Route Perpignan to Tarbes using D117
Hi I'm in France May/June and planning to go from south of Perpignan across to Tarbes. just wondered if anyone had used D117 via Foix rather than going up to Toulouse. Route is shorter but appreciate will take longer but might be more scenic?
Any observations greatly received.
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Used this route a number of years ago. Yes slower than autoroute but quite scenic - and free! Would recommend it. Know Languedoc well as I used to live there so if you have any questions please ask. Val is also very knowledgeable on this area.
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Further to my posting above. Don't know where you are staying in Perpignan area but whilst there it would be a shame not to visit the Cathar Castles in that area, and take a trip on the Yellow Train into the Pyrenees. There are a number of sites in that area in various books. See this is your second question on your trip; why don't you consolidate all your questions into one post this would make it easier to help? Do a good search in the overseas section (this one) and you will find lots of discussions and advice. Have you joined ACSI yet well worth the 12 euros. In May/Jun there is no need to book any sites.
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We stayed at Latour de France just off the D117 last year and can recommend the cathar castles which were an easy day out from there. If you are interested all the details of what else to see in the area are in my blog
www.jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com
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I towed a caravan from Foix to Perpignan on 10 August 2009 and wrote in the diary, "miles of bumpiness, a hairpin descent, dozens of forgettable villages with speed bumps and level crossings, we shall never come this way again". We haven't.
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We have a house in the area, and the D117 (from Maury down to Perpignan) has to be our 'chosen' route when we go 'big shopping'. Whilst it goes through some fantastic countryside, with amazing views, it's not dual carriageway and runs through a few small towns (Cases de Pene, Estagel, St Paul de Fenouillet, and many others), and each one of those is narrow, congested, with parked cars, and lorries coming in the opposite direction, and almost every village has the odd speed bump or chicane.
If I were you I would go around via Carcassonne, and Toulouse. However, if you were staying along the way, you could 'sight-see' , and see some wonderful places, but the road is narrow enough to need undivided attention until you know it, and it will be slow enough without any sight-seeing along the way.
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Ah well a number of differing views. Val's is the most up to date and knowledgeable. I had a very small 2 berth Fleetwood caravan at the time so maybe did not notice the things she refers to! All I rember is having a blow out on that holiday - my only
one ever! Speed bumps on the approaches to villages are everywhere in rural France, all part of the drive to reduce accidents.0 -
Sorry "comeyras" yes I have confused the issue with my other posting. We are going over for 6 weeks May/June and plan was to include Carcassone but since reading this forum and various members blogs thought it would be a good idea to go to coast near Perpignan
as never been with a view of possibly returning there in September hence my seperate question on time to get South. As always forum and responses have been great and even more food for thought. Think we will use Toulouse route. ps got my ACSI card and the
App together with a couple of camping cheques left over from last years ferry booking. "Joy" already picked up on your blog thanks although not yet read in detail. Thanks again all0 -
Hi Martatin, we went to the eastern side of France last year and are heading for Argeles Gazost this May. As you are planning to be in the area another blog you may be interested in and inspired us to give it a try is this one
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rob_shill/1/1356994139/tpod.html
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Ah well a number of differing views. Val's is the most up to date and knowledgeable. I had a very small 2 berth Fleetwood caravan at the time so maybe did not notice the things she refers to! All I rember is having a blow out on that holiday - my only
one ever! Speed bumps on the approaches to villages are everywhere in rural France, all part of the drive to reduce accidents.I think it's because we use that route so regularly that you begin to notice things. We drove down it last on Thursday last week - and noticed just how many trucks were trundling up in the other direction! If you meet one coming round the corner in Estagel,
and there is someone parked inappropriately one of you will have to reverse, and you can bet it won't be the HGV!Good luck Martin whatever route you choose, and have a great holiday. The Cathar area is absolutely fabulous and relatively undiscovered by 'the madding crowd'.
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Hi Martatin, we went to the eastern side of France last year and are heading for Argeles Gazost this May. As you are planning to be in the area another blog you may be interested in and inspired us to give it a try is this one
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rob_shill/1/1356994139/tpod.html
Hi Jenny
We did out first trip abroad with the caravan last May/June and stayed at Natura Estaing and would highly recommend site. Tow in was interesting! We landed at Santander stayed at Noja then our stops were Bidart, Estaing, La Romieu, Sarlat, Chenonceau, then
back from Roscoff. Had fantastic trip so went back to Northern Spain in the September for 3 weeks. Got some towing times between locations if of any interest.0 -
We are heading to the Natura site and staying in the Lot on the way down and back at two sites that Val has recommended. At least that is the plan but may be changed at the last minute depending on the weather. How long did it take you to get to Sarlat?
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We are heading to the Natura site and staying in the Lot on the way down and back at two sites that Val has recommended. At least that is the plan but may be changed at the last minute depending on the weather. How long did it take you to get to Sarlat?
Sorry for delay Jenny been away for a couple of nights. We did not go direct to Sarlat we went from Estaing to La Romieu for 2 nights( I would highly recommend this location for site and location hope to go back this year for longer stay) distance was 104
miles which took 3.5 hours towing. We then went from La Romieu to Sarlat distance 153 miles 4 hours. Which are the 2 sites in the Lot that Val has recommended as we are probably in that area ourselves this year.0 -
Thanks Martatin I will keep La Romieu in mind. The two sites I am thinking of in the Lot are La Callopie at Martel and La Truffiere at St Cirq. You never know, as you are about the same time as us we might see you on one of the sites. Have a great holiday
whatever you do.0
