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Hi,

We're travelling via Dover to Dunkirk with Norfolk Lines and heading down to Limoge.

We're going to do the Abbeville, Evreux, Dreux, Chartres and Orelans route to avoid Paris.

We'll probably eat on the ferry but was wondering if anyone could recommend good stops along the way, more towards Orleans as I intend to get the toe down and head south in good time.

I'd like to find these little gems in France that I keep hearing about, it's our first time of travelling that far into France as we're eventually heading to the Dordogne (been reading the posts on here and got some good tips). Tell me about your favourite stops, aires, little villages, etc I'd like to experience the real France and not the motorways.

Thank you in advance

Alex

Unfortunately that route is not (in my opinion) full of picturesque villages, nice Aires, etc., it's somewhat flat, mostly wheatfields, interspersed with fairly ordinary little places with nothing to make you want to stop there for any length of time, and even more ordinary towns and cities like Evreux, Dreux, and even Orleans! 

Chartres is probably your best bet - you can drive right into the middle if you're not towing a caravan, and have a look at the magnificent Cathedral and old streets.   There's a nice little park alongside the river, (on your route as you drive through) with plenty of free parking adjacent, and you can walk into the centre from there.  There are lots of places to sit and have a picnic in the parks. 

If you're using the N road south of Orleans then it goes through a lot of small places - not unattractive, but not 'little gems' by any means - however you may spot a magnificent Chateau or Manor House tucked away behind some high wall somewhere.  Some of the villages on that route have nice places to stop by a river or a lake.  There's a nice little municipal site at Vatan if you're looking for an overnight stop, but again the village is 'ordinary' rather than a gem.

I hope I'm not being unkind, but we've just never found it particularly attractive - just an area to drive through until you get further south.

Thank you for that advice, I'll look out for the stop in Chartres by the river.

Has anyone got anything south of Orleans/Vierzon on the way to Limoges? I will stop a few times, but probably not until we're south of Orleans, depends on traffic etc as to how we progress.

Quote: Originally posted by badger54 on 09/8/2011

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I keep mentioning it but if you are looking for an overnight stop, the municipal campsite at Beaugency is a little gem right on the river (south-west of Orleans).

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May not be good for the OP as there is a note on the website stating

"Supplément caravane double essieu fourgon ou 4*4"

which I read as

"supplement for twin axle caravan, van OR 4*4"

We've crossed that off the list now

Quote: Originally posted by jonellis on 09/8/2011

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Municipal at sées near Alencon any good for you?

Decent pitch various price restaurants available
Cheap fuel and supermarket just near campsite..

Postcode 65100
Av huit mai 1945 (is the road name)

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Quote: Originally posted by aapiper on 08/8/2011

Thank you for that advice, I'll look out for the stop in Chartres by the river.

Has anyone got anything south of Orleans/Vierzon on the way to Limoges? I will stop a few times, but probably not until we're south of Orleans, depends on traffic etc as to how we progress.

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