Planning a 3 week trip for May 2016. Read lots of info already, but trying to come up with an itinerary. We want to take this trip at a slower pace. Looking at Grand Cru in Bordeaux, St. Emilion (2 nights), apartment in Sarlat (1 week), then ? ? - possibly Carcassone, and/or Burgundy (Beaune), and/or Paris. We've been to France several times, as well as Paris, but not to the other areas mentioned.

You might want to take a look at my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-june-2011.cfm

I love Sarlat, but don't think I would choose to stay in an apartment in the city. The difficulty of parking, an egress and access at the beginning of any trip would be issues that I would want to avoid.

There are any number of gites and cottage rentals available near Sarlat, we stayed at a wonderful place on the grounds of the Chateaux Les Milande several years ago, and they will provide you access to the city while not restricting your local touring.

For places before you get to Sarlat, consider Lalinde, a spot not often mentioned in this forum, for a great local market and good access to the Perigord Pourpre, and also go north to the Brantome-Nontron area for beautiful scenery and villages as well as a different atmosphere from the south.

Sarlat to Beaune will consume 6 1/2 to 7 hrs - so I sure would not go there.

There are plenty of fantastic areas in the southwest - in addition to the Dordogne. We've spent 2 weeks near Ceret/Perpignan, 2 weeks in Puy l'Eveque on the Lot river, 2 weeks near Espalion also on the Lot, 2 weeks near Caylus just north of Albi, 1 week in the Cantal dept near Salers, and in 5 weeks from today we'll be near Carcassonne for 2 weeks and the Gorges du Tarn for another 2 weeks (both return visits). We've also spend 10 weeks in the Dordogne. Flip a coin - all these areas are wonderful.

I've writted a 35 page itinerary that describes our farorite villages, scenic drives, sites, markets, and an extensive restaurant section. I've sent my various itineraries to over 5,000 peoiple on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail. Ask for my Languedoc/Roussillon itinerary - I have others - including a Dordogne itinerary.

Stu Dudley

I thought tha Toulose was a really sweet city for a larger town - a certain harmony in looks and an ABC city - Another Bloody Church -old church it seems on every corner!

>>I thought tha Toulose<<

Toulouse, in case you Google it. Along with Dijon, Toulouse is our favorite city in France after Paris.

Stu Dudley

I like Toulouse, also, but it isn't any town. It's the fourth largest city in France and has a lot of business.

Thanks for the input. Keep it coming!
And thanks Stu. I've e-mailed you for your itineraries.

I wasn't aware that Toulouse was in southwest France, although it is in the Midi-Pyrénées.

Robert, it technically is in SW France. Divide France into four equal quadrants and it falls into the SW quadrant.