Memorybee

I've read everything I can find on the forums about the Dordogne region and appreciate all the suggestions that have been made throughout the threads. Our trip will be the last week of March 2013. Here is the plan I've come up with - any input on how this sounds?
Tuesday around noon - Flight arrives in Toulouse, pick up rental car, drive to Sarlat or somewhere nearby where we would stay for 6 nights and use as a base for our daily adventures out into the surrounding area.
The following Monday - drive to Oradour-sur-Glane and walk around, Turn car in at Limoges and take the train from there to Paris.
My husband would really like to go to Normandy at some point. We could do it as a guided tour day trip from Paris OR instead of turning our car in at Limoges, we could continue driving to Caen (or somewhere up that way on Monday), tour the area on Tuesday, which seems like it would be much easier and pleasant to do with a car, and then turn the car in Tuesday night somewhere and take the train to Paris. Any suggestions on where to turn the car in?
Thanks again for all the great suggestions! Last year at the same time we went to Provence and made our home in Apt (La Madone -highly recommend these apartments) for the week. We loved going out each day and discovering new villages and markets. I think we could have the same sort of experience in Dordogne - do you think I'm correct in thinking that?

StCirq

Well, the drive from Limoges to Caen isn't going to be terribly easy and pleasant compared to taking a train, but it does cut down on your logistics and give you a tiny bit more time in Normandy. But driving from the Sarlat areaa to Oradour-sur-Glan and "looking around" is going to take about half a day, and then you've got that long drive ahead of you. Anyway, if you do that, I'd turn the car in in Chartres, see the cathedral, then take the train into Paris. If you don't want to do that, drop the car in Caen and take the train from there.

March weather is highly unpredictable in the Dordogne. And this year, Easter is late, so just know that a fair number of things will be closed until the Tuesday after Easter. The markets, of course, will all be in operation (except for the few small ones that spring up just for the summer tourists).

Memorybee

Thank you for your help! Do you know how long the drive from Oradour-sur-Glan to Caen might take? Also the trip from Toulouse to Sarlat?

StCirq

Oradour-sur-Glane > Caen, about 6 hours
Toulouse > Sarlat, about 2-2.5 hours

Is there a reason you're arriving in Toulouse? Where are you flying from?

taconictraveler

St.Cirq: never known you to be incorrect, but isn't Easter eraly this year? Seems to me March 31 or close!
Someone correct me, if I am wrong, please.

Memorybee

I am flying from the US and need to fly on Usairways which limits my choices of where to fly into. I could fly into Paris and take the train south and pick up a car, but for close to the same price, I can fly into Toulouse and avoid the cost of the train.
I know Easter is on the weekend we are there - I've checked with one of the canoe rental places on the Dordogne and they are open on Easter, so I thought that would be a good thing to do when most places are closed (weather-permitting.) I thought driving north to Oradour and onward was good to do on Easter Monday when many things are closed too.
There are always so many options - I just need to be in Paris by Wednesday, April 3, for work. That's the only thing set in stone right now.

StCirq

taconictraveler, I think I've lost track of when Easter normally falls (being an honorary Jew these days I don't track the Christian holidays so much, but isn't Easter March 31 or April 1? If that's early, I apologize!

Memorybee, did you check PREM fares from Paris to Brive? They can be VERY cheap - sometimes 20 euros or so (and get you closer to Sarlat), with less of a drive from Toulouse.

Memorybee

The cheapest train is $60 where the difference in airfare is $50 plus I would have to get from CDG to Gare Austerlitz. Would that be worth the trouble with luggage and all?
I really appreciate your help!

Carlux

Easter is indeed 31 March, which is quite early. Take note that Good Friday is not a holiday in France, but Easter Monday is.

I don't see a problem with flying to Toulouse and driving to Sarlat. It's not a difficult drive. If you are in Paris then the train from Austerlitz to Brive is easier but if you have to get from the airport into the centre of Paris and then get the train it's not so easy.

You may also have wonderful weather in March. No one believes this, but we have friends who started to rent our house in the early 90's and have now come to the Dordogne in March 12 or 13 times (whatever the weather, it's better than Ottawa in March) And almost invariably they have good weather. We often have lunch outside, and sometimes even manage dinner outside.

