Calais to North West France, which route?

[norman156]

Off to south west France tomorrow morning (overnight stopover in Narbonne to be exact) but not sure which route to take. We could either go via the outer Paris ring road or avoid Paris altogether and go via Lyon Going Via Lyon is a little further and will cost an extra £6 per passenger in tolls. Can't really decide which will be better, can imagine there would be a fair bit of traffic around Paris, the same could be said of Lyon.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Matt

[silverthorn2151]

You could go to the west of Paris and drop down on the motorway that eventually crosses the new bridge in the clouds! You follow the coast from Calais as though heading for Le Mans. A Rouen turn south and head for the A10 which leads onto the A71 then A75. Drop all the way down near Narbonne. South of Rouen there is some cross country stuff on A roads but try www.mappy.com for a route. They let you print a road book too.

It's a much quieter route in my experience. I go via Lyon if heading for the cote d'azur, but I go via Dijon to the east of paris.

My maxim is only go via Paris if you are goig TO Paris. Otherwise, avoid like the plague.

[chopper602]

+1 on that route to Rouen - we do that most years on the way down to the Dordogne.