Calais to Monaco via Millau
Discussion
Reasonably speaking, very difficult off the motorways. At least if you want to enjoy the drive.
To make the most of it, off the motorways I try to keep to a max of 350km/day. This includes stopping off at interesting places (quick stops...) grabbing some lunch, pic stops, etc - but don't imagine any waste of time. Sometimes I don't make it, in fact I regularly fail. Your average speed off the motorway is likely to be ridiculously low.
Google Earth says (via motorways...) 926km to Millau.
Assuming that its the same distance off the motorway - probably it's around 15% longer but anyway - that means that you would need 3 days to get to Millau. Any less and you may as well have used the motorway, since you won't be stopping anywhere. May as well use Google Earth street view from home.
I'd say to hell with Millau, it can take you two days to get to Monaco off the autoroutes and I'd allow no less, if I wanted to enjoy the drive, as I suspect is the point. Actually, I am being inaccurate. You will still be using the motorways part of the way to make it to Monaco in 2 days for a technically "off motorway" drive - you will use the autoroute to get you at least half way across France from Calais, the flatlands are boring, no point.
Then on, there are several nice routes you could choose, did Route des Vins last year, Route Napoleon year before that, there is also the Route des Grandes Alpes which may take you longer but hell whats a friggin bridge compared to the roads mentioned above.
Take heed of the above 350km/day if you want to enjoy it. Many people may think this to be a very low daily, but generally regret being more ambitious. Nothing worse than a super stressful "enjoyable" drive.
To make the most of it, off the motorways I try to keep to a max of 350km/day. This includes stopping off at interesting places (quick stops...) grabbing some lunch, pic stops, etc - but don't imagine any waste of time. Sometimes I don't make it, in fact I regularly fail. Your average speed off the motorway is likely to be ridiculously low.
Google Earth says (via motorways...) 926km to Millau.
Assuming that its the same distance off the motorway - probably it's around 15% longer but anyway - that means that you would need 3 days to get to Millau. Any less and you may as well have used the motorway, since you won't be stopping anywhere. May as well use Google Earth street view from home.
I'd say to hell with Millau, it can take you two days to get to Monaco off the autoroutes and I'd allow no less, if I wanted to enjoy the drive, as I suspect is the point. Actually, I am being inaccurate. You will still be using the motorways part of the way to make it to Monaco in 2 days for a technically "off motorway" drive - you will use the autoroute to get you at least half way across France from Calais, the flatlands are boring, no point.
Then on, there are several nice routes you could choose, did Route des Vins last year, Route Napoleon year before that, there is also the Route des Grandes Alpes which may take you longer but hell whats a friggin bridge compared to the roads mentioned above.
Take heed of the above 350km/day if you want to enjoy it. Many people may think this to be a very low daily, but generally regret being more ambitious. Nothing worse than a super stressful "enjoyable" drive.
Hi, we did similar last year and camped at in the gorge 6su tarn where we also did a bit of kayaking. Ended our road trip in St Tropez and did a little off motorway mainly from Milau and across towards the A8. H a d a great time, driving around the gorge and up to milau and beyond was amazing.....even with one wife, two kids, 4 bikes and enough camping gear for 10 weeks though we only slept under canvas for three nights.
It's been a few years, but we used to stay regularly at Camping de la Filature, in the Auvergne, just off the a71:
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revi...
It conveniently splits France into 2 days driving, and is a sweet little riverside site. Run by a very friendly and relaxed English couple, who cook exceptional food takeaway! (Seriously- eating there was often a highlight for us, simple French country food cooked beautifully..!)
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revi...
It conveniently splits France into 2 days driving, and is a sweet little riverside site. Run by a very friendly and relaxed English couple, who cook exceptional food takeaway! (Seriously- eating there was often a highlight for us, simple French country food cooked beautifully..!)
Edited by Jodyone on Thursday 3rd April 09:46
The viaduct is amazing, and well worth a visit. The French certainly know how to do these grand projects. Avoid the cafe in the visitor centre though, I ended with with a very dodgy stomach after my wife mistakenly ordered what appeared to be tripe in a cone and then decided she preferred the look of my lunch!
996TT02 said:
I'd say to hell with Millau, it can take you two days to get to Monaco off the autoroutes and I'd allow no less, if I wanted to enjoy the drive, as I suspect is the point. Actually, I am being inaccurate. You will still be using the motorways part of the way to make it to Monaco in 2 days for a technically "off motorway" drive - you will use the autoroute to get you at least half way across France from Calais, the flatlands are boring, no point.
Then on, there are several nice routes you could choose, did Route des Vins last year, Route Napoleon year before that, there is also the Route des Grandes Alpes which may take you longer but hell whats a friggin bridge compared to the roads mentioned above.
