Any ideas for a place to spend a couple weekend days to break up the drive between Collioure and the French Basque area in late May? We'll have already spent time in Paris and Provence.
It's my spouse, a 1 year old, and me.
Somewhere in the Pyrennes? Toulouse?
Our friends enjoyed Carcassonne. If you’re religious then Lourdes is good for a couple hours. St. Jean Pied du Port is also good for a couple hours. It’s small and from it you can watch pilgrims starting out on their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
Crossing from Pays Badque to Collioure, we stayed in Olaron Ste-Marie, Sauveterre des Comminges, Carcasonne and and then wonderful, seaside Collioure.
Next we traveled to the Begur in the Costa Brava and Barcelona. We had picked up our rental car in Spain.
Carcassonne is touristy but very interesting nonetheless, perfect for 1 night (quieter and beautiful at night). Toulouse is also good for 1 night, no real need for more IMO (but still enough to do for 2 nights).
If you have a bit more time, then it is worth heading into the Pyrénées. Lourdes itself, Argelès or Cauterets would make for very good bases, a one-year old limits your ability to hike but there are plenty of things to see or do that can be reached with a stroller or baby carrier.
I wanted to spend 2 nights in Carcassonne, but my chosen hotel only had 1 night available. I booked 3 weeks ago. The stay is mid May. I would try to book soon.
Right, be careful: there's a major holiday weekend between 26-29 May. Expect traffic delays, and book hotels soon if those are your dates.
Thank you all for the advice. Balso, our road trip will be the prior weekend but we will still be in France for the holiday weekend, so thank you for that info
