France - any dates to avoid in August

[mikeyr]

Gonna head out to south France for a 5 day road trip in a couple of months time - are there any particular dates to avoid such as national holidays?

[mikeyr]

Should add that was thinking of heading down to Carcassonne - maybe via Le Mans on way there and back via Dijon and Troyes way. Is this a good starting point for a road trip - would like a combo of some fun driving and culture (hence the love for seeing Carcassonne)

[feef]

The French holidays are split into 4 zones, the dates can be seen here: http://www.schoolholidayseurope.eu/france.html

[truck71]

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but the whole of France packs up in August, I suspect the school holiday dates concur. It's a bit like trying to find a French restaurant open on a Monday night- they all pack up at the same time..

[Wozy68]

truck71 said:

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but the whole of France packs up in August, I suspect the school holiday dates concur. It's a bit like trying to find a French restaurant open on a Monday night- they all pack up at the same time..

Afraid the above it pretty spot on and the south and west of France seem particularly bad.
A friend spent hour after hour trying to get from the south across to the pyrenees, and he was on a motorbike. The roads were jammed

[Riley Blue]

Then there's the Dutch caravanners - a strange creature, best avoided at all costs, they tend to swarm in August.

[boxedin]

From July, Northern Europe decamps to the South, returning at the end of the August.

Either avoid the main roads, large cities or ensure you've got supplies and a picnic table at the ready. Also remember to move your picnic table when motorcycles need to filter past you.

[TooMany2cvs]

mikeyr said:

Should add that was thinking of heading down to Carcassonne - maybe via Le Mans on way there and back via Dijon and Troyes way. Is this a good starting point for a road trip - would like a combo of some fun driving and culture (hence the love for seeing Carcassonne)

Have you been to Carcassonne before?

Seriously, don't bother. It's no more than an utterly naff theme park, and it will be _JAMMED_ in August. There are many, many, many, many better destinations. Almost anywhere, tbh.

[Wozy68]

TooMany2cvs said:

mikeyr said:

Should add that was thinking of heading down to Carcassonne - maybe via Le Mans on way there and back via Dijon and Troyes way. Is this a good starting point for a road trip - would like a combo of some fun driving and culture (hence the love for seeing Carcassonne)

Have you been to Carcassonne before?

Seriously, don't bother. It's no more than an utterly naff theme park, and it will be _JAMMED_ in August. There are many, many, many, many better destinations. Almost anywhere, tbh.

Reading between the lines, I guess your not keen then

[mikeyr]

Don't sit on the fnace 2cvs - tell us what you really think!

[TooMany2cvs]

mikeyr said:

Don't sit on the fnace 2cvs - tell us what you really think!

<grin> You'd have hated me if I'd waited 'til you got back to tell you, wouldn't you?

[mikeyr]

True - thanks for the link, will make interesting reading later today when I'm planning the trip!

[Craig85]

It's just not the right time for a French driving holiday. Having said that France is vast, and if you get away from the main roads and tourist centres you will find some solitude and the really pretty parts. But for a driving holiday I would time it differently personally.

As above carcassonne is like Disneyland unfortunately. Just fly over, or tgv for a different experience, hire a little french diesel hatch and get an awesome villa somewhere rural and maybe explore the cathar country further south if that's your thing.

[gtidriver]

Also book now as P&O and the tunnel love to ramp up the prices.

[Riley Blue]

You're not kidding! I just checked costs for a weekend trip early in August - horrendous prices!