Barcelona to Toulouse 6 days by car in Nov

Outside of Carcassine i would recpmmend Mirapoix with its charming market square and Foix with its castle.

There are several choices of route. None of the directs ones follow the coast. If you choose the most easterly, you have Girona and Figueres (Dali Theatre and Museum) in Spain, with a possible side trip from Figureres to Cadaques along a very pretty road. Another potential side-trip (to the west this time) would be the fortified town of Besalu.

Once you cross the border, the popular coastal town of Collioure is a detour. Then you pass through Perpignan, which isn't really one of France's most beautiful cities but does have some sights. Then you hit Narbonne (worthwhile) before you turn west toward Carcassonne.

ViaMichelin actually recommends the longer central route. It passes through the Cerdanya Valley (can be extremely hot in mid-summer), passing the town of Puigcerda ("poo cher DAH"), which has a very pretty historic center on top of a hill. At this point you're practically in France. You could take a break from driving and hop over to the small train station in Bourg-Madame to take an out-and-back day trip on the Yellow Train. It tootles through very pretty scenery to the Vauban-fortified town of Villefranche-de-Conflent. VdeC is extremely touristy, but it is undeniably picturesque. You could drive there, but I have no idea what the road conditions are like (other than scenic); the train is fun.

The N-260 running WSW out of Puigcerda passes through some dusty old towns that don't see much tourist traffic and takes you to La Seu de Urgell, which has an historically important cathedral and a lovely old center. You could take that detour then turn north to travel through Andorra. ViaMichelin marks the roads in and out of LSdU in green, indicating that they are especially scenic.

Alternatively, just NE of Puigcerda is an oddity: the Spanish town of Llivia, completely surrounded by France. It's worth a stop and walk-around. The roads north of there (including the one heading NE toward Villefranche-de-Conflent) are marked in green. I'm sure it would be a beautiful route, but it might be very slow going.

If you favor scenery, I think you want that central route, which also takes you through the aforementioned Foix and near Mirepoix. It would require a detour back to the east in order to see Carcassonne. If you want big-name sightseeing attractions, the route nearer the coast might be better.

ViaMichelin offers up a third route, even farther to the west. I know nothing about that one.

I am following this interesting topic, we are planning a similar trip for May. We have 13 or 14 nights and might finish in Lyon.

Hello, I think that a road trip from Barcelona to Toulouse is a great idea, lots of cool stuff to see in between the two that matches your criteria. Here would be a rough itinerary of interesting stops:

DAY 1-
Start in Barcelona
-{ Girona: An ancient city in northern Catatonia. Has an impressive Cathedral, towering medieval walls, narrow winding streets, and one of the best preserved Jewish Quarters in Europe. Some of the Game of Thrones T.V. series was shot here.
Sleep in Girona

DAY 2-
Drive north to
-{ Besalú: Well preserved medieval town showcasing Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The centerpiece is the impressive medieval bridge.
-{ Dalí Museum in Figueres: Extensive collection of Dalí's artwork, from paintings to sculpters and everything in between.
Cross into France
-{ Perpignan: City with a significant Catalan influence which is evident in its medieval core. At the center of the city is a large Medieval Royal Palace of the Kings of Majorca.
Sleep in Perpignan

DAY 3-
Drive north
-{ Narbonnaise en Méditerranée Natural Park: Diverse protected landscape with good hiking trails through beaches, lagoons, and vineyards.
-{ Abbaye de Fontfroide: Wine-producing (AOC Corbières) former Cistercian monastery with historic vaulted cloisters, a nice restaurant, and regular concerts.
-{ Narbonne: A city with deep historical roots from the Roman and early Medieval times, the highlight being the Archbishop's Palace.
Sleep in Narbonne

DAY 4-
Drive north
-{ Béziers: A city that was a major flash-point during the Albigensian Crusade. Its historical center, built on a hilltop, is a great place for a stroll. Some of the sites include a lovely cathedral (with a sinister past), great squares, a vast esplanade, and picturesque streets.
-{ Montpellier: A university town with an interesting contrast of new and old. With elegant buildings, grand mansions, and stately boulevards.
Sleep in Montpellier

Day 5-
Continue north to
-{ Nîmes: An important Ancient Roman town - many of the sites in the town reflect that; from Roman amphitheaters to Roman temples, some very well preserved for their age.
Circle back south and drive (about 2 hrs) to
-{ Carcassonne
Sleep in Carcassonne

Day 6-
Drive west
-{ Toulouse
End trip

Of course, this is a very rough schedule and will need some reconfiguring depending on drive times and how slow or fast you want to take things. I would also like to note that there will probably be an extra charge if you pick up a rental car in Spain and drop it off in France.

Is Saint Guilhem le Désert on the way? I wouldn’t miss it. And Cordes-sur ciel? What direction id that from Toulouse ?