Getting there

Sunset in May

Getting to the house.

There are three ways of reaching Miradoux: by plane, train or car.

The nearest airports are Toulouse (just over an hour from the house), Bergerac (1 hour 45 minutes) or Bordeaux (1 hour 40 minutes). Carcassonne airport is 2 hours from the house if traffic round Toulouse is flowing normally. Other airports in the area may be feasible, such as Pau or, if one is coming from Paris, the small airport of Agen. Car rental companies operate at all these airports.

The train stop is Agen, and it’s possible to catch the Eurostar from St Pancras either to Paris or Lille, and change to the high speed train service (TGV) which runs to Bordeaux. Some TGV trains continue at slower speed, without the need to change trains, on to Agen (and Toulouse.) From Agen station to Miradoux takes half an hour by car; there’s a Europcar office opposite the station, but it’s worth checking its hours of opening if arriving late. It’s possible to catch a morning train from St Pancras and arrive at the house by about 7 p.m.

Miradoux church, on the road to Compostella

If travelling from the UK by car there are a number of possible routes. Undoubtedly the shortest, though most expensive, is to cross Portsmouth-St Malo. This leaves at 20.30 hours and arrives in St Malo the following morning at 08.15 hours. The distance from St Malo to Miradoux is 410 miles on good roads and so one can reach the house comfortably by late afternoon the same day. Porsmouth-Cherbourg is another good option.  Dover to Calais or Boulogne are much cheaper crossings but entail a longer drive (something like 630 miles depending on route) and therefore high road tolls and possibly the expense of a night en route. Newhaven-Dieppe (some 4 hours) reduces the distance to drive in France but makes for a shorter day to drive on south. Miradoux is only 20 minutes from the motorway when approaching from the north, or 15 minutes when coming from the Toulouse direction.

On the other hand, you could find traditional means of transport for your pilgrimage to Compostella!

Pilgrim donkey near Miradoux, June 2011

If you’re thinking of taking the house we would be happy to give further detailed advice on routes.