St. Crrepin et Carlucet to Sare
Mar 7th, 2006 | 11:15 AM
#1
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St. Crrepin et Carlucet to Sare
OK...next is when I leave St. Crepin to go to Sare. I do want to stop by St. Emilion, which seems to be the direction that both Michelin and Mappy want to send you. When I leave St. Emilion should I just take the auto route and get down to Sare, or are there other roads and/or places that I should see?
Thanks,
Joan
Thanks,
Joan
Mar 7th, 2006 | 02:36 PM
#2
Joined: Nov 2004
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Is this another one day trip???
We drove from the Sare/Pays Basque region to the Dordogne in '03, but we stayed overnight in the Pyrenees. We also explored the western Pyrenees when we stayed near St Jean Pied du Port for 2 weeks.
Personally, I would not go out of my way to visit St Emilion - especially after you have spent time in Sarlat, Beynac, Perigueux, Roque Gageac, Domme, Pezenas, St Guilhem, etc. I was a little underwhealmed with St Emilion (mainly because it was very touristy & one-dimentional (wine)), and I also think it would be too much of the "same thing" for you. It's not nearly as interesting as Sarlat, for example, which is also very touristy.
If this is a 1 day trip, I would just head south via Toulouse on the freeway, and then dip down from the A64 into the Pyreneese at exit #17 at Montrejeau (just past St Gaudens). Head south to St Bertrand for a visit (read about it in your Green Guide). Then head south to Bagneres de Luchon - perhaps have lunch there. There's lots of valley excursions in that area - but you won't have time.
From Luchon (that seems to be the name that the Tour de France calls it) head west on the lovely D618 to Arreau. Then get on the D918 west over many of the famous cols/passes that the Tour de France follows most years - Col d'Aspin (spectacular), Col de Tourmalet (even better), & Col d' Aubisque (remarkable) - this is a spectacular route - nothing like what you will see near Llo in the eastern Pyrenees. It's also quite different from the Pyrenees at the Pays Basque end. You won't believe how pretty it is. If you look at your 342 map of this route, note where the D918 heads north after the Col d'Aspin, and then U-turns south again before the Col du Tourmalet. At this U - head about 6K north and drive slowly through the town of Campen - noticing all the people outside in various poses. It may take you a bit to realize that they are not real people - they are "stuffed" life-sized figures in various interesting poses. Return to the D918. As you traverse this route, be aware that cows, sheep, and horses are allowed to run free in this region - there are no fences. We have a picture of a trailor being blocked from leaving the Col d'Aspin by a large cow that decided to take a nap in front of the tourist's only exit route.
Once you get to Laruns past the Col du Tourmalet, head north on the D934 and catch the freeway to Sare. We did not take this D934 all the way to Pau - there will be a "traffic" shock for you when you get to Pau. I might instead take the very pretty D294 west from the D934 to the D238 and then through Oloron & catch the feeway on one of the smaller roads.
If you need to shorten this drive, leave the A64 at exit #16 & skip St Bertrand & Luchon. I would also get a very early start in the morning, so you are not driving the most scenic section of this route with the sun in your face.
Stu Dudley
We drove from the Sare/Pays Basque region to the Dordogne in '03, but we stayed overnight in the Pyrenees. We also explored the western Pyrenees when we stayed near St Jean Pied du Port for 2 weeks.
Personally, I would not go out of my way to visit St Emilion - especially after you have spent time in Sarlat, Beynac, Perigueux, Roque Gageac, Domme, Pezenas, St Guilhem, etc. I was a little underwhealmed with St Emilion (mainly because it was very touristy & one-dimentional (wine)), and I also think it would be too much of the "same thing" for you. It's not nearly as interesting as Sarlat, for example, which is also very touristy.
If this is a 1 day trip, I would just head south via Toulouse on the freeway, and then dip down from the A64 into the Pyreneese at exit #17 at Montrejeau (just past St Gaudens). Head south to St Bertrand for a visit (read about it in your Green Guide). Then head south to Bagneres de Luchon - perhaps have lunch there. There's lots of valley excursions in that area - but you won't have time.
From Luchon (that seems to be the name that the Tour de France calls it) head west on the lovely D618 to Arreau. Then get on the D918 west over many of the famous cols/passes that the Tour de France follows most years - Col d'Aspin (spectacular), Col de Tourmalet (even better), & Col d' Aubisque (remarkable) - this is a spectacular route - nothing like what you will see near Llo in the eastern Pyrenees. It's also quite different from the Pyrenees at the Pays Basque end. You won't believe how pretty it is. If you look at your 342 map of this route, note where the D918 heads north after the Col d'Aspin, and then U-turns south again before the Col du Tourmalet. At this U - head about 6K north and drive slowly through the town of Campen - noticing all the people outside in various poses. It may take you a bit to realize that they are not real people - they are "stuffed" life-sized figures in various interesting poses. Return to the D918. As you traverse this route, be aware that cows, sheep, and horses are allowed to run free in this region - there are no fences. We have a picture of a trailor being blocked from leaving the Col d'Aspin by a large cow that decided to take a nap in front of the tourist's only exit route.
Once you get to Laruns past the Col du Tourmalet, head north on the D934 and catch the freeway to Sare. We did not take this D934 all the way to Pau - there will be a "traffic" shock for you when you get to Pau. I might instead take the very pretty D294 west from the D934 to the D238 and then through Oloron & catch the feeway on one of the smaller roads.
If you need to shorten this drive, leave the A64 at exit #16 & skip St Bertrand & Luchon. I would also get a very early start in the morning, so you are not driving the most scenic section of this route with the sun in your face.
Stu Dudley