Then again, we have had to offer guests sweaters in the odd July. Nothing is guaranteed, but you should still have a wonderful time in March.

(I have lived in the Dordogne for almost 19 years full time, and so have seen many springs here)

Memorybee

Thank you, Carlux! I was wondering - some posts say that the drive out of Toulouse toward Sarlat after renting a car at the airport can be very confusing. We will not have a GPS; we prefer maps and figuring it out, but it sometimes helps to know ahead if something is terribly confusing. Will the rental car place have good directions for us or does someone on here to help avoid confusion?
Also are any of the markets in Dordogne known for their antiquites/brocante? Would I find brocante at the market on Saturday in Sarlat?

Cathinjoetown

The car rental agent should be able to get you on the right autoroute but have your own map with you, they've been known not to have them.

Viamichelin gives the drive time to Sarlat as 2 hr 39 mins, add at least 30 mins to this. Are you really "up" for this drive getting off a transatlantic flight and a 2nd flight? I would consider the train.

We do the Limoges to Caen run, actually starting south of Toulouse, 2-3 times a year to take the ferry from Caen to Portsmouth. Limoges to Caen is about 5 hours with a stop or two. We take the National route between Limoges and Poitiers and pick up the autoroute at Poitiers. It's a tedious drive, imo, but you'll get there. Bayeux or Honfleur are prettier bases than Caen.

This would make mores sense to me than going into Paris then back up to Normandy.

StCirq

No, it's not that confusing getting out of Toulouse and toward Sarlat. I wouldn't expect any problems there. I was just wondering about your travel arrangements before heading for the Dordogne. It makes sense to fly instead of going into Paris to take the train.

No, there won't likely be any brocante at the market in Sarlat. Brocante markets are normally separate and might not even happen at that time of year. There's a pamphlet all the tourist offices put out (usually in March) that lists all the brocante fairs for the coming year, but you might be there before it's published and available. I can give you the location of a number of brocante stores, though, if you like.

Memorybee

Thank you, StCirq! I would love to have the locations of some brocante stores. I'm always on the hunt for a treasure or two!

StCirq

Visit my friend Bernard Vialenc on the Avenue Libération in Le Bugue (opposite the parking lot in front of the Crédit Agricole) and say hello to him from the American lady in St-Cirq.

Also, La Grange, 79 Avenue Gare, the stretch of road between Le Bugue and Campagne. There's a big Brocante sign there.

And there's one in the main square in Belvès and at least a couple in Monpazier.

And here's the calender of garage sales and brocante events in the Dordogne for 2013: http://brocabrac.fr/Vide-greniers-24

Carlux

Not a difficult drive from Toulouse at all. Coming out of the aiport follow signs for Toulouse, then Bordeaux/Paris, and at Montauban turn onto the A20 towards Paris. North of Montauban it's a really attractive road, and quite new and well maintained. Stay on A20 until you see the turnoff for Sarlat

And there wont be a brocante at the Sarlat market, but there are people selling lots of things other than food - a fair amount of junk, unfortunately but you might find something interesting.

Most of the brocantes and vide greniers (garage sale) are in the summer, when the buying population is greater.

Memorybee

Another question - I'm wondering if we want to at least see and spend a few hours in Albi - should we drive from Toulouse to Albi the first day and spend the night (that would give us the afternoon and evening there and perhaps some time the next morning) and then head up to Sarlat for the next 4 days. Is Albi too far to be a day trip from Sarlat?
Everyone's input is very appreciated!

kja

> I'm wondering if we want to at least see and spend a few hours in Albi

Well worth it IMHO! A few hours would probably be enough (assuming those hours aren't while everything is closed for a very long lunch interval), but I was glad to spend a night there. I had a wonderful dinner at the Le Clos Sainte Cecile, near the Cathedral.

And you haven't mentioned spending any time in wonderful Toulouse....

StCirq

Sure, Albi is a great place. Do it!

La_Tour_de_Cause

A useful site for looking up brocantes, vide greniers, flower faires, etc., is: http://vide-greniers.org/.
It's not always accurate or up-to-date, but it's something. If you say a brocante listed, you can always search for the office of tourism site for the village it's in, and verify that it's happening.