driving from paris to dordogne in June
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
driving from paris to dordogne in June
Traveling with 10 people and three cars to dordogne where we have all rented a house for a week. One of us will have garmin and need a place off the route to stop for lunch probably 3 hours into the trip. Possibly in a little town where we can also pick up some groceries for the evening when we arrive. In addition, we would love some suggestions of restaurants in Dordorgne. The closest town to chateau is Siorac and Le Buisson. We have ten people so we would love info on some moderately priced restaurants.
#2
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Use the search function for recent trip reports by Taconictraveler and Piccolina. Both covered the Dordogne last year and are full of interesting info. There are other wonderful reports but those 2 are the most fresh in my memory.
Look up frequent contributor Stu Dudley... pop him an email and ask for his great Dordogne document. And search out any Dordogne related posts by StCirq who has lived there on and off for a couple of decades and has forgotten more about the area than most of us will ever know.
Look up frequent contributor Stu Dudley... pop him an email and ask for his great Dordogne document. And search out any Dordogne related posts by StCirq who has lived there on and off for a couple of decades and has forgotten more about the area than most of us will ever know.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you really need to jump in three cars and drive there? Why not take the train and pick up the cars when you get there. It's not exactly an exhilarating drive. You can get PREM fares on the TGV from Paris to Libourne or Bordeaux for as little as 19 euro apiece if you plan it right - probably the same on cheap flights to Toulouse or a train to Brive.
And where are you driving from? Paris? Assuming you won't have actually had rental cars in Paris, why pick them up there and start a long, dull haul?
If you absolutely must do this, Chateauroux is about halfway and while it doesn't have much to offer for great lunch spots, it has an interesting castle. And you should definitely stop at Oradour-sur-Glane.
And where are you driving from? Paris? Assuming you won't have actually had rental cars in Paris, why pick them up there and start a long, dull haul?
If you absolutely must do this, Chateauroux is about halfway and while it doesn't have much to offer for great lunch spots, it has an interesting castle. And you should definitely stop at Oradour-sur-Glane.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you do drive please don't try to play " follow the leader with the garmin" on the autoroutes.
Not every car needs a garmin but each does need a full set of directions and directions to where ever you plan to stop for lunch.
Apologies if this has already occurred to you.
And, St Cirq's advice is good.
Not every car needs a garmin but each does need a full set of directions and directions to where ever you plan to stop for lunch.
Apologies if this has already occurred to you.
And, St Cirq's advice is good.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have someone in a wheelchair and they need a specific van to drive in dordogne while we are there and they need to get it in paris. But maybe the rest of us can take a train not a bad idea. I will look into it. Any advis about restaurants in dordogne or must sees.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<Any advis about restaurants in dordogne or must sees.>>
Yes, there are endless threads about must-sees and restaurants here on Fodors. A search will bring up hundreds/thousands.
Are you absolutely sure the van is only available in Paris? There are people in wheelchairs who need to rent vans in Bordeaux, I would imagine.
Yes, there are endless threads about must-sees and restaurants here on Fodors. A search will bring up hundreds/thousands.
Are you absolutely sure the van is only available in Paris? There are people in wheelchairs who need to rent vans in Bordeaux, I would imagine.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In addition to the great info you'll get doing some searches here on Fodors I would suggest you need to get a good guidebook or two about the Dordogne so you'll be well informed. I like the Michelin Green Guides but there are loads of others. For info about restaurants get the Michelin Red Guide.
Trending Topics
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to say that I rather agree with StCirq on taking the train south from Paris. If you look at my recent travel report, you will see that we drove south from Paria to our house in the western Dordogne.
However, others in our group of 8 either took the train, or flew to Bordeaux. We drove cuz one of our 4 was arriving at CDG in early morning of the first night of our rental, so we opted for driving together - a six hour drive, which had its challenging moments, but is NOW fun to reminisce about. Maybe next time we'd take the train!
However, others in our group of 8 either took the train, or flew to Bordeaux. We drove cuz one of our 4 was arriving at CDG in early morning of the first night of our rental, so we opted for driving together - a six hour drive, which had its challenging moments, but is NOW fun to reminisce about. Maybe next time we'd take the train!
