We fly to Barcelona june 19, for 3 days then head north to Avignon, France to meet with a bicycling group. We've decided that a car is our best choice 1) b/c we're car ppl and like to stop, 2 ) there didn't seem to be efficient train routes between the two areas and 3) we needed a car after the Avignon leg. Whilst in Provence (6days) we will visit Mazan, Sault and Gordes.
To avoid heavy dropoff fees, we'll return to Barcelona to fly home. We'll have 3-4 days to get back to Barcelona. This is where I'd appreciate your help.
Are there sites/towns on the way south to Barcelona you'd recommend seeing? We've never been to this part of France or to the Basque region. Should we see other places in Provence before heading south and if so, what would be your 2 favorite? What about Spanish sites, such as Figueres or Cadaqués?
What we prefer: good, simple food and casual ambience. The offbeat, under traveled, more intimate or just plain 'good' always suits us more than seeing the 'big name' sites. Lots of steps/walking or activity is great but not necessary. Museums, for about 2 hours.
Thanks so much for your comments!
Please suggest stops/sites from Barcelona to Avignon, France or back
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My partner and I visited Spain and France last summer, spending a month in San Sebastian and driving across France to Aix-en-Provence. Then I made day trips from Aix all over Provence.
Hands-down one of my most favorite experiences was visiting the Camargue, a protected wetlands area where they raise white horses and bulls for bullfights. I went to a bullfight there at their famous festival of horses in July, but they might have something on in June.
It is exquisitely beautiful. I've never seen light like that. There's a little tourist town with a beach called Saints-Maries-de-la-Mer at the end of this long drive through...this kind of gorgeous minimalist skyscape.
It's a Gypsy (or Romani?) pilgrimage site, if I understand correctly, but also a very Frenchy vacation destination.
I loved it.
If we were to go back, I would find out more about where to stay and what to do. But a couple of days sunning on the beach and bicycling or something would be amazing!
Oh, also...when I tried to go to Gordes it was overrun by Chinese tour buses. I couldn't even stop without valet-parking my car. So I went on exploring to other hill-towns. The famous ones get mobbed, but I personally loved visiting Lacoste, where the ruins of the Marquis de Sade's chateau are...and the little art gallery associated with Savannah College of Art, which has made Lacoste its French home. Lacoste was not not mobbed and it's beautiful. Just to be careful on the slippery cobblestones!
Hi HB,
>We'll have 3-4 days to get back to Barcelona.<
Assuming that your 4 days allows you to arrive the night before your plane leaves Barcelona, I suggest visiting Donostia/San Sebastian.
Take the route via Carcassone (worth an hour or two) and Foix to Bagnères-de-Luchon, France (6 hr). We only passed through there, but it is a pleasant spa town in the mountains.
From there it is an interesting drive over the Pyrenees via Campan, Lourdes, Arudy, St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and Doneztebe to Donostia. (6 hr)
OR you can drive Gordes to Donostia on the highway in 6:30 hr.
We were quite happy with our stay at http://www.hotelzaragozaplaza.com/en when we visited Donostia/San Sebastian.
3 nights is well worthwhile. You can also visit Bilbao and surrounding areas.
Enjoy your visit.
bakery - I looked at Camargue and Saints-Maries-de-la-Mer both which indeed look amazing. Those are top on the must research list!
I hope Gordes is not mobbed but there is not much one can do about that since that is part of the trip I don't control. As far as the small villages outside of Gordes, I read about L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Did you happen upon it? It seems quite like our style.
ira - always so full of great info. Our 5th day is our US travel day, yes. I wondered about San Sebastian but thought it might be too far. I will not cross it off the potential list then. Would you suggest stopping in those Pyrenees towns (Campan, Lourdes, Arudy, St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and Doneztebe)?