Sue, well you're right about going direct to the airport from Tours; your comment prompted some additional thinking, and I have decided to begin in Paris and leave from Toulouse. That way I can just knock off that overnight in Toulouse and end our trip in Carcassonne, or stay near the airport in Toulousse if we have an early flight.

That also takes care of having five one-night stays at the beginning of the trip. We can begin our touring with three days in the Loire Valley and work our way south.

<<We can begin our touring with three days in the Loire Valley and work our way south.>>

Good plan. Then you should be able to fit in a visit to Oradour-su-Glane along the way.

So what's the revised itinerary?

Ron, pretty much the same, only in reverse. Three days in Loire valley, 3 in Dordogne, one in all the others, maybe two in Albi, depart from Toulouse. I'm not sure exactly how many days total; still working out those pesky details of what to do with daughter and dogs.

If I am able to add another day, do you have a suggestion for how to break up the Amboise to Sarlat portion?

Is the new highway (A20-N20) from Cahors north finished? My map shows it was supposed to be completed this month.

One of my favorite Chateaus is Valencay. It does not get the tourist volume that the more popular ones do, and therefore offers a much different experience. From here I would head to Chateauroux and get on the A20, perhaps stopping overnight in Uzerche. Then off the highway through the countryside, possibly routing through Hautefort on the way to Sarlat.

If you are passing by Hautefort which is on the most direct route between Limoges and Sarlat, stop by the medicine museum in the center of town--it's the 17th century building outside the chateau. Its entrance is also the tourist information office and it has one of the best collection of brochures that I have seen for the entire Dordogne area.

For a list of the most beautiful villages in France: http://www.cometofrance.com/PBVF.html

Don't know why you would need to break up Amboise/Sarlat into 2 days. It is a long drive, but not overly so. I left Amboise after breakfast, and arrived at Sarlat by dinner time. Hautefort is impressive from the outside only, and if you will be going to the Loire, I would recommend skipping it altogether.

Gabriele, how many hours did it take from Amboise to Sarlat; did you make many stops?

I think we will take the fastest route, making one stop for lunch and skipping Hautefort.

If you haven't already left, and read French, please check out www.cathares.org. Lots and lots of info on the area, and good links.
For hotels, etc, cannot recommend Guide Routard (now in English from Rough Guide). The few times I have used it I have found it accurate and very helpful. This is the guide (guide routard) which the French use when they travel...and quoting it when booking a room or a meal has been a very good introduction. I usually find a fellow traveller and pass along my current copy before leaving...a way of passing along good experiences.
good travels!