Andorra or Czech Republic
Discussion
I've got a few more days than I thought I would have (from my post looking for route suggestions about a week ago) for a bike trip ex London. So with the extra time, I'd like to visit a country I haven't been to before.... and the nearest ones are Andorra and the Czech Republic. Don't have to spend a long time there, unless the roads are particularly good, but I would like to go there. Actually I don't really know much about either Czech Republic or Andorra.
Thinking if I went to Czech Republic, I could work my way back through Germany on one of these routes
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/european-road-t...
For Andorra, working my way back there is the Pyrenees. I checked several of the roads out on Google Street View though and a lot of them are single track, which I don't really like.
Looking for ideas/routes for a bike trip. Basically, going to either Andorra or Czech Republic, looking at stuff there and looking at stuff on the way back. Looking for reasonably good roads (no single tracks, prefer fast sweepers over hairpins), with good scenery and small towns to stop at.
The first day and the final day I'm happy with a 1200km Autoroute blast to Calais and on to London.
Thinking if I went to Czech Republic, I could work my way back through Germany on one of these routes
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/travel/european-road-t...
For Andorra, working my way back there is the Pyrenees. I checked several of the roads out on Google Street View though and a lot of them are single track, which I don't really like.
Looking for ideas/routes for a bike trip. Basically, going to either Andorra or Czech Republic, looking at stuff there and looking at stuff on the way back. Looking for reasonably good roads (no single tracks, prefer fast sweepers over hairpins), with good scenery and small towns to stop at.
The first day and the final day I'm happy with a 1200km Autoroute blast to Calais and on to London.
The N260 through the Pyrenees runs very close to Andorra and is one of the best roads on the planet. I've not been to Andorra itself, but spent time nearby doing fieldwork in the area. The one thing I found is that food variety is a bit limited - fine if you're there for a long weekend, but I got back after a month and went straight for a curry. Also hope you're not a vegetarian...
I've not ridden in the Czech Republic so can't comment but I'd suggest that the only good thing about Andorra are the roads out! If you just want to "tick the box" to say you've been then into and immedialy out of Andorra will be fine. The rest of the Pyrenees are definitely worth the visit.
For Andorra, as everyone says, I can just go ride through there and tick the box of a country I haven't been to.
I would be ok with spending the majority of time in the Pyrenees or in northern Spain near Andorra.
That still leaves the question of if I should head to Czech and come back through Germany, or head to Andorra and spend time in Spain and the Pyrenees followed by an autoroute blast north to Calais. I wouldn't be able to go too far into Spain from Andorra due to time constraints.
I would be ok with spending the majority of time in the Pyrenees or in northern Spain near Andorra.
That still leaves the question of if I should head to Czech and come back through Germany, or head to Andorra and spend time in Spain and the Pyrenees followed by an autoroute blast north to Calais. I wouldn't be able to go too far into Spain from Andorra due to time constraints.
Edited by Iminquarantine on Tuesday 12th July 09:45
N260 is a great road, if going east to west come off it at Sort and take the C-13 to Vielha then N230 back to join the N260. Lovely drive/ride.
Andorra has a couple of scenic roads but they are busy with French doing day trips to overfill their cars with duty free booze and cigarettes...in my experience!
Andorra has a couple of scenic roads but they are busy with French doing day trips to overfill their cars with duty free booze and cigarettes...in my experience!
I wouldn't go out of my way to go to Andorra, unless you want to ski in the winter. But if you've not been before, it might possibly an interesting route over the Pyrenees but that's about all. I'd go the the Czech republic via Germany, lots of reports of plenty to see and eat and you could come back via Leipzig and visit this: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1... I've not been close enough yet for a detour but plan to go soon.
On the way out via Reims you could also visit this museum which is one of the most interesting original pieces of history I've been to: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...
Edit to add this is a better description than TripAdvisor of the Surrender Museum. https://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/france/15-c...
On the way out via Reims you could also visit this museum which is one of the most interesting original pieces of history I've been to: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...
Edit to add this is a better description than TripAdvisor of the Surrender Museum. https://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/france/15-c...
Having toured both Andorra and the Czech Republic the Czech Republic wins by a mile. As other have said, the riding to and from the Czech Republic takes you onto some of the very best roads you'll find anywhere in Europe.
There's also no need for a huge blat, just a short motorway ride into Belgium and down through the Eifel region of Germany. Places like Cochem are very popular biker destinations as the ride through the Moselle Valley is a must.
We rode across the centre of Germany and across the South of the Czech Republic into Poland via Ostrava. Our destination was Auschwitz. We then rode back up through north via Prague. The main roads are very busy with lorries and as they are mostly single lane making safe progress is a challenge. But once off the main roads its a stunning country to ride through.
The Nürburgring is also on route so if you fancy a few laps…..
There's also no need for a huge blat, just a short motorway ride into Belgium and down through the Eifel region of Germany. Places like Cochem are very popular biker destinations as the ride through the Moselle Valley is a must.
