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We prefer the Rouen route because we're on a very small income, and we can do it without paying anything in tolls.   We also like N roads and the variety of scenery and places to stop.  The other way, towing a caravan and using the Francilienne will cost 31 euros in tolls from Calais far as the Francilienne turn off near Charles de Gaulle airport and 27.40 euros from there down to Orleans.  For us that's at least one week's campsite fees!

I think those who prefer the Rouen route are perhaps like us and don't want to spend money where they don't have to, or those in less of a hurry.  When we were both working we used to use the Francilienne, and outside peak hours it's a lovely road.  I wouldn't advise using the peripherique, towing, though, as it's a very very busy route with people cutting in and it's not easy to stop with a caravan on the back!

I always take the route via Rouen.

You only have to be held up in a snarl up arund Paris once to avoid it like the plague for the remained of your life!  I know quite a few people who have been stuck for as much as 6 hours.

There's a fantastic night market in Cadouin - which I think is the one with the church (or rather an abbey, with cloisters) and there's a day market in Le Buisson.  There's also a flea market in Cadouin on a Sunday morning.   We visited them all whilst in the Dordogne this year.

Incidentally in the Cadouin flea market we saw a British stall-holder selling what looked like very authentic old door knockers for 250 euros - and he sold a couple whilst we were there.  In the Quincaillerie in St Pons de Thomieres four days later we saw exactly the same things for sale (without the antique patina) for 9.50 euros!  We were sorely tempted to buy his entire stock, a tin of brown shoe polish and a brush, a bit of elbow grease,  and head back to the Dordogne to pay for next year's (and many more) holiday!