South of France road trip - Help me plan a route

[mx5tom]

I'm going to be driving to the south of France in the next month or two, and I could use a bit of help planning a route.

Destination is: Courthézon, France
From: Pontypridd, Wales

The Google Maps suggested route is here.

Basically then, looking at a minimum of 14 hours driving. I'd ideally have liked to do the whole thing in one go, but driving that long I'm unlikely to enjoy the latter part of it, so an over night stop is looking likely.

Any suggestions of a better (read: more fun) route you would take? I'm guessing that one is mostly motorways, and so not very fun or scenic.

It doesn't matter if it's a longer trip, and there's not somewhere I specifically need to travel via on the way there, so long as I end up in Courthézon. If I'm going to be stopping to sleep half way there then the extra journey time doesn't bother me.

[Harpo]

Ever been around the Paris periphery?

You certainly don't want to miss out on that fun in rush time!

How about Portsmouth as a crossing point?
Stay off the motorways and take the N roads. Gives you a chance to soak up the countryside.
Don't forget the sunblock!

[davidjpowell]

I did a similar journey in a day a good few years ago. Have a look at the N71 between Troyes and Dijon, it cuts a corner, and gives a break from the autoroute.

Personally on my own I would bite the bullet and do the drive. With the family I think a stop would be inevitable.

I'd avoid Paris. It can be a nightmare.

[Fleckers]

ignore speeling pleese, too many beers

calais
bouglone
Rouen
Le Manns
Tours

avoide Paris

[mx5tom]

Definitely will not be going through Paris or any other Euro-city centre :P
Shall have a look at that route now, but although I'm sure I 'could' do it in one go, I think it would ruin it.

I could get a plane for something like £14 each way, but always wanted to take my car on a Euro-drive so planning on enjoying it rather than surviving it on a caffeine bender. :P

[mx5tom]

Fleckers said:

ignore speeling pleese, too many beers

calais
bouglone
Rouen
Le Manns
Tours

avoide Paris

That looks quite good. Typed those into Google Maps and seems to be a good mix of motorways and smaller roads. 22 hours all in, so with a over-night stop not bad at all.

[CarlT]

That route is all autoroutes etc, but it is a nice run (it is the route we use to the Alps)...

[CarlT]

Overnight around Troyes would be my suggestion...

[loafer123]

I'd do Weymouth to St Malo and have fun across country, like this;

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

[duggan]

I head down to my parents place in the south of France (an hr from Carcassone) every couple of years and always do this:

head to here:

http://www.monalisahotels.com/manoir-beauvoir/fr/w...

off the 10am (local time eurostar) and you'll be there at 1600hrs ish - nice food (first class steak) & place (for my wife and I/Dinner/champers/beers we pay circa 180 eur) and then get up early for the back roads down to the SoF - really gets no better - this is the only photo I have near the place (car park of the hotel):

[loafer123]

Go down the central route instead and try this one...

http://www.chateaudelaverrerie.com/en/chateau-de-l...

Open to the public but if you stay you get to park in the courtyard and have a G&T with the Count, before a fantastic dinner in the restaurant in the grounds.

[icepop]

Well, that looks to be just about the return route, I took back from my m/bike tour of the Verdon Gorge. Once past Grenoble, it is awfully boring. I would head t'other side of St Etienne toward Brouges, through the Massif Centrale area.

In fact, go to Rouen..Chartres...Orleans....A71 towards Clemont Ferond, do some research and go thro the Volvic region, then A75 to Saint Flour, to Marvejois and the Tarn Gorge, follow the road to Milau, and the now famous viaduct, then turn left as you are travelling south, and head for Arles. From Arles make your way East towards your destination, dont miss the Roman Aquaduct, the Pont Du Garde.

Coming back, if you have time to head towards Carpentras, and the Verdon Gorge, it's a beauty, then up thro the National Park du Ecrins, failing that straight up is the Verclause, worth a small detour.

We did 3 trips around France, and used to follow the sun, as we were heading south most of the time. The Mitchelin map was our guide, if the Autoroutes were blue they were free so we used them, if not get off, and if any of the N roads had green borders we followed them. as they were the pretty routes. If the roads were shown as yellow or white, with tight bends and chevron arrows, they were definitly used.

Great days.

Bon Voyage