We will be in the Basque Country for three days in late August. We are going to visit Rick Steves suggested sights in the area. Can anyone recommend a scenic driving route on either the Spanish or French side of the pyrenees. We will be going from Jean-de-Luz to Carrcassone and we have two days to get there.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Saint Jean de Luz, San Sebastian, Guernica, Bilbao, Vitoria, Pamplona, Saint Jean de Port, Tardets - Sorholus, Aramits, Oloron-Saint-Marie, Pau. That's about eight hours of road time, gets the best scenery, and the essence of the Baque stuff. I have no idea what Mr Steves things are the best things, but I'll bet on mine. After Pau, use the freeway toward Toulouse and back down to Carcassonne. That's about three hours. If, once you're south of the mountains, you try to do it all in Spain, the roads are such that you can't get back into the Pyrenees and work along their axis - - you pretty much have to go to Zargozza, Barcelona, and then back up into France. From Pamplona, that's maybe eight or nine hours. If you're in Pamplona and want to go the fast way in France, you double back up toward Bayonne and head east on the freeways, again, well clear of the mountains. Bayonne to Carcassonne is about five hours. Pamplona to Bayonne, just a couple.
Posted by
OP
Ambler, PA, USA
60 posts
Thanks Ed, this was really helpful.