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds like a better idea to take a train. How about a train to Bordeaux? Since we wouldn't be going there on this trip it seems like a good place to go for the afternoon. Then a 2 hour drive to our destination. Any other suggestions. The person in the wheelchair is thinking of flying to Bordeaux.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No, don't do Limoges. Bad idea.
Take the train to Bordeaux or Brive (there's an airport there, and it's closer than Bordeaux to your destination and easier to drive out of) and pick up the person in the wheelchair and your cars.
Take the train to Bordeaux or Brive (there's an airport there, and it's closer than Bordeaux to your destination and easier to drive out of) and pick up the person in the wheelchair and your cars.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St Cirq is polite. This is a boring trip, something like driving across Kansas. Who would have known there was that much corn in France?
An alternative might be to take two days for the trip, stopping perhaps in the Loire valley and enjoying a chateau?
The roads from Bordeaux and Brive are no bargain in the scenery part, either, but it makes the miracle of the Dordogne all that much more wonderful.
An alternative might be to take two days for the trip, stopping perhaps in the Loire valley and enjoying a chateau?
The roads from Bordeaux and Brive are no bargain in the scenery part, either, but it makes the miracle of the Dordogne all that much more wonderful.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I assume you have checked out the accessibility of the château you are renting. Does it claim to be accessible? Is the wheelchair-user able to walk a few steps with help?
Perhaps someone can offer some specific advice about what sort of assistance is available for boarding and moving about on the French trains. High steps to board, narrow aisles.
Perhaps someone can offer some specific advice about what sort of assistance is available for boarding and moving about on the French trains. High steps to board, narrow aisles.
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If traveling by train, this website may be invaluable to your wheelchair-using friend: http://help.tgv-europe.com/en/fares/...duced-mobility
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok we have decided to fly from paris to bordeaux the flight round trip is only 160.00 Any wineries to stop on our drive from bordeaux to our chateau? It was hard to find an accessible place to rent where at least one bedroom and all the main areas are on the bottom floor, but we did. Its a little bigger than what we need, but the person in the wheelchair is unable to walk so we had to adjust to this.
The location is near Le Buisson-de-Cadouin. Does anyone have any great restaurants to go to, moderate prices.
Thanks for all your help everyone
The location is near Le Buisson-de-Cadouin. Does anyone have any great restaurants to go to, moderate prices.
Thanks for all your help everyone
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you take the D936 (prettiest route), you'll pass right through St-Emilion on your way east. It's a huge wine town. You could also dip a bit south to Monbazillac. But if you're doing an overnight transatlantic flight followed by a flight to Bordeaux, followed by a drive from Bordeaux to Le Buisson, you should probably focus more on finding someplace to get provisions for the château than on wine, which you can do anytime. There's a major supermarket on the road just outside Bergerac.
If you do a search for restaurants Dordogne here, you should get plenty of hits.
If you do a search for restaurants Dordogne here, you should get plenty of hits.
#18
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, there are heaps of great restaurants within half an hour of your spot. In Cadouin, there's Restaurant de L'Abbaye, directly opposite the amazing abbey; there's La Belle Etoile on the river at La Roque Gageac; there's L'Imparfait in Bergerac; in Limeuil there's Garden-Party and Au Bon Accueil; in Monpazier there's Le Privilege du Perigord. For a special treat, try one-Michelin star L'Etincelles in Ste Sabine Born, or Restaurant Eleanore in Hotel Edward 1er in Monpazier.The charcuteries usually have preapred dishes for you to buy, and the markets are a great source of produce. You definitely won't starve! There is also a huge Carrefour supermarket at Le Buisson which is generally open till 7pm (except Sundays).
#19
I am so following this for our Sept. trip.
This is absolutely the best site for "on the ground" information. I try to give input when I can, and I much appreciate the Fodorites who answer over and over again with great information.
This is absolutely the best site for "on the ground" information. I try to give input when I can, and I much appreciate the Fodorites who answer over and over again with great information.