Sarlat traffic
 

I have a thread going about Sarlat hotels, but thought I should post this question on a new thread as it is more to do with hotel localities and possible traffic congestion.

I've read (on this forum) that Sarlat can get awfully clogged up with traffic at certain times. How serious a problem is this really? I have figured that apart from 1 day heading NW to Lascaux, most of our comings and goings will be from/to the S end of town (Beynac, Domme, Souillac...). Would I be advised to find a hotel in that end of town (there are several in the Place Pasteur), or is it not an issue?

Outside of the rush hours when locals drive to and from work, we didn't encounter congested Sarlat traffic. Oh, and during the market days in Sarlat when traffic around the old town was slightly on a crawl. Just be aware of your speed when driving in the small twisties in the Dordogne/Lot countryside ... we noticed many cops waiting by semi-hidden roadways and pulling over and ticketing speedsters.

What time of year? What days of the week?

BTW, Souillac is due east of Sarlat, Domme is south, and Beynac is west.

Thanks bill_boy, that is useful.

St Cirq - we will be there in latter half of September. You're right of course, but I was talking road exits from Sarlat, not "as the crow flies". My Michelin map has Beynac, Domme and Souillac all approached initially from the S of Sarlat (via the D57, D46 and D704 respectively).

End of September you should have no problem. Real traffic jams are in July/August.

Avoid heading out on the Beynac road around 4 p.m. when College and Lycee get out and the roads are full of buses and cars, but that's only about half an hour.

A hotel on Place Pasteur vs. the Madeleine, or Couleuvrine, which I think you were considering, would make virtually no difference.

Thanks Carlux. I have now made a booking at les Cordeliers, which is on the north side of Sarlat. Handy for our arrival (driving in from the north via Brantome). Not that that's the reason - les Cordeliers just looks so nice, and not a bad price either. I'll keep clear of the Beynac road around 4pm as you suggest.

I wondered if you had looked at chambres d'hotes in Sarlat. Both the Cordeliers and La Lanterne look very nice, although as someone who lives here, I have never had any need to go in. Not sure what parking they offer, but there should be street parking most of the time at that season.