Only a week to go and we are off on our adventure to Dordogne. We pick up our car at CDG and would like some help on planning a route to Gien.We plan to spend our first night here unless jet lag gets the better of us. I have studied the Via Michelin site but do not want to travel via the Boulevard Peripherique which they seem to suggest as the recommended route. Can any one suggest the simplest way to get to Gien? Thanks to everyone on slow travel for their great tips.

Rory,

If you go to mappy.com, I believe you'll find a routing that takes you east of the peripherique. Doublecheck, however, as a countryside driver, I'm not familiar with the maze of four-lanes in the Paris area.

Also I have to ask, why Gien? Briare, close by, is a much more attractive town.

Dave

Rory

from CDG take A1 dir Paris:near St Denis take the A86 east toward dir Bobigny follow it all around Paris dir Orleans to connect near rungis with the A6 dir Auxerre,Orleans.near passing Fontainbleau take the A77 dir Gien,Nevers.

its basically all expressways so all is well posted.

Thankyou to you both for your directions. You make it sound so easy Pedmar, I hope we find it so!
Why Gien... I have been guided by Lonely Planet who says Briare is an industrial town. We have no knowledge of the area and really just need somewhere to get over our jetlag before heading off the next day towards the Dordogne.
When we leave the Gien area we are considering driving along the southern side of the Loire towards Amboise and then head south. Has anyone driven this way and is this route scenic?

Hi Rory,

Lonely Planet is right. Briare is a china factory town, but of the 19th century model-town type. It's laced with canals and green space, quite charming, and the famous and striking Eiffel-designed bridge-canal high over the Loire River is there.

But I understand that you're mainly interested in a place to pause and rest. Have a great trip!

Dave

quote:

When we leave the Gien area we are considering driving along the southern side of the Loire towards Amboise and then head south

That route will take you into the center of Orléans, and I'm not sure that's where you want to be. How far are you planning to drive on the second day? You could easily spend most of a day going from Gien to Amboise unless you get on a high-speed road.

not really high speed from Gien to Amboise but N national roads. Take the D952 from Gien dir Orleans it becomes the N60 then get around Orleans on the north side beltway dir Saran,paris until link up with the A10 south dir Blois at Blois you can take either the N152 dir Amboise or continue on A10 past Blois until La harpiniére connecting with the D31 to Amboise dead center.

These trips will take you practically all day with rests included. But i have done it heck i love my FORD !!!
Enjoy it!!

ps its been done by many just join the them french roads are fun safe (yes never a scratch) and well posted.heck i am already planning another plunge in the Loire comes my kids first school break in october!

Briare sounds nice and maybe on our way back we will get to see it.Thankyou to you all for the info. We do have the Michelin motoring atlas so I have been able to follow your instructions. I probably havent explained myself very well but the main reason for following the Loire on this day was to see if we want to spend some time here when we leave the Dordogne. We will have 5 days after the Dordogne and are undecided whether to spend them in the Loire or Burgundy. Both areas sound so beautiful, decisions, decisions. We would prefer to base ourselves in one place for the few days. I have been considering Amboise or somewhere near Vezelay. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Our second night on the way down we want to stay at the village of Mortemart northwest of Limoges so will take the autoroute for some of the way. We want to visit Oradour the next morning as we may not get there otherwise. No doubt this will be a sad day.

i cannot help you there
Vezelay or Amboise are both beautiful areas.

Well it looks like another trip to France as time will not allow us to visit both areas.
I would value any recommendations for accommodation B&B or similar for the 5 days in either the Amboise or Vezelay areas. This may influence our decision.

i used these folks and never a problem
http://www.gites-de-france.fr/eng/index.htm
http://www.homelidays.com/EN-Holidays-Rental/100_Home/HomeDYN.asp?

Gîtes de France accommodations can be very inexpensive and very comfortable. I know a good a gîte in the town of Pocé-sur-Cisse, just two or three miles north of Amboise. I have stayed there in the past. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. I can give you more information if you want.

Thankyou both Pedmar and Ckenb. Yes any details would be helpful on the B&B near Amboise. I have noted a few accommodations from Slow Travel's reports so I will have a few on hand.