Route to Bordeaux?

[mrtwisty]

I'm driving down to Bordeaux tomorrow, taking non-toll roads. Which is the nicer drive - via Tours or Lemans?

[Halmyre]

mrtwisty said:

I'm driving down to Bordeaux tomorrow, taking non-toll roads. Which is the nicer drive - via Tours or Lemans?

I don't think you can avoid passing through both, regardless. I did it many years ago but can't remember what the roads were like - probably long and straight!

[mrtwisty]

I was having a look at the suggested routes on googlemaps yesterday - one route was to the west going through Lemans, the other was slightly to the east going through Tours. They are both the same distance/time istr.

[mrtwisty]

This is of course all academic though - we will surely be eaten by the rampaging hordes of zombie immigrants that I read about in the Mail.

I heard that they can cut through your bodywork with their laser vision and pull you straight out of the car. Scary stuff. God bless Paul Dacre for warning us.

[mrtwisty]

Oh and thanks to the mod who moved this to SatNav Systems where no bugger will see it. Great help that!

[Slushbox]

Probably too late now, but I've done both, though not for some years. The Le Mans leg was worth it for a certain long straight road, with not much traffic.

Having said that, the French trafpol can be quite firm in their dealings with 'sporty' drivers.

Bon voyages!

[battered]

You certainly don't need to go through both!

You can of course, if you wish. I used to live in Saumur, which is halfway between Angers and Tours and about an hour south of LM. The non-toll roads around there are slowish, straight and not very interesting. You do end up going through every dusty little village in the place. That said once you get S of the Loire things open up a bit, there's a pleasant drive down to Poitiers and I think an easy link to Niort and Bdx after that. Provided you stay away from the coast (it's August!) then you'll be OK. This weekend is Le Grand Depart for most after all.

I haven't looked at a recent map but I think I'd favour the Tours option. That said my memories are 10yrs old and they *might* have improved the RNs between LM and Angers and on south.

I'd take the autoroute though, I must say. Presumably you are sailing into Le Havre or Cherbourg, to be faced with these choices?

[mrtwisty]

battered said:

You certainly don't need to go through both!

You can of course, if you wish. I used to live in Saumur, which is halfway between Angers and Tours and about an hour south of LM. The non-toll roads around there are slowish, straight and not very interesting. You do end up going through every dusty little village in the place. That said once you get S of the Loire things open up a bit, there's a pleasant drive down to Poitiers and I think an easy link to Niort and Bdx after that. Provided you stay away from the coast (it's August!) then you'll be OK. This weekend is Le Grand Depart for most after all.

I haven't looked at a recent map but I think I'd favour the Tours option. That said my memories are 10yrs old and they *might* have improved the RNs between LM and Angers and on south.

I'd take the autoroute though, I must say. Presumably you are sailing into Le Havre or Cherbourg, to be faced with these choices?

Ahh, we're staying just outside Saumur for a few days on the way 'back up' - any recommendations for us?

We're sailing into Calais (my crystal ball wasn't working when I booked the tickets several months ago).

The idea is avoid the autoroute so that we get to see some (lots) of France. Are there any sections where that's just not worth it? (where we can hop on the faster toll roads for a while).

Edited by mrtwisty on Thursday 30th July 18:42