How To Get There

By Car

Most of our visitors choose to travel by car and make their journey part of the holiday. If travelling from England, the most convenient method is generally the Dover-Calais Ferry or the cross-channel Shuttle at Ashford, although those who live in the West of England may find that a crossing from Southampton or Plymouth may be a better option.

The fastest roads are the autoroutes. Unless you have a reason to travel to Paris or you enjoy the challenges of flamboyant driving and heavy traffic on the peripherique, we recommend that you follow the A26 from Calais to Reims and Troyes. From there, take the A5 to Langres, and then the A31 past Dijon to rejoin the main Paris-Lyon autoroute, the A6, at Beaune. Just before reaching Lyon, take the A46 which by-passes the main part of the city to the east. This road eventually reaches the A43 (signposted Geneva or Grenoble) and continues past l'Isle d'Abeau where you will join the A48 to Grenoble. The autoroute extends to Monestier-de-Clermont, 20km south of Grenoble, from where the route nationale N75 weaves its way up to the col de la Croix Haute and back down to the northern edge of Sisteron. You are only a few miles now from Valernes. See these maps for more details.

The driving time is between 10 and 12 hours from Calais to Valernes. Those who take an early morning ferry crossing often choose to make an overnight stop around the Macon-Lyon area. Alternatively, an evening crossing followed by an overnight stop in the north of France leaves the following day clear to complete the trip south. Drivers who prefer to use the routes nationales in preference to the autoroutes will enjoy a prettier, if longer journey. Hotel prices are very reasonable compared to those in the UK and even better value may be found just off the autoroutes where clusters of hotels invariably congregate.

Petrol is currently about the same price as in the UK and diesel is significantly cheaper. Tolls are charged on the autoroutes and will increase journey costs (allow an extra €60-€100 each way). 

Vehicle Channel Crossings:
 

By Air

The nearest international airport is Marignane, near Marseille, about 75 minutes drive away using the A51 autoroute. Other possible airports include Nimes (2 hours); Grenoble, Lyon, Nice and Montpellier (each about 2.5 hours); and St Etienne (3.5 hours). Note that some of these airports may not be served by budget airlines. Destinations may be introduced or changed at short notice and visitors should check directly with the airlines, using the links below. 

Budget airlines:

Car hire: