Tunnel sous la Manche to La Rochelle: Seasoned Advice Please

[johnboy]

Hi All

I had a trip planned to the Pyrenees but for various reasons it has fallen through. However I have negotiated a ride to the family holiday destination La Rochelle whilst the others fly.

Some flexibility on time to get there and back but thinking 3 days to get there and 2 days back. Having studied the Michelin map hard and usign mapsource I came up the following throughts - any comments on tweaking / recomended sub routes / diversions / accomodation would be very gratefully received:

Day 1: Tunnel 0820 arrive France 1020 [option to go night before and camp / stay o/n near Calais] either way day 1 autoroute to Orleans [option avoid Paris and go via Rouen or is it not worth the diversion] - stay near Orleans for night 1

Day 2: follow Loire westwards [D951 / D751 / D952] to Saumur for o/n stop [options for sites of interest along this stretch would be kind]

Day 3: Saumur to La Rochelle [D938 but this is not a green route so any options] if time permits go to Lie de Re and then join family late day 3

Options at La Rochelle: I can probably get way with 2 days of non-family activity so I thought a visit to the WW11 village at Oradour. Any options for a second trip?

Return Day 1: coastal run to St Nazaire to look at WW11 bits
Return Day 2: blast to Calais - not very inspired for homeward run! Alternative to go via Chartres as the cathedral has been recomended.


Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Johnboy

 

[Schtum]

Alternative to go via Chartres as the cathedral has been recomended.

Quelle bonne idée!

 

[Glyno]

Oradour..... Look up "Hotel La Glane". Ive used the place numerous times over the years and whether you are travelling alone or with family Im sure you will be more than happy with the place. Its clean comfortable and affordable. Just about 200 metres from the entrance to the visitor centre and old village. I was there in May and will go back again.

 

[Wapping]

Day 3: Saumur to La Rochelle [D938 but this is not a green route so any options] if time permits go to Lie de Re and then join family late day 3


Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Johnboy

Just because it is not a 'green route' doesn't mean it is a bad road; it means that Michelin simply haven't declared it to be scenic.

There are lots of very good un-green D and N roads, too.

Going over the evening before is a good idea. Not least you save an hour, simply due to the time difference. That can mean two 'free' 30 minute stops the next day.

You can do Calais to Orleans in a day, no problem. You do not need to blast it all on motorway, but you will need to look at your maps again. Just leave earlier in the morning (easier if you do not camp)..... and if you have saved an hour or more coming over the night before.

You can do Calais / Saumur in a day, too. Have a look for my route to Le Mans and then jiggle the top bit about and add a bit on the bottom, to take you to Saumur, via Arnage, Le Lude, Noyent etc. But if you want to have a look at places on your way down, ignore this.

===

See if you can take in Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, where Richard I's tomb is, alongside his father. Chateau Chinon, is worth a look, too.

A green Michelin guide to France (or on specific areas) is really what you need to have a gander at.... smaller on-line version at ViaMichelin, or in any half decent book shop.

 

[ChasMill]

Going over the evening before is a good idea.

A green Michelin guide to France (or on specific areas) is really what you need to have a gander at.

Agree with both - the Michelin Green Guide is under a tenner on Amazon.

 

[Taff]

.... Options at La Rochelle: I can probably get way with 2 days of non-family activity so I thought a visit to the WW11 village at Oradour. Any options for a second trip? Return Day 1: coastal run to St Nazaire to look at WW11 bits ...

You're obviously interested in WWII history, so why not have a look at the submarine pens at La Rochelle? They're not quite as impressive or accessible as the ones at St Nazaire nr Nantes, but well worth a look and will take up a couple of hours. If you have time in St Nazaire, there is a submarine open to the public (I really wish I'd known about it before as I didn't get a chance to visit) and a very impressive intact bunker. I have the co-ordinates at home on Mapsource for them all if you're interested.

You're not meant to go inside, but I'm afraid curiosity got the better of me.

 

[johnboy]

Submarine Pens

I have the co-ordinates at home on Mapsource for them all if you're interested

I would be very grateful for the coordinates.

 

[johnboy]

Michelin Guide

A green Michelin guide to France (or on specific areas) is really what you need to have a gander at.... smaller on-line version at ViaMichelin, or in any half decent book shop.

Thanks for the tips - I will get the guide today

 

[john_aero]

we did a similar route down to la rochelle the few weeks back, its good road but not best road around. try looking more inland as few lovely places, if can make trip down in midlans then see my threak for la rose rouge b&b, great roads there and same distance down as la rochelle just inland

 

[finn]

Route

I've done that route a couple of times and there isn't a bad way to do it France is fantastic for bikes and I wouldn't book anything as long as outside of school holidays and just ride stopping when you see something interesting or get to where you want to be I have some maps and guides if you want to borrow? Just pm and will get them off to you

 

[Taff]

I would be very grateful for the coordinates.

Submarine Pens near La Rochelle are at N46 09.543 W1 12.502. You won't get in easily - the public aren't meant to be there, but we found an access road at N46 09.663 W1 12.726. You will need to ride between some boulders, but it's not a problem. For La Rochelle itself, we found a small but very convenient car park at N46 09.425 W1 09.052 just a few minutes walk from the harbour towers.

At St Nazaire, the submarine pens are at N47 16.515 W2 12.232 - supermarket car parks adjacent. Plenty of space when I was there, but it was a Sunday. I don't think the public are encouraged there, but having said that nobody checks. There's a submarine (open to the public) almost directly opposite at N47 16.538 W2 11.944 and en-route you drive over the dock gates at N47 16.259 W2 12.137 where HMS Campbeltown was rammed during Operation Chariot. There's also an intact Blockhaus / museum at N47 16.260 W2 28.136 which my boy and I spent a few hours at, as it's one of the most intact and best preserved bunkers I've seen.

That lot should keep you occupied for a day or so.

 

[johnboy]

Thanks - downloaded the points and just off so will take some pics etc