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Hi, just planning our route to and from Spain, and viamichelin is suggesting as an alternative route the A26/E15, which seems to loop around to the east of France, through Lyon and Dijon and then up through Reims.  The driving time it suggests is less than the A20 route going west of Paris and not much different to the A75 straight down through Paris and Clermont-Ferrand.

This seems a bit odd to me - does anyone have any experience of this route, and any idea whether these are accurate timings?  It's slightly more expensive on the travel costs, but if the timings are accurate we would consider driving back this way as we have never seen that side of France and would be interested for future reference.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi

We have used this route the last 7 times that we have been to france and found it the most straight forward route. Yes the traffic can be bad but we have only had bad traffic once and that was in rush hour about 5pm.

Last year we travelled to Spain via Rouen, N154, A75 and returned via the A26, E15.  We would recommend this as it gives the oportunity to see more of France.  Going via Rouen is cheaper in toll charges than via Paris.

Regards Bob

Quote: Originally posted by Dandyman Bob on 22/1/2011

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Last year we travelled to Spain via Rouen, N154, A75 and returned via the A26, E15.  We would recommend this as it gives the oportunity to see more of France.  Going via Rouen is cheaper in toll charges than via Paris.

Regards Bob

Spot on Bob same here

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Thanks for all the replies.  We've previously gone via the mountain pass into Northern Spain (due to our stopovers and over several days) and come back through Paris (albeit accidentally as we were heading for Rouen!).  This time we're aiming to get to Spain with just one stopover.  I'd rather avoid Paris, although it's more direct - driving through accidentally with no preparation or map last time kinda scared me!  That said, the OH would like to go via Millau, so maybe we will take the A75.

It just seemed odd to me that looping all the way round to Lyon was a viable option, as it looks like it should be a lot longer.  We're hoping to have two stopovers on the way back due to ferry timings, so we may well take that route back.  Curiously, having gone back into viamichelin this morning it is now saying the A9 not the A26.

We're travelling down Monday/Tuesday mid August and coming back midweek at the end of August/beginning of September, so hopefully the traffic won't be too bad!