We're planning to visit Spain in October and looking how large the country is. So since we're planning on visiting Barcelona visiting the Dordogne would be quite efficient. Thoughts?
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
What means of transportation are you proposing to take?
Posted by
Washington DC
28120 posts
It's about 7 hours, if not more, from Barcelona to Bordeaux by train. Unless you are planning a loop trip, you probably wouldn't want to drive because of the likely extra charge for renting a car in Spain and dropping it off in France. You can check skyscanner.com for flights.
By comparison, you can get to Madrid by train in less than 3 hours.
This isn't to say that you shouldn't visit the Dordogne, just that it's not super-quick to get there by ground transportation from Barcelona.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
It's about 9-10 hours by train from Barcelona to Perigueux, so not exactly close.
Posted by
OP
san ramon, ca, usa
287 posts
Thanks a bunch for your input.
Posted by
Oregon
41 posts
You could take the high speed train from Barcelona to Perpignan, just over the border in France, then rent a car there, or take the train further into France and rent a car for the Dordogne.
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
I think this is totally do-able and have an itinerary like this in mind myself. Fly into Barcelona stay 2-3 days. Train to Collouire for a couple of says. Train to Perignan, drive to Dordogne. Stay in Carcassone on the way back for a night or two. Drop car in Perginan and back to Barcelona for a couple of days. A lot of people will tell you Carcassone is not worth a visit, but I thought it was great. I don't mean spend two solid days there, use that as a base to drive into the Pyrenees and see the Cathar castles. Rick seems very lukewarm on Bordeaux, and I can tell you from first hand experience that Dordogne would be a great place to spend five days to a week. You could work a visit to Albi in there, too. Part of the issue with Dordogne is that it's so hard to get to. But the upside is that since it's surrounded by other regions in France, it feels like it's very, very French, kind of like Burgundy. Barcelona is a practical choice for an airport to fly into for a visit to this region, in my opinion.