Fully agreed! 2 days of motorway driving for a bridge, it is an impressive bridge though, but mainly from the visitors car park and from underneath looking at the scale of it. Then on, there are several nice routes you could choose, did Route des Vins last year, Route Napoleon year before that, there is also the Route des Grandes Alpes which may take you longer but hell whats a friggin bridge compared to the roads mentioned above.
I haven't done Route des Vins, but the Route Napoleon is very good, and I'd like to use it everytime going to the south of france if I could.
Route des Grandes Alpes is tough going, but it does end with the Col du Turini, some of the higher passes are stunning but it's not quick getting to them.
SrMoreno said:
The viaduct is amazing, and well worth a visit. The French certainly know how to do these grand projects...
Yes, indeed. That famous French architect Sir Norman Foster did a rather good job, didn't he... 
Edit to add: If I were going to Millau, I would rather start from Le Havre or Caen.
Edited by littleredrooster on Thursday 3rd April 12:17
SrMoreno said:
The viaduct is amazing, and well worth a visit. The French certainly know how to do these grand projects. Avoid the cafe in the visitor centre though, I ended with with a very dodgy stomach after my wife mistakenly ordered what appeared to be tripe in a cone and then decided she preferred the look of my lunch!
Also no proper toilets.... in this day and age,Do this journey each year on the way to spain for the family holiday, I aim a stop midway through france about Oleans even that is 600 miles in ,all motorways quiet and peacefull if slightly more costly
The first year we went the millau bridge hadnot opened so drove the valley its a loverly road but adds two-three hours to the journey.
Bullit
littleredrooster said:
Yes, indeed. That famous French architect Sir Norman Foster did a rather good job, didn't he...
Wearing my "engineer" hat, I'd say that architects don't design bridges. Foster might have done a pretty sketch, but structural engineers did the clever stuff and contractors did the practical stuff, and I believe they were French. In any case, it's the politicians who have the ambition and foresight to do these projects that Britain lacks. The French also don't seem to pander to NIMBY types like we do. Vive La France.I would suggest staying in the Ibis hotel in Millau town center, its usually quite reasonably priced and has its own private secure garage. Millau has a couple of very good, reasonably priced, Michelin starred restaurants that are well worth the visit on their own - its a very nice, typically French town, I've been a couple of times and will go back. The drive to Monaco isn't that exciting though, would just jump on the AutoRoute and get there if I were you.
after classic le mans 2008 , we headed down through france towards millau then on into Italy, also in a tvr
we chose to use the French motorways once south of tours due to the distances involved.
I would recommend staying in millau over night , plenty of excellent camping along side the river , lots of nice restaurants and bars around .
recommend these campsites....
between le mans and tours , just off the n138
http://www.laradaparc.com/campsite-france-indre-et...
millau...
http://www.campinglesrivages.com/BIENVENU_GB.htm
we chose to use the French motorways once south of tours due to the distances involved.
I would recommend staying in millau over night , plenty of excellent camping along side the river , lots of nice restaurants and bars around .
recommend these campsites....
between le mans and tours , just off the n138
http://www.laradaparc.com/campsite-france-indre-et...
millau...
http://www.campinglesrivages.com/BIENVENU_GB.htm
Edited by joncon on Thursday 3rd April 16:13
Did this trip and further a few years back.
From Le Mans we took B roads all the way down to St Etienne where we camped in the grounds of a castle/Chateau on a hillside overlooking the river and town. I can't remember the name of it but found it by putting in St Etienne + campsite into google.
From there we took B roads down through the Masif Central (sic) to Millau. Roads you DO NOT want to miss are the D995 and D907 which take you along the Gorges Du Tarn. Trust me on this one.
If you want anymore info drop me a message and I will try and dig info our from the depths of the ipad.....think I did a write up in the Roads section....check my posts from 2012.
From Le Mans we took B roads all the way down to St Etienne where we camped in the grounds of a castle/Chateau on a hillside overlooking the river and town. I can't remember the name of it but found it by putting in St Etienne + campsite into google.
From there we took B roads down through the Masif Central (sic) to Millau. Roads you DO NOT want to miss are the D995 and D907 which take you along the Gorges Du Tarn. Trust me on this one.
If you want anymore info drop me a message and I will try and dig info our from the depths of the ipad.....think I did a write up in the Roads section....check my posts from 2012.
SrMoreno said:
littleredrooster said:
Yes, indeed. That famous French architect Sir Norman Foster did a rather good job, didn't he...
Wearing my "engineer" hat, I'd say that architects don't design bridges. Foster might have done a pretty sketch, but structural engineers did the clever stuff and contractors did the practical stuff, and I believe they were French. In any case, it's the politicians who have the ambition and foresight to do these projects that Britain lacks. The French also don't seem to pander to NIMBY types like we do. Vive La France.
crispyshark said:
Did this trip and further a few years back.
