My husband and I will be driving from Avignon to Tours next September. We have about 2 days to do this and were hoping someone might have a few suggestions on the best route. Time wise we are limited to just a 1 night stay somewhere along the way. Would like to see as much of the countryside as possible, but we know that it is a long drive. Would the autoroute be best or is there a more scenic (villages, countryside) way? Has anyone done this drive? We will have spent 6 days in Paris, 7 in Isle sur Sorgue, and are on our way to the Loire Valley and on to Mont St Michel and Normandy.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1329 posts
Donna - I suggest you look at the viamichelin website. You put in your start and end points and it will give you various routes you can follow depending on whether you want to get there quickly or take a more scenic route. It also gives you the cost of the trip (gas, tolls).
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Yes. With two days to drive, I would suggest a mountainous route through the Auvergene. You can go through Orange and then up through spectacular country to Le Puy and its mountaintop statues. You can continue on from there easily to Tours.
Posted by
San Diego
552 posts
As I've said, I truly believe that relying on GPS will ruin your natural intuition.
That being said:
In Le Puy,...
Our hotel made us park on the street. I drove down the wrong way on a one-way street, twice, trying to navigate the crazy traffic flow of this town.
And I never found the right road to get me directly to my desired route as we were heading out of town.
(Not to worry, the 15 min. circumnavigation of the town to get going in the proper direction was quite a scenic drive.)
Also, the Faux-Painted Facades around the town and the much-idolized, Black Madonna were still worth the effort.
In Avignon,...
Parking was impossible and it beat me.
We followed a young, French girl down a narrow lane towards what we hoped was an open space or two, at a locals-only cul-de-sac that appeared to have some snagable spots.
Instead, we only found another treacherous dead end. The young lady, in her frustrated attempt to back out, hit not one, but TWO, other cars immediately upon putting it into reverse.
We're saving Avignon for the next time. Kent's warning against using a car in this city should definitely be heeded.
Posted by
OP
Reno, Nevada, USA
195 posts
Hey, thanks for the info. The viamichelin website is a big help! And the drive through LePuy might work. It sounds nice. I only used Avignon as a reference point...we will actually have already visited Avignon while we are based in Isle, we will just be passing through (or around) as we leave Provence headed north. And hopefully will already have been to Orange, too. But LePuy sounds interesting and we may also stop in Nevers. There is so much to see, as always!!!! But thanks for your help, all of you.