Is Carcassonne too ambitious??

[Matt84]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I are planning our trip to France in July and ideally would like to get as far down as Carcassonne, it's the only place she really wants to go (Dam Kate Mosse books :evil: ).

We've planned a two week break but don't want to be travelling the whole time, would be nice to have a few days travelling then a lengthy stop in one place, then another few days on the way back, has anyone been to Carcassonne? How long did it take?

I'd rather stay off the autoroutes if possible and keep to a lesuirely 50ish mph, is there a route planner where you can input a limited speed??

Any help is appreciated!

 

[mattd1984]

I don't know of a map planner that you can limit the speed. I can do it on my satnav but not online. We went to carcassonne 2 years ago and it really is lovelly. We were travelling through Europe anyway so couldn't give you a time. But our maximum millage in a day was high 200's to 300 miles and that would be a tough days driving with a good few stops. Driving through France we found the only way was on the motorways as otherwise it took stupid amount of time.

 

[Tim S]

I've done Banyuns-sur-Mer (south of Perpignan) to Surrey in a (long) day in a car so I can't imagine it would take more than 2 to get to Carcassonne in a bus. I'd do what Matt says and crunch the miles on the autoroute though. They're quite pleasant compared to UK motorways with plenty of picnic areas etc.

It's a lovely part of the world with interesting things to see - castles and monasteries etc. Plus it's near the med and you can get to Spain easily. I don't remember remember much about Carcassonne itself but I went up Le Château de Quéribus nearby (castle on the top of a mountain) and Rennes-le-Château, which is where the Reverend Saunière had his ministry which was investigated in the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail which was the basis for the Da Vinci Code.

From memory there was lots of camping at Argeles-sur-Mer and a long sandy beach (but rubbish for snorkeling - just north of Banyuls was better for that).

 

[Clem]

Due to its location I reckon its 2 days (ish) from Calais ... pretty much full driving. I reckon to do Calais to the South East coast in two full days from Calais, so reckon its about that. As others have said if its a stay in the place you want then get on the Autoroutes and cane it Its what I do.

 

[Matt84]

Thanks for all your info, my girlfriend came home with the 'cool camping' book from Waterstones (other, cheaper bookstores are available)
and we've booked some sites from in there, the book seems really nice but only time will tell I guess - plus there's a late bay on the cover! :roll:

Decided Carcassonne was too far first time round so we're heading west to Le Havre, then south to Tours, then a few nights in Paris (well on a site just outside), then east again to Chalons-sur-Marne, then home!

Should be quite a chilled trip with relatively short driving distances, definitely didn't want to be in a rush - it's a holiday after all!

Thanks again for your input,

Matt

 

[cotswoldiver]

Chilled trip will be worth it. We hit the same area last year ourselves - again because of the Kate Mosse books that my wife was well in to.

It's doable in two weeks, but less chill time that's for sure. We went south and then came back round that way .... oh yes, and then broke down :lol:

 

[Haveacamper]

Hey mate,

this is exactly the only place my girlfriend has stated she wants to go

how did you find the drive. any good places you stopped off on the way.

also, what was the average price of a campsite per night? were they ok with the usual facilities

NaFe

 

[blogdroed]

We use google maps to give the distance in kms and then work out the hours if driving at an average of 80kmh ... then add a couple of hours for pit-stops!!

Which sites in the Cool Camping have you booked?

 

[Purplemonsta]

Avoid the motorways if you want to just chill & drive. Side roads are relatively quiet (everyone hits motorways) and folks don't go much faster than about 50mph - perfect for cruising in the van and campsites a plenty all over.
Did North coast (kind of) 2 yrs ago as far as Carnac then back along Loire through Tours & back to Dunkirk skirting round Paris.

Last year got as far down as Lyon just meandering all over...seeing loads and had a very chilling time
Aiming on West coast this year, trying for Bordeaux area

We never have any real agenda and have discovered some fantastic places

 

[Haveacamper]

sounds cool. think our plan is to go from calais to la rochelle, then down past cognac and bordeaux. stop off enroute to carcassonne to see Trikky2 on here. going to drive around carcassonne and see mirepoix and a few others before heading to south coast forabout a week, then head north back up to calais.

 

[magui]

I personally find the highways in france great to drive with plenty of scenery, good park/rest facilities.
Calais to Carcassonne a full day 6am to 8pm driving at 110kmph. Tiring ? Yeah a bit but its driving witha smile the whole day and 2 of us driving so its "easy" to do as we both enjoy driving. 2 days should be no problem at all.
Depending on when you are going (july) be wary of the N routes... summer = busy and full of day tourists that want to visit the smaller villages.
Why not slow 3 days there and slow 3 days back ? For us camping prices have varied from 5 euros to 25 euros a night.

 

[Haveacamper]

not sure it was pointed at me, but no going to be doing in two days.

heading to la rochelle spanning 2 days
head down to carcassonne over 2-3days.
then get to the cost for the 2nd week before getting back to calais over 2 days, then tunnel it back on the 3rd day.

nothing booked and leaving on 15th June

 

[Trikky2]

Touring with no agenda / meandering. Thats us too

Nothing booked and when it gets to around 5 pm we just start keeping an eye out for campsites.

Back in the days when we used to come over to France for the family holiday it often took us a week to tour down as far as the Dordogne.

Havnt changed much. Last November we went to explore the Languedoc for a week. Its about 4 hours from here. We thought we would have a look round the Tarn on the way. We never made it to the Languedoc and after a weeks "touring" it took us about 3 hours to drive home. :lol:

 

[Max Power]

I never book anywhere in France now.Every small town/village has at least one campsite.If there is a particular site with facilities you want then book but for touring honestly don't bother (even in August)

 

[StuF]

Just done a 3000+ mile plus journey around France/Spain/Italy/Belgium and its easy to put in 300+ miles a day in a bus. I know we had days where I managed atleast 600. And I am running a 1600SP standard engine.

Get a Sanef Toll firkin https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; so you can breeze through the toll stations at 30 mph - the roads are great, services(Aires) every 50km or so with fuel/food/rest areas.

We used two campsite books to locate accomodation although the Aires are all free and safe (park with the artics)

As nike would say - Just do it