From Le Mans we took B roads all the way down to St Etienne where we camped in the grounds of a castle/Chateau on a hillside overlooking the river and town. I can't remember the name of it but found it by putting in St Etienne + campsite into google.
From there we took B roads down through the Masif Central (sic) to Millau. Roads you DO NOT want to miss are the D995 and D907 which take you along the Gorges Du Tarn. Trust me on this one.
If you want anymore info drop me a message and I will try and dig info our from the depths of the ipad.....think I did a write up in the Roads section....check my posts from 2012.
Here's the write up....have all the roads, camp sites etc at home on the pc.From Le Mans we took B roads all the way down to St Etienne where we camped in the grounds of a castle/Chateau on a hillside overlooking the river and town. I can't remember the name of it but found it by putting in St Etienne + campsite into google.
From there we took B roads down through the Masif Central (sic) to Millau. Roads you DO NOT want to miss are the D995 and D907 which take you along the Gorges Du Tarn. Trust me on this one.
If you want anymore info drop me a message and I will try and dig info our from the depths of the ipad.....think I did a write up in the Roads section....check my posts from 2012.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
SrMoreno said:
littleredrooster said:
Yes, indeed. That famous French architect Sir Norman Foster did a rather good job, didn't he...
Wearing my "engineer" hat, I'd say that architects don't design bridges. Foster might have done a pretty sketch, but structural engineers did the clever stuff and contractors did the practical stuff, and I believe they were French. In any case, it's the politicians who have the ambition and foresight to do these projects that Britain lacks. The French also don't seem to pander to NIMBY types like we do. Vive La France.
Vive la France? - I agree wholeheartedly.
996TT02 said:
Reasonably speaking, very difficult off the motorways. At least if you want to enjoy the drive.
To make the most of it, off the motorways I try to keep to a max of 350km/day. This includes stopping off at interesting places (quick stops...) grabbing some lunch, pic stops, etc - but don't imagine any waste of time. Sometimes I don't make it, in fact I regularly fail. Your average speed off the motorway is likely to be ridiculously low.
Google Earth says (via motorways...) 926km to Millau.
Assuming that its the same distance off the motorway - probably it's around 15% longer but anyway - that means that you would need 3 days to get to Millau. Any less and you may as well have used the motorway, since you won't be stopping anywhere. May as well use Google Earth street view from home.
I'd say to hell with Millau, it can take you two days to get to Monaco off the autoroutes and I'd allow no less, if I wanted to enjoy the drive, as I suspect is the point. Actually, I am being inaccurate. You will still be using the motorways part of the way to make it to Monaco in 2 days for a technically "off motorway" drive - you will use the autoroute to get you at least half way across France from Calais, the flatlands are boring, no point.
Then on, there are several nice routes you could choose, did Route des Vins last year, Route Napoleon year before that, there is also the Route des Grandes Alpes which may take you longer but hell whats a friggin bridge compared to the roads mentioned above.
Take heed of the above 350km/day if you want to enjoy it. Many people may think this to be a very low daily, but generally regret being more ambitious. Nothing worse than a super stressful "enjoyable" drive.
This is good advice. I've done a few trips round Europe and don't underestimate how long it takes to drive to the decent bits!!To make the most of it, off the motorways I try to keep to a max of 350km/day. This includes stopping off at interesting places (quick stops...) grabbing some lunch, pic stops, etc - but don't imagine any waste of time. Sometimes I don't make it, in fact I regularly fail. Your average speed off the motorway is likely to be ridiculously low.
Google Earth says (via motorways...) 926km to Millau.
Assuming that its the same distance off the motorway - probably it's around 15% longer but anyway - that means that you would need 3 days to get to Millau. Any less and you may as well have used the motorway, since you won't be stopping anywhere. May as well use Google Earth street view from home.
I'd say to hell with Millau, it can take you two days to get to Monaco off the autoroutes and I'd allow no less, if I wanted to enjoy the drive, as I suspect is the point. Actually, I am being inaccurate. You will still be using the motorways part of the way to make it to Monaco in 2 days for a technically "off motorway" drive - you will use the autoroute to get you at least half way across France from Calais, the flatlands are boring, no point.
Then on, there are several nice routes you could choose, did Route des Vins last year, Route Napoleon year before that, there is also the Route des Grandes Alpes which may take you longer but hell whats a friggin bridge compared to the roads mentioned above.
Take heed of the above 350km/day if you want to enjoy it. Many people may think this to be a very low daily, but generally regret being more ambitious. Nothing worse than a super stressful "enjoyable" drive.
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