We rode across the centre of Germany and across the South of the Czech Republic into Poland via Ostrava. Our destination was Auschwitz. We then rode back up through north via Prague. The main roads are very busy with lorries and as they are mostly single lane making safe progress is a challenge. But once off the main roads its a stunning country to ride through.
The Nürburgring is also on route so if you fancy a few laps…..
If you are near Brno you might be able to get a 25 minute session on the Masaryk Circuit for 30euros.
https://www.automotodrombrno.cz/en/motorbike-track...
https://www.automotodrombrno.cz/en/motorbike-track...
Speaking as one who lives in Andorra, let me fiirstly say that Smifffymoto is an ignorant t
t.
It´s true that you can´t "tour" around Andorra - it´s less than an hour from the French to the Spanish border. You do however have access to some wonderful roads on both sides of the Pyrenees. But you can use it for a base for touring round the Pyrenees.
Andorra La Vella, the capital, is nothing to write home about but if you wanted to use Andorra as a base head for Arinsal in the Vall Nord area. Plenty of bars and restaurants even though as someone else said don´t come here for a gourmet dining experience.
I don´t know where you get the idea that many of the roads in the Pyrenees either side of the border are single track.
I don´t know when you´re thinking of travelling but let me warn you that at the moment it is very hot.
Can´t speak for the CR but wouldn´t mind going one day for a look see.
t.It´s true that you can´t "tour" around Andorra - it´s less than an hour from the French to the Spanish border. You do however have access to some wonderful roads on both sides of the Pyrenees. But you can use it for a base for touring round the Pyrenees.
Andorra La Vella, the capital, is nothing to write home about but if you wanted to use Andorra as a base head for Arinsal in the Vall Nord area. Plenty of bars and restaurants even though as someone else said don´t come here for a gourmet dining experience.
I don´t know where you get the idea that many of the roads in the Pyrenees either side of the border are single track.
I don´t know when you´re thinking of travelling but let me warn you that at the moment it is very hot.
Can´t speak for the CR but wouldn´t mind going one day for a look see.
zzrman said:
I don´t know where you get the idea that many of the roads in the Pyrenees either side of the border are single track.
I don´t know when you´re thinking of travelling but let me warn you that at the moment it is very hot.
Can´t speak for the CR but wouldn´t mind going one day for a look see.
Just looked at Google Street View on the French side at some of the D-roads and they were single track. But if you have some ideas of good roads which aren't single track, ideas would be welcome I don´t know when you´re thinking of travelling but let me warn you that at the moment it is very hot.
Can´t speak for the CR but wouldn´t mind going one day for a look see.
Will be mid-August. I'm ok with riding in heat as long as it isn't above about 35C.
We did Biarritz to Andorra a few years ago along the Pyrenees, it was fantastic, dropping in and out fo France and Spain with a visit to Pamplona and no single track.
From Andorra you can also do a diagonal ride across to St Malo taking in the Millau Viaduct and get a ferry home from St Malo, the old town is quite cute
From Andorra you can also do a diagonal ride across to St Malo taking in the Millau Viaduct and get a ferry home from St Malo, the old town is quite cute
zzrman said:
Speaking as one who lives in Andorra, let me fiirstly say that Smifffymoto is an ignorant tt.
It´s true that you can´t "tour" around Andorra - it´s less than an hour from the French to the Spanish border. You do however have access to some wonderful roads on both sides of the Pyrenees. But you can use it for a base for touring round the Pyrenees.
Andorra La Vella, the capital, is nothing to write home about but if you wanted to use Andorra as a base head for Arinsal in the Vall Nord area. Plenty of bars and restaurants even though as someone else said don´t come here for a gourmet dining experience.
I don´t know where you get the idea that many of the roads in the Pyrenees either side of the border are single track.
I don´t know when you´re thinking of travelling but let me warn you that at the moment it is very hot.
Can´t speak for the CR but wouldn´t mind going one day for a look see.
I’m not at all ignorant,I speak the truth.Visit when there is no snow and it’s grim,most things are closed except the fags and booze shops flogging their wares to cash strapped French pensioners.t.It´s true that you can´t "tour" around Andorra - it´s less than an hour from the French to the Spanish border. You do however have access to some wonderful roads on both sides of the Pyrenees. But you can use it for a base for touring round the Pyrenees.
Andorra La Vella, the capital, is nothing to write home about but if you wanted to use Andorra as a base head for Arinsal in the Vall Nord area. Plenty of bars and restaurants even though as someone else said don´t come here for a gourmet dining experience.
I don´t know where you get the idea that many of the roads in the Pyrenees either side of the border are single track.
I don´t know when you´re thinking of travelling but let me warn you that at the moment it is very hot.
Can´t speak for the CR but wouldn´t mind going one day for a look see.
I lived an hour from Ax so was a regular visiter.
smifffymoto said:
I’m not at all ignorant,I speak the truth.Visit when there is no snow and it’s grim,most things are closed except the fags and booze shops flogging their wares to cash strapped French pensioners.
I lived an hour from Ax so was a regular visiter.
If you were a regular visitor to Pas de la Casa I´d share your view but otherwise you are very far from the mark.I lived an hour from Ax so was a regular visiter.
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