Can someone tell me how I can get from Mont St. Michal to Avignon by train/bus?
I used https://www.sbb.ch/ and found that they will actually take me back to Paris and then we will leave from Paris...that's 9 hours on the road, which is just pure crazy!!
Is there an easier way?
Thank you,
Judy.....leaving for Europe in 11 days!
It may sound crazy, but if you start counting the time from the time you leave your hotel at the Mont, 9 hours sounds about right for the total trip to get from the out-of-the-way Mont to Avignon. You're traversing almost the entire north-sound distance of France.Trains don't go to the Mont so the first part of the trip has to be by bus [edit: or taxi, see Tim's very helpful post below] to the nearest train station.The fastest train will get you there in something under 8 hours, but usually you have to pay extra for the extra speed. By the time you add up all the time, starting from the time you leave your hotel at the Mont, it will be 8 or 9 hours, or more, of total travel time before you get to your destination in Avignon--figure on using all day for this trip. And most of the train routes do go through Paris and there will be train changes. Really. Here's a website that lays it all out with schedules http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=212.92&seqnr=3&ident=eo.0567192.1242423313&rt=1&rememberSortType=minDeparture&REQ0HafasScrollDir=2
There is a way that is nearly two hours faster. From the timetables at www.bahn.de: Take a regional train from Pontorson-Mont-St-Michel to Rennes, a TGV from Rennes to Avignon TGV, and a bus from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre. Depart at 07:57 and arrive at 15:06.
You'll need to take a taxi from Mont-St-Michel to Pontorson. There is regional bus service, but the buses don't start running early enough for you to get to Pontorson in time to catch the 07:57 train.
what time does the bus start operating and when does it stop operating....from MSM to Ponterson and vice versa?
Monday: First bus from Mont-St-Michel to Pontorson leaves at 06:14 and last bus at 18:25. Tuesday-Friday: First bus leaves at 07:32 and last bus at 18:25. Saturday: First bus leaves at 08:47 and last bus at 18:50. Sunday: First bus leaves at 11:42 and last bus at 20:50.
Weekdays: First bus from Pontorson to Mont-St-Michel leaves at 06:54 and last bus at 19:35. Saturday: First bus leaves at 10:00 and last bus at 19:35. Sunday: First bus leaves at 11:27 and last bus at 21:43.
So Monday is the only day you could take a bus from Mont-St-Michel to Pontorson in time to catch the 07:57 train. On any other day you'll need to take a taxi.
See the timetables (les horaires) at www.mobi50.com.
When it comes to Mont St. Michel, you can't get anywhere from there! I'd take the fast train to Paris rather than try to cobble together anything else. I was appalled too, when I started planning my trip there, but finally realized that, tho it sounds crazy, going thru Paris IS the easiest, and pretty much the ONLY way! Just be sure you go back to...is it Rennes where you catch the fast train back to Paris? can't remember....otherwise you'll NEVER get anywhere!
