Short trip in July

We have only 3 days traveling by car from Clermont, France to Barcelona, Spain and would like to spend it going thru the %26#39;Midi-Pyrenees%26#39; area. Any recommendations re: route, sights not to be missed, lodging? Thank you

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First of all, plan on going into Carcassonne (just off the peage, Deux Mers). The Cite (look in tripadvisor for more info) is

not to be missed. There are a number of hotels in Carcassonne,

Etap is a budget chain, you can reserve on line, there are others. Bezier is worth looking at, the Canal du Midi...Perpignan is on the route, but I haven%26#39;t ever felt like staying there (I have visited this area over 6 times since 2000).

You are in for a treat when you travel the peages...they are pay hiways, but so well maintained!

You are going to be travelling thru the greatest wine region in France...in terms of size. The names probably won%26#39;t be familiar, but the wines are superb, especially for the price.

The Midi-Pyrenees are actually further west, the area from

Clermont-Ferrand to Barcelona is the Languedoc.

(look the area up in tripadvisor).

July is summer but there are often rain storms in July, I was here last July, and while it was hot (not super hot) it also rained, or was overcast. Try to make certain to rent a car with air conditioning...and be prepared for a manual transmission, if you%26#39;re renting a car.

I%26#39;ve already rented a house for two weeks in June in Montsegur (Midi-Pyrenees) and I can%26#39;t wait.

Let me know if you have specific questions, I love the area, and I love to share what I%26#39;ve learned.

Also: I haven%26#39;t been, but a friend says Girona (or Gerona) is worth seeing...Salvador Dali%26#39;s museum is on the way, Barcelona is, of course, the heart of the Art Nouvelle designer Gaudi (and the Holy Family cathedral).

Bon voyages!

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If you are visiting Carcassonne, you should also visite Mirepoix. It is a medieval village 40km south east of Carcassonne in the Ariege department. Have a look at the website of the touristoffice www.ot-mirepoix.fr If you would like to have a good four star hotel not too expensive, have a look at www.relaisroyal.com It is located in the centre of Mirepoix and has a fantastic restaurant. Their site is www.relaisroyal.com Enjoy your stay in la douce France!

Ps do not forget to visit the Kathar Castles in the Ariege and Aude department!! When you climb up to the chateau of Montsegur, you will have a beautiful view of the area!

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I agree, Mirapoix is lovelyand has a great market on Monday. Carcassone is a bit too tourisrty for my taste but it is interesting in that people actually live there!! Try not to go on a weekend. One of our favorite towns was Colioure on the Med. north of the border crossing into Spain. We had stayed for a week in Montferrier which is North as the crow flies from Andorra. The route east from there to Colioure was beautiful.

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I agree Mirapoix is lovely. There%26#39;s a geat market on Monday.Carcasonne was a little too touristy for my taste but it is interesting that people actually live there and there was some reasonable shopping and good food considering your in the confines of this major tourist site.Try to go on a weekday. We loved Colioure, a smallish town on the Med. north of the border crossing into Spain, though we were there in June and it wasn%26#39;t packed with day trippers. We had stayed for a week in Montferrier, north of Andorra as the crow flies. The drive from there to the Med. is gorgeous.