La Maison Caignac
Stopovers en Route |
Places to stay between Calais and Toulouse As it takes us ten hours driving from the channel ports (via Rouen/Orleans) to Caignac (30 minutes beyond Toulouse) let me give you our list of stopovers with rough times from both ends. Ratings out of ten. Disasters not listed...but available on request. All the finer details in Michelin and websites via Mr Google. <1 hour Calais/9 hours Toulouse A stopover if we've got an early ferry or we've just come off a late one. Jean de Bruges (6/10) at St Riquier on the D925 9kms out of Abbeville. A pleasant 11 bedroom inn of character in the church square with modern/converted rooms. No restaurant (but an adequate one 300 metres back down the 925) but there's a good self service breakfast for a quick getaway.Tel: 03 22 28 30 30 www.somme-tourisme.com/jdb <2 hours Calais/8 hours Toulouse Rouen. Mercure Champ de Mars (6/10). A plastic palace but they do room deals/upgrades at weekends and you're close to the Cathedral if you want a bit of a walk around/ good restaurants nearby. Secure parking. 02 35 52 42 32 www.accor.com <3-4 hours Calais/6-7 hours Toulouse We've only found three decent places in the cross country desert between Rouen and Orleans. If you want to take some time in Chartres try Le Grand Monarque (7/10) - easily accessible on the internal ring road with a good restaurant and 300 metres from the cathedral. Secure parking. 02 37 18 15 15 www.bw-grand-monarque.com Much better, and nearer to the A10 is Le Quai Fleuri (8/10)at Voves. Take the D29/D10 south from Chartres instead of the dreaded N154. No HGVs. Plain sailing - it drops you on the first roundabout before the A10 tollbooth. Attractive rooms with a couple of suites in an annexe which we found a good option for €80. Good restaurant with an ambitious menu. 02 37 99 15 15 www.quaifleuri.fr If you've got time on your hands and want that extra special stay head for Chateau d'Esclimont at St Symphorien le Chateau (9/10). Take the A10 to Paris out of Chartres and come off at J2. It's a cut above; 16th century, v. impressive building/grounds - tennis, golf, swimming, helipad and a super restaurant. Big experience: not cheap. Arrive noon/leave noon! 02 37 31 15 15 www.esclimont.com <5 hours Calais/5 hours Toulouse This is our normal stop off area as regardless of which way I'm travelling it's time for a glass. 30 minutes south of Orleans take the D724 at J4 on the A71 and head west. First is Auberge à la Tête de Lard (8/10) at la Ferté Imbault a lovely hostellerie on the high street with a restaurant with dishes typical of the region. You're in the Solonge so that means wild boar/game. 02 54 96 22 32 If they're full (not usual) push on another 3kms (you're 10 kms from the A74 now) to L'Auberge du Cheval Blanc (8/10) at Selles St Denis. Similarly 'rustic', full of local charm and with that restaurant du terroir. 02 54 96 36 36. Finally, in this area, if you don't mind pushing on a bit out of your way - though you can race back by the A85 to rejoin the A74 - check out the Grand Hotel du Lion d'Or (8/10) in Romorantin. The rooms are fine - we were budget here, and the superb restaurant is well worth that detour. 02 54 94 15 15 www.hotel-liondor.fr <6 hours Calais/4 hours Toulouse Take the D927 at J17 on the A20 (now) and head 11kms east to the Chateau de Bouesse (8/10) at Bouesse. Bags of history - wouldn't you believe that Jeanne d'Arc stayed here (allegedly) in the 13th siècle. A lovely old chateau/grounds and, again, a super restaurant. Only a ten minute detour. 02 54 25 12 20 www.chateaubouesse.com 60 odd kms north of Limoges, west of the A20 off J23.1 there's Nougier at St Etienne de Fursac (7/10) another delightful village tavern with a super country restaurant and 12 bedrooms. The third generation now run it and worth the 12 kms off the autoroute. Take the D1 and the D4. 05 55 63 60 56 www.hotelnougier.fr <8 hours Calais/2 hours Toulouse Quite our favourite. Ideal place for that superb stop off. Le Moulin de l'Abbaye (9/10) at Brantôme is, admittedly 30 minutes west of the A20 80kms south west of Limoges but what the hell...A water mill in beautifully tranquil surroundings. It's a Relais & Chateaux and the food is out of this world. Our 9 course meal took three hours. Wonderful 'Homes and Gardens' rooms. Check in early/leave late: the breakfast is a must do too - taken outside on the terrace by the lake. Not much change from €300 Dinner B&B. 05 53 05 80 22 www.moulinabbaye.com 10 hours Calais/Toulouse airport Finally if you have to overnight at Blagnac (Toulouse's airport - for you Caignac guests) you could do worse than the Sofitel (6/10) Typical airport hotel, granted, but it does give you the chance to check out two Michel Sarran restaurants - well three if you cab it to his main, eponymous one in town -from January 2009, one in the airport (isn't that typically French?) and the other, a brasserie, at La Stade Ernest Wallon - Toulouse's rugby stadium 3 kms from the airport. I'll be waiting a long time before Harlequins get a Michelin starred restaurant; or anything better than a pie stand, come to think of it...Sofitel on 05 34 56 11 11 www.sofitel.com
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Recently renovated and refurbished High standard accommodation Sleeps up to 13 Private heated swimming pool Private tennis court Barbeque and Outside dining Lovely gardens Pool Table, Pin Table, Pub Darts, Table Football Garden Chess Cricket Net Boules Court |