Apres Le Mans - Road Trip Advice
Discussion
Good afternoon PH Le Mansers!
Myself and Osiris are heading down to Le Mans this summer, and camping on the PH campsite. I'm very much looking forward to meeting loads of you. Though I've been on here for years, I've never actually managed to get to a meet!
When everyone is packing up and heading home on Monday, we have a few extra days to kill. Our ferry isn't until 10:45 on the Thursday (from Calais) and we have some pie-in-the-sky ideas about having a road-trip for a few days around East France / Geneva / Switzerland. No schedule apart from needing to be back at the ferry on Thursday, and I'm trying to book an LHC tour at CERN on one of those days.
Have any PHers spent time driving in those areas? Is there anything we should definitely see, or roads that we should definitely drive? We'll still have the tent in the back from the weekend, but are happy to stay in hotels / B&Bs etc if the cost is reasonable.
People of PH - please impart your wisdom
- Telsa
Myself and Osiris are heading down to Le Mans this summer, and camping on the PH campsite. I'm very much looking forward to meeting loads of you. Though I've been on here for years, I've never actually managed to get to a meet!
When everyone is packing up and heading home on Monday, we have a few extra days to kill. Our ferry isn't until 10:45 on the Thursday (from Calais) and we have some pie-in-the-sky ideas about having a road-trip for a few days around East France / Geneva / Switzerland. No schedule apart from needing to be back at the ferry on Thursday, and I'm trying to book an LHC tour at CERN on one of those days.
Have any PHers spent time driving in those areas? Is there anything we should definitely see, or roads that we should definitely drive? We'll still have the tent in the back from the weekend, but are happy to stay in hotels / B&Bs etc if the cost is reasonable.
People of PH - please impart your wisdom

- Telsa
Personal opinion so treat it with a pinch of salt.
The Sunday night, to me, is a bit of an anti-climax. You just end up with a bunch of
s rooting round everything. I prefer to get off and on the road after the race.
Last year I went down to the Millau Viaduct for the night (the roads are quiet going south and didn't see any rozzers). From there I worked my way through Gorge du Tarn, Gorge du Verdon, Mont Ventoux, Route Napoleon. I was heading into Italy to meet the missus but you can adjust as needed. Weather was excellent and it was a good drive. I had a couple of overnight stops on the way between Millau and Italy to break it up.
Just an idea.
Alternative, leave on Sunday after race and be in Switzerland that night. It's a bit of a drive (5 or 6 hours) but Autoroute all the way so simple enough. You can then spend the next three days driving through the Alpine passes.
The Sunday night, to me, is a bit of an anti-climax. You just end up with a bunch of
s rooting round everything. I prefer to get off and on the road after the race.Last year I went down to the Millau Viaduct for the night (the roads are quiet going south and didn't see any rozzers). From there I worked my way through Gorge du Tarn, Gorge du Verdon, Mont Ventoux, Route Napoleon. I was heading into Italy to meet the missus but you can adjust as needed. Weather was excellent and it was a good drive. I had a couple of overnight stops on the way between Millau and Italy to break it up.
Just an idea.
Alternative, leave on Sunday after race and be in Switzerland that night. It's a bit of a drive (5 or 6 hours) but Autoroute all the way so simple enough. You can then spend the next three days driving through the Alpine passes.
Edited by jock mcsporran on Sunday 5th May 16:57
^^^ I'm with Andy, but I suspect that you don't have that much time.
Assuming you are travelling back on say, Thursday. Sunday straight after the race, head east for three hours or so to break the back of the journey across to Switzerland. Spend two days in the Alps, then levee the last day to hoof it back across to Calais. If you have never driven in the Alps, it is a must do experience.
I can highly recommend the H otel Victoria in Meirengen It is right at the foot of the Grimsel Pass. (or stay in the Grimsel Hospice itself if they have space. Stunning and on top of the world, but gets booked up).
Also, Beune is a lovely place to break the journey to Switzerland, but may be a bit far to do after the race.
Assuming you are travelling back on say, Thursday. Sunday straight after the race, head east for three hours or so to break the back of the journey across to Switzerland. Spend two days in the Alps, then levee the last day to hoof it back across to Calais. If you have never driven in the Alps, it is a must do experience.
I can highly recommend the H otel Victoria in Meirengen It is right at the foot of the Grimsel Pass. (or stay in the Grimsel Hospice itself if they have space. Stunning and on top of the world, but gets booked up).
Also, Beune is a lovely place to break the journey to Switzerland, but may be a bit far to do after the race.
sunday night is fairly safe on the piston heads/1st tickets site as its all fenced off
for me after being up all saturday night sunday is a few drinks and catch up on sleep then a few more drinks
and leave early monday
as for a few extra days to waste
we are heading over a few days earlier and are are visiting a few war grave cemetaries from TyneCot in belgium to a few around rouen
theres also LeRochelle (i think thats what its called) where the german WW2 submarine base was a few hours drive away
or just head into paris or amsterdam
for me after being up all saturday night sunday is a few drinks and catch up on sleep then a few more drinks
and leave early monday
as for a few extra days to waste
we are heading over a few days earlier and are are visiting a few war grave cemetaries from TyneCot in belgium to a few around rouen
theres also LeRochelle (i think thats what its called) where the german WW2 submarine base was a few hours drive away
or just head into paris or amsterdam
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