tostaky

Hi !
we are planing a 38 days trip in France for july-August with our kids (12 ans 15 years old).

After 4 night in Dordogne and before our 5 nights in Alps (Thône) and 3 last nights in Lyon we will go thru Auvergne for 4 nights. We have thought about :

Day 1-2Leave Sarlat (or the place we will sleep in Dordogne...not found yet) at aroun 9 am, go to Gouffre du Padirac. After taht go to Salers and get 2 nights there. For the full day in Salers maybe do one small hike (Puy Violent), see a castle or two.

day 3-4. Leave Salers, go thru (and climb) Puy Mary, make a stop in Murat or St-Flour and go for 2 nights in Puy-En-Velay

Day 5 leave Puy-enVelay for Thônes

Anyone have better (more logical or else) plan ?

Thanks !

kerouac

Depending on the weather, Auvergne can feel creepy, but 2 nights in Le Puy is a good idea.

StuDudley

Attached is something I wrote for a friend. We've stayed in that region for 4 weeks over 2 trips.

Stu Dudley

ANUJ

A few thoughts from me :

1. DORDOGNE : Gouffre de Padirac is very popular (even outside peak season when weve visited), but tours can be pre booked online. With a busy day ahead, this could save time wasted in queues (if you can commit a time slot). Also in the vicinity of Padirac are a number of interesting places like Martel, Rocamadour and the Autoire-Loubressac-Carennac trio some of which you might want to visit briefly en route.

2. AUVERGNE : We were in the Auvergne in June, and I wrote up a detailed trip report which may be helpful.
TRIP REPORT : THE Auvergne and Languedoc, June 2022
IMO Le Puy is one of the most fascinating cities in France.

shelemm

Can't go wrong with any of these plans.

Consider visiting an Auvergnat castle, They are very imposing. Anjony or Chateau de Saillant.
Also near Salers consider visiting the chapelle monolithe notre dame, an only-in-Auvergne experience.

And near Le Puy, the village of Poligncac is a must.

StuDudley

""And near Le Puy, the village of Poligncac is a must.

I think you have one too many "c"s in Polignac.

Stu Dudley

SemiMike

Yes, Le Puy-en-Velay is a wonderful town, one of my favorites in all France. Too bad you won't be there for the September Heritage Days weekend, when the town puts on a marvelous mediaeval pageant.

StuDudley

We will be there the first 2 weeks of September next year. Is this for the annual Europe Patrimoine weekend??

Stu Dudley

SemiMike

Yes, Patrimoine = Heritage Days, September 16-17 in 2023. When we were there a few years ago, the town's festival actually ran for 4 days, beginning on Thursday. I have no specifics for next year, but it has run for a few decades, and so i assume is still on. Photos from that visit can be found at A week in the Auvergne.

StuDudley

Thanks.

We were in upper Burgundy for this year's Patrimoine weekend, and not many things were open for the event - except churches. We change gites on the 2023 weekend - but it's good to hear that the celebrations in Le Puy start on Thursday!!

Stu Dudley