s6656 -

Something I remembered after posting my reply - the daylight hours are short in March and definitely in December. A very good reason to get early starts, maybe even 8am, so you don't have to be driving home in the black of night, as neither the National Roads nor the Peage have lights (though on some stretches of the Peage close to an intersection/city might have a few - otherwise, dark, dark.

Note: Some people avoid the Peage as the tolls are high, but close to cities there often are no tolls - it's almost trial and error where you'll get hit with tolls. Another reason, many use the National Roads which I personally prefer, they're prettier, have traffic circles rather than lights (so know where you're going as arrows point to "name" destinations), beautiful plane trees, with many vineyards off the roads. Speeds on the Peage, while marked at about 65mph (but in Km), drivers are often moving at more than 100mph.

For anyone deciding to do the Pont du Gard at end of day (which I find perfect) realize you're driving into the "sun" as it's setting in the West.

And while you might arrive at some sites early, towns will be open, but many shops might not open till 10am.

So with a good guidebook, check the open and close schedules, including lunch time, for places you wish to visit.