At the end of our time in France (Paris 3 nights, Cassis 2 nights, Avignon 4 nights, Carcassonne 2 nights, all by train or hired driver with a van) we have 2 days and 1 night before we fly out of Paris CDG in mid May. We have heard so much about the Dordogne and Loire valleys, but don't know if there is enough time to enjoy either of those in this limited time. We will not have car. We can take a series of trains from Carcassonne through the Dordogne and up to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps near Tours, spend the night, take a van tour of a few castles the following morning, and then continue with a TGV from Saint-Pierre-des-Corps to CDG airport before we fly out early the next morning, but not sure if there is a better itinerary for this very short amount of time. And no, we really don't want to rent a car. Any thoughts? Other places on the train lines between Carcassonne and CDG that are worth seeing very briefly?
Posted by
3 posts
Nimes!
Lyon!
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1787 posts
You will not be able to do justice to the Dordogne in your time frame. Your one night before your flight out would best be spent at a CDG hotel (for an early flight) or in Paris (for a later flight). That leaves you with, basically one full day to get from Carcassonne to Paris. A series of trains sounds like a not very nice way to spend your next-to-last day in France. I would go through Lyons on my way north, provided the trains work out. You would do best to research where train routes between Carcassonne and Paris go before deciding which makes best use of your time.
Best of luck!
Posted by
France Southwest
2694 posts
We can take a series of trains from Carcassonne through the Dordogne
and up to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps near Tours, spend the night, take a
van tour of a few castles the following morning, and then continue
with a TGV from Saint-Pierre-des-Corps to CDG airport
No, absolutely impossible in 2 days / 1 night. (and even impossible in 4 days / 3 nights).
Just the Dordogne you need at least 4 days and above all, a car.
So forget it