Driving to South of France - Limoux

[vacant-100]

I'm driving to Limoux in the South of France in a week, has anyone done this and have any tips on the route?

We arrive at Calais at 11:45am, and are booked into a hotel in Limoges that evening. That's looking like a 7 hour drive, via Paris. The following day we drive from Limoges to Limoux (another 4 hours or so).


Returning we're looking at leaving around 6-7pm, and ploughing on through the night as far north as we can get before stopping for a night. Hopefully do another 6/7 hours to Orleans or somewhere similar in the early hours.

Any tips would be appreciated. It's just going to be me driving, and I've done a fair bit of driving in France before so happy to sit at 90ish on the Autoroutes, and I've got a toll tag.

[paulwirral]

I've been up and down to sarlat la caneda for the past 17 years , my favoured route was tunnel - Rouen - everuex - dreux - Orleans - straight on to Limoges , I too was less than two hours past Limoges so I just used to do it in one hit , 17 to 22 hours depending on what I was driving at the time , cars or commercial vehicles.
Limoges is 6 and a half hours at the speed limit on that route .
Beware the small car - van parked roadside by itself with a small round circular shape in the rear door - tailgate !!! At least smile when you pass it .

[MrThomo]

Zulu 10 said:

We have a house two hours south of Limoges and I make the to/fro journey probably ten times a year, and my advice would be:
From Calais don't go via Paris, instead drive to Abbeville on the A16 as planned then get off onto the A28 and head for Rouen, where you follow the signs to Oissel and join the A13 at Jctn 22.

Stay on the A13 for 10 km or so and come off at Jctn 19 onto the N154 towards Evreux, then stay on the N154 to Dreux then Chartres and join the A10 autoroute at J12 just north of Orleans.

From then it's straightforward all the way to Limoges.

The N154 route that I have suggested is mainly dual carriageway, and although you will inevitably queue at Nonancourt for a few minutes, on balance it is pretty good alternative to Paris.

In light of the effectiveness of the gendarmes and the speed cameras, coupled with the fact that you will get a bill in England (ask me how I know) I would recommend that you adhere to the 130 kph limit.

On the N roads be aware that in most Departments the limit is still 80kph.

Edited by Zulu 10 on Wednesday 31st July 21:07

^^ This ^^ have used this route many times to go down to the south, beats going via Paris. On the return leg have sometimes stayed overnight in Rouen

[vacant-100]

Thanks - is Paris still that bad? All the online route planners seem to think skirting it on the outer 'ring' is the quickest route, and I'd rather sit in traffic for 30-40 mins than add an hours worth of driving on trying to avoid the place.

Are the gendarmes that active? I've never seen many in a lot of driving around the south, and the cameras seem very well signposted.

[Rosscow]

I recently drove to Madrid from Calais.

We arrived in Calais at 8.30am.

We drove to Bayonne, we had 3 decent stops and we got there at around 6pm. I did all the driving myself.

It’s 100% doable without the need for a stopover if you want to (and if you have a comfortable car!).

[silverthorn2151]

vacant-100 said:

Thanks - is Paris still that bad? All the online route planners seem to think skirting it on the outer 'ring' is the quickest route, and I'd rather sit in traffic for 30-40 mins than add an hours worth of driving on trying to avoid the place.

Are the gendarmes that active? I've never seen many in a lot of driving around the south, and the cameras seem very well signposted.

Paris is ghastly. Every time I think, it'll be better than it was, it isn't. I happily add an hour to avoid the prospect of 2 hours playing a mix of dodgems and banger racing on the ring road.

[vacant-100]

I've decided to avoid Paris, I'll be heading Calais - Le Mans - Limoges on Day 1, then Limoges - Limoux on Day 2

Coming home I'll go Limoux - Narbonne - Montpellier and most likely up the A7 stopping in Macon, Beaune or Dijon overnight (tips appreciated)
That leaves me to do Macon/Beaune/Dijon - Reims in time for lunch, then Reims - Calais for the tunnel.

[vacant-100]

Is the Le Mans to Limoges bit really that bad? I thought the opportunity to drive a bit of the circuit would be worth the extra hour or so, but if it's a PITA then I'll skip it and head via Evreux and Chartres as suggested...

[silverthorn2151]

I think Beaune is a brilliant place to overnight. There are hotels inside and outside the old town. We had the best steak we've ever eaten sitting outside one of the restaurants in the square. Local specially bred beef, the name of which escapes me.

The drive from there to Calais is easy.

[BaldOldMan]

vacant-100 said:

Is the Le Mans to Limoges bit really that bad? I thought the opportunity to drive a bit of the circuit would be worth the extra hour or so, but if it's a PITA then I'll skip it and head via Evreux and Chartres as suggested...

I drive Calais - Bordeaux several times per year (and have done for many years) & go via Le Mans

The stretch from Le Mans to Poitiers is fine in my experience - I’ve never had a hold up or delay.

Though I don’t know the Poitiers to Limoges stretch.......

[EdJ]

I have done a similar drive to the south of France regularly for the last 20 years and most recently I have started to go through Paris again, largely due to using much better sat nav which keeps me moving.

It still is ghastly, with many cars being driven at crazy speed, and seemingly suicidal motor cyclists weaving in and out of the traffic. But, it is quicker than the alternatives, and if you are doing the entire trip in one day (which I've also recently started doing since the children are a bit older) then it's worth it.

I always recommend people get the Tag that allows you to drive through the tolls without stopping to put your credit card in the machine. Very satisfying and does seem to save a lot of time during busy periods.

[Muzzer79]

I did Calais > Le Mans > Bordeaux albeit a few years back

It was also the last week of August and we returned on the final Sunday of French holiday season

Zero problems or hold ups.

We did travel early - left Calais at around 0800 and left Bordeaux on the return around 0600

[Deesee]

Did Calais to Argles in June. Which was fine, did Paris (via a16) and the A86 tunnel under Paris saves loads of time.

Today drove Calais to Clemont-Ferrand on our way to Beziers.

Had a lane closed for a broke down lorry on the A10. Other than that no problems.

We got the 7.20 train, had a decent lunch and filled up after the Paris tunnel at BP. A good 6 hour drive.

The only thing I’d suggest is looking at either your tunnel transit time (appreciate I’m 10 mins away from Folkestone, you may have a longer drive), perhaps switch the two stints around?

11.45 train will get you in for 1.30 ish, so 7 hours plus the odd stop and or delay, you might not reach your hotel until late..

Good luck!

Edit sorry arrive 11.45! You’ll be fine!

(We tend to leave the second day stint shorter if that helps, Vierizon/Orleans Bourges all 4 hours ish to the tunnel).

Edited by Deesee on Friday 23 August 18:12

Edited by Deesee on Friday 23 August 18:13