Bordeaux on the 15 August - Nightmare?

RobertDashwood
RobertDashwood Forum Participant Posts: 8

Morning All,

I am travelling to Bordeaux from Calais on the 15 August on my way to Spain. Anyone know what the roads will be like being its a Bank Holiday (assumption day)? Am I best to re-book for the following day?

Thanks

Rob

Comments

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2017 #2

    Assumption Day is a Tuesday in 2017, so traffic shouldn't be bad at all - in fact it will be quieter, because on statutory holidays some HGV's have to park up for the day. Many other people use statutory days off to have meals with their families, but that usually just affects local traffic rather than long distance travellers.  When you get nearer to Bordeaux you may hit local traffic but it's likely to be returning home from the beaches nearby, rather than going in your direction, so I wouldn't worry at all.

    The one thing to be aware of is that some manned fuel stations (though not those on the autoroutes) may be closed, so make sure you don't get close to running out of fuel.  

  • RobertDashwood
    RobertDashwood Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2017 #3

    Perfect, Sounds like an advantage rather than disadvantage then. Thanks for the advice! Sticking to the autoroutes so hoping there should be plenty of places to fill up!

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited June 2017 #4

    Assumption is that Tuesday 15 August and a bank holiday so no shops open probably.  I moved site this Ascension day and it was excellent very little traffic on the roads!  But some of the towns might be having big fete days so road closures perhaps?  

  • Jamsdad
    Jamsdad Forum Participant Posts: 275
    edited June 2017 #5

    There is excellent congestion forecasting for all French motorways on the Bison Fute website- it pretty accurate and well worth consulting.

    http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/calendrier-bison-fute,10375.html

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited June 2017 #6

    Beware the Bordeaux brocade!  We became stationary on it as it was a car park on a Saturday last September; I cannot remember the specific date.  The temperature was 36C  and we travelled precisely 300 metres in three and a half hours.  There was no access to toilet facilities and the only fluids we had were - thankfully- the bottles of water we had in the car.  

    On arrival at a site that night We described our journey to the site manager in my best French.  Her response was to suggest, both politely and kindly, that it is crazy togo anywhere near Bordeaux on a Saturday at any time of year.

    Our problem was caused by a memory of driving into the centre of Bordeaux on a hot summer afternoon in 1990, parking, free, in the city centre in order to wander around and enjoy it.  Plus ca change.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2017 #7

    Last time I did that was in 1970. 1 Corinthians 13.11 would seem to sum it up.