carcassonne to other areas?

Hi, im thinking of going to Carcassonne next August, its somewhere i%26#39;ve always wanted to go to, but after researching it, i%26#39;ve discovered that as im only 19 i can%26#39;t get a hire car, is it possible to get to any of these places by train/bus. I also saw that some people suggested hiring a car + driver for a few days, is this possible? how much would it cost? where would i hire one?

Lastours,

Roquefère

Pradelles Cabardès

Revel (Haute Garonne)

Fanjeaux

Mirepoix (Ariège)

Lagrasse

Castle of Quéribus :

Minerve

Montségur

Arques

Rennes-les-bains

Rennes-les-chateau

Albi

Foix

Chateau de Peyreperteuse

Limoux

etc...

would be greatful for any help/advice.

thank you!

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It will be very difficult and quite expensive to visit these locations without a car. Quéribus and Peyreperteuse for example are remote and not really that close to Carcassonne.

Some locations on your list will have train service such as Albi (why not include Cordes sur Ciel) and Limoux. Train information may be found here:

http://www.ter-sncf.com/languedoc/index.asp

Others may have bus service which may be found here:

http://www.carcassonne.org/

Others such as Minerve can only be reached by taxi:

Taxi Duthoit

04 68 91 20 08

Olonzac

or a list of all available taxis:

http://www.taxis-de-france.com/

You could ask about auto leases which have less strict age requirements than do rentals but to try to reach all of these points by public transportation will require a great deal of time and planing.

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ok, thank you :)

where would i find information about auto leases??

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Here are the leasing companies.

www.peugeot.com/services/openeurope/en/

http://www.renault-eurodrive.com/

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Hi loulou66

I would be interested to know why you would want to visit Pradelles Cabardes ? Although I love it very much its hardly a place a 19 year old would want to visit....

I have a place there and do plan at the mo to be there in August next year, at the mo I cant comfirm that .... but if you keep in touch and we are there at the same time would be more than happy to pick you up from carcasonne and take you there , There is a hotel and a B%26amp;B there , although if you want to rough it with me you would be more than welcome for the price of a good bottle of wine !! and some silly conversation !!

Looking forward to hearing why you want to visit the area

Skiddy

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hi Skiddy

I was thinking the same thing, places like Lastours, Lagrasse and Minerve are of more touristy interest. However Pradelles is a beautiful village in a beautiful location in the Montagne Noir with a swimming/activities lake thrown in for good measure.

Loulou66 in my experience public transport isn%26#39;t brilliant in the area and you do cover a lot of ground in your list.

Good luck and remember it will be very hot in August

cahill

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Hi Cahill

I guess I shouldnt be ageist !! Although it was a long time ago now , I do nearly remenber being 19 and enjoying the countryside , walks , horse riding, lac swimming and just sitting and enjoying the view I just dont expect 19 year old girls to be into that nowadays I guess !!

I was wondering is hitch hiking aceptable now adays ? I hitched hiked all over europe as a teenager. but I guess that could be dangerous now.?

how about hiring a bike ? you could do a mini tour of the area and stay at different B%26amp;B%26#39;s each night .

I can send you the sites of the ones local to me if you want them. I sure others here will know of other ones on your route.

Good luck with your planning.... The area is well worth a visit

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hmmmm, i hate not being old enough for stuff.

after considering it, theres no way im going to get to all of these places in 7 days unless i don%26#39;t sleep for a week, so i%26#39;ve narrowed the list of places down to;

narbonne and toulouse (which i can get to by train)

rennes les bains and rennes les chateau which i think i can get to by getting the train to couiza and then a taxi.

montsegur which i think can be got to by getting a train to foix

does any one know if this is correct?

does any one know how to get to Chateau de Peyreperteuse?

does anyone know if there is a scooter hire place in carcassonne??

is there any essential places that i%26#39;ve missed off the list? im not really interested in shopping, more in cathars and history.

skiddy; the holiday is general touristy things, but its also to relax and chill out before going to uni, im not really interested in going clubbing and stuff in a foreign country, especially as ill be on my own.

hahaha i guess im not the usual 19 yr old, my friends thing im crazy for wanting to go look at cathar castles and old buildings and cathedrals etc, instead of going to ibiza. lol.

thanx!

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Although Carcassonne is fabulous, even if extensively renovated in 19th Centuy. If you are to use public transport, you might consider basing yourself in Toulouse. The train services to towns such as Foix and Albi, which are both dramatic, and also Auch, fan out from there. There may also be better bus services.

Ho are you panning to get to the area - fly, Eurolines or train. If the latter have a look at www.seat61.com for imartal advice.

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There are a couple of guided bus tours from Carcassonne carcassonne.org/carcassonne_EN.nsf/vuetitre/… and they are on the links on the left.

There is also a tourist train: http://www.tpcf.fr/ Train du Pays Cathare et du Fenouillèdes which might work for seeing more remote countryside?

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Good for you Loulou66 you have picked a beautifull part of Europe. The Corbieres south of Carcassonne are stunning and seem to go on forever, you%26#39;ll have to leave them for a future visit as I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll return one day. If you base yourself in Carcassonne you will be in the middle of Cathar country and most of the places on your list are achievable, visit the Tourist Information in the centre of the Ville Basse.

Toulouse is a stunning city, beautifull centre and very lively, markets with bookstalls and the Garonne river running through the centre.

It%26#39;s very poignant this as I retire in 3 months and here you are on the cusp of life. I first visited the area in June 2006 you%26#39;re getting in early