Page 407 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

The Drive » It’s 208km (2¾ tive pink stone used in
hours) to the village of Gavarnie. many of its buildings. TRIP HIGHLIGHT
Take the A63 and A64 toll Toulouse’s magnificent 6 Carcassonne
roads to exit 11, then the D940 main square, place du
to Lourdes (worth a look for Capitole, is the city’s Perched on a rocky
its religious Disneyland feel). literal and metaphorical hilltop and bristling with
Continue south along D913 and heart. To its south is the zigzagging battlements,
D921. stout walls and spiky tur-
city’s Vieux Quartier (Old
Quarter), a tangle of lanes rets, from afar the forti-
fied city of Carcassonne is
4 Cirque de and leafy squares that beg most people’s perfect idea
exploration on foot (p344).
Gavarnie Then, of course, there of a medieval castle. Four
The Pyrenees doesn’t are the soothing twists million tourists a year
lack impressive scenery, and turns of the Garonne stream through its city
but your first sight of River and mighty Canal gates to explore La Cité
the Cirque de Gavarnie du Midi – laced with foot- (enter via Porte Narbonnaise or
is guaranteed to raise a paths and likewise clearly Porte d’Aude; h24hr), visit ATLANTIC COAST 38 ATLANTIC TO MED
gasp. This breathtaking created with stretching Château Comtal (place du
mountain amphitheatre your legs in mind. Château, La Cité; adult/child
is one of the region’s most The sky’s the limit €8.50/free; h10am-6.30pm
famous sights, sliced by at the fantastic Cité de Apr-Sep, 9.30am-5pm Oct-Mar)
thunderous waterfalls l’Espace (www.cite-espace. and ogle at stunning
and ringed by sawtooth com/en; av Jean Gonord; adult views along the city’s
peaks, many of which top €21-25.50, child €15.50-19; ancient ramparts.
out at above 3000m. h10am-7pm daily Jul & Aug, to 54 p325
There are a couple of 5pm or 6pm Sep-Dec & Feb-Jun,
large car parks in the closed Mon Feb, Mar & Sep-Dec, The Drive » Continue down
village of Gavarnie, from closed Jan). Since WWII, the A61 to the Catalan-flavoured
town of Narbonne, where you join
where it’s a two-hour walk Toulouse has been the the A9 (very busy in summer)
to the amphitheatre. Wear centre of France’s aero- and head east to Nîmes. From
proper shoes, as snow space industry, developing there the A54 will take you into
lingers along the trail into many important aircraft Arles. Allow just over two hours to
early summer. Between (including Concorde cover the 223km and expect lots
Easter and October you and the Airbus A380) as of toll booths.
can go by horse or donkey well as components for
(around €25 return). many international space
programs. The museum 7 Arles
The Drive » Retrace your
steps to Lourdes, then take the brings this interstellar Arles’ poster boy is the
N21 toward Tarbes and veer industry vividly to life celebrated impressionist
onto the A64 to reach Toulouse. through hands-on exhibits painter Vincent van Gogh.
It takes nearly three hours to including a shuttle simula- If you’re familiar with his
cover the 228km. tor, a planetarium, a 3D work, you’ll be familiar
cinema and a simulated with Arles: the light, the
observatory. colours, the landmarks
5 Toulouse and the atmosphere, all
Elegantly sited at the con- 54 p409 faithfully captured. But
fluence of the Canal du The Drive » It’s an easy 95km long before Van Gogh ren-
Midi and Garonne River, (one hour) down the fast A61 to dered this grand Rhône
the vibrant southern Carcassonne. Notice how the River locale on canvas, the
city of Toulouse is often vegetation becomes suddenly Romans valued its worth.
known as La Ville Rose, much more Mediterranean about Today it’s the reminders
15 minutes out of Toulouse.
a reference to the distinc- of Rome that are probably
405