 2 weeks I keep seeing StCirq6 posts for example but didnt let myslef get hooked by looking because I tried a Fodors search and couldnt find the beginiing and so decided I didnt want to be frustrated by starting in the middle.. and now I just chanced across the first posting....I LOVE... the way its going my how many nights in Sarlat question will be irrelevant as we will be staying 2 weeks there due to your report! hee he (or buying a house..I wish)
so Im back to my "other window" to see how the day unfolds for you all... you may hear me groaning from wherever you live if I cant find the 2nd thread to this report when I get to the end of this one.
I wish Fodors would fix their search function. Im sure it worked better years ago!
THANK you!
Sep 16th, 2005, 04:29 PM
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St Cirq's info and advice on the area cannot be improved upon.
Get the latest Nat Geographic traveller magazine for the area just east and south of Sarlat.
Martel is magical as in Collonges-la-R. But also see exquisite Turenne, Carennac, Autoire (which the magazine describes) and St Cere....
Get the latest Nat Geographic traveller magazine for the area just east and south of Sarlat.
Martel is magical as in Collonges-la-R. But also see exquisite Turenne, Carennac, Autoire (which the magazine describes) and St Cere....
Sep 16th, 2005, 04:37 PM
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Thanks, Cosmo:
I've been writing a book for years. Problem is, the story just won't end
Agree with tedgale's suggestions. So if you really can spend 6 days in the Sarlat area, that would be wonderful.
How many are you planning for the St-Rémy area?
I've been writing a book for years. Problem is, the story just won't end
Agree with tedgale's suggestions. So if you really can spend 6 days in the Sarlat area, that would be wonderful.
How many are you planning for the St-Rémy area?
Sep 17th, 2005, 12:01 AM
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Thanks Tedgale and StCirq, Ill check out the NG if I can - sounds worthwhile
As to timelines we are staying a couple of days with friends in Saintes(french couple we met when travelling in China and who visited us in Australia afterwards - they dont speak english and we dont speak french but we all get on great!) They may travel with us for a few days after that which means theyll come on to Sarlat with us which would be lovely.
From when we leave Saintes we will have 14 days until we have to be in Montepellier at 5pm... and during that time the "South is our Oyster" - shame its such a big oyster hee hee.
So thinking Sarlat and area is good and makes sense to travel towards Montpellier which means deciding where else looks good without zig zaging all over the country so in comes St remy.. Im just gathering "tons of info" on as many places between the 2 spots and then plan to wing it in regards to how long in each place.
I really would love to get 2 days in at the end in the Ardeche area... (bit of a fantasy after seeing "Nippy and Nigel" in "A place in the Sun" - did it play in the States? Its a UK show, and had my husband and I hooked on the area.
Determined to enjoy the bits we do see though so in my mind just committing to the general route Sarlat across to St Remy and if it eventuates that we look like we can whip up there at the end we will.
Hope that book really happens one day StCirq.. you'd have a best seller just from the sales from fodorites!
(I think Ill go start a new post with Nippy and Nigel and see what response I get - definitely some from the Poms! hee) - Nippy and Nigel are legends! - watch for the post..ha
As to timelines we are staying a couple of days with friends in Saintes(french couple we met when travelling in China and who visited us in Australia afterwards - they dont speak english and we dont speak french but we all get on great!) They may travel with us for a few days after that which means theyll come on to Sarlat with us which would be lovely.
From when we leave Saintes we will have 14 days until we have to be in Montepellier at 5pm... and during that time the "South is our Oyster" - shame its such a big oyster hee hee.
So thinking Sarlat and area is good and makes sense to travel towards Montpellier which means deciding where else looks good without zig zaging all over the country so in comes St remy.. Im just gathering "tons of info" on as many places between the 2 spots and then plan to wing it in regards to how long in each place.
I really would love to get 2 days in at the end in the Ardeche area... (bit of a fantasy after seeing "Nippy and Nigel" in "A place in the Sun" - did it play in the States? Its a UK show, and had my husband and I hooked on the area.
Determined to enjoy the bits we do see though so in my mind just committing to the general route Sarlat across to St Remy and if it eventuates that we look like we can whip up there at the end we will.
Hope that book really happens one day StCirq.. you'd have a best seller just from the sales from fodorites!
(I think Ill go start a new post with Nippy and Nigel and see what response I get - definitely some from the Poms! hee) - Nippy and Nigel are legends! - watch for the post..ha
