All
In anticipation of going to France, I'll be driving around the periphique down towards Bourges, if tomtom has his way:-) Anway does anyone know what the traffic is likely to be like around 10am Staurday?
Thanks in advance.
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Probably not too bad - all of Paris goes away for August. But regardless, if you've never done it before, you should go that way - another of life's rich experiences. Just keep your wits about you and you'll be fine!
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www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/diri/Accueil.do
Assuming you can navigate the site there is information about planned junction closures here you may find useful.
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If you starting Calais ending Bourges my advice is to go via Rouen then A +N154 to Orleans via Chartres. Much nicer journey! About 30k further but 20? cheaper on tolls. Could save you more than an hour if you hit Paris at the wrong time!
Your not thinking of travelling on a Black/Red Saturday are you?
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pmh (was peter)
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Paris periphique? I found it the most dense traffic I have ever seen. No one gives you an inch and GB plates seem like a good way of winding up the locals. The notice boards above the carriageways are very informative though saying things like one hours delay 'til next junction and forget getting the next few ferries home as you will be here a while. The road just clogs making the M25 at rush hour seem heaven. Best thing to do is avoid altogether unless you are of a masochistic nature.
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It's just another crowded urban motorway. If you can drive on the right at all you can drive round the peripherique. Pay no attention to these exaggerating folk.
That said, a post above recommended bypassing Paris altogether and doing the trip mainly on routes nationales and routes departementales. I would agree. Much pleasanter, less like flying or going by train and cheaper. Motorways are very similar everywhere in Europe, while ordinary main roads still have the local national character.
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That said a post above recommended bypassing Paris altogether and doing the trip mainly on routes nationales and routes departementales. I would agree. Much pleasanter less like flying or going by train and cheaper. Motorways are very similar everywhere in Europe while ordinary main roads still have the local national character.
Yeah, I tried this just the once! Took a direct route over the top of Paris - can't remember exactly, but it was from Reims cutting across towards Le Havre. Loads of roundabouts round numerous small towns, stuck behind filthy juggernauts whose owners were too mean to pay motorway tolls, no overtaking opportunities....took me twice as long as it would have on the motorway! I would be very wary about doing it again if I had any distance go. Clearly it depends on the road, but any RN/Rds that go through loads of towns would certainly put me off.
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The periphique is fine when it is running. Unfortunately it hasn't been the last two trips I made so I lost 1-1.5 hours in jams which were admittedly well signposted but the actual causes were also cleared before I ever reached the bottleneck proper. Also been on the Calais - Rouen - Chartres - Bourges route twice in the last year and that's the way I will be going in September.
As an alternative though, has anyone tried the outer ring to the east of Paris out towards Marne la Vallée and Disney as a way of getting down to Orly and the south?
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Outer ring-I got on it once by mistake-took the wrong slip-road at CDG-good road-absolutely no traffic-keep your eyes open as it is made up of lots of odd bits but it is long.
Periphique holds no fears for anyone who uses the North Circular.
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As others have said I've always found the reputation of the BP more than a little overblown. If you can cope with the North Circular and M25 then I doubt you'll blink an eye. Watch out for the speed cameras - there are quite a few now.
Driving in Paris inside the BP can be something of an experience.
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As an alternative though has anyone tried the outer ring to the east of Paris out towards Marne la Vallée and Disney as a way of getting down to Orly and the south?
Only ever been on the A104 as far as the A4 and Disney. Go there about 4 times a year. This year was the first time we have had any hold up on the A4/A104 - but drove like the French did (i.e. the wrong way up the slip road) and soon detoured around it. Like any motorways around Paris they get heavy at peak times, but always flows.
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It's not a problem - I did it in June this year - Thursday around 4pm (ish), quite busy but nothing scary.
Big bikes, scooters with suits riding them go flying past (both sides) at unreduced speed - but as long as you aren't blind it's not a problem.
Agree with earlier post about signage - most useful.
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BMDUBYA
I did the exact journey a couple of weeks ago, Calais to Bourges, bought a Sat Nav and used for the first time on this trip. It took me near the airport via the periphique etc and was perfect, you just have to trust it, mind you I think I will always have doubt when using Sat Nav.
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For the journey you mention, there are more pleasant ways to get to your destination - see other posts.
I would never, unless forced, drive on the Boulevard Périphérique, but when I have to go near Paris I'm usually towing a caravan.
If you decide that this is the way to go, remember that traffic joining the BP has right of way to join the right-hand lane. DO NOT drive in this lane unless you're joining or leaving.
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FORGOT
You can use the 'Francilienne' which leaves the A1 just after the CDG airport and is marked Lyon, Bordeaux. It goes east round Paris and is much less stressful. It links bits of other roads so you have to keep a good watch for the signs or you can go out of your way easily
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This is presumably the route I was referring to above. I got a ViaMichelin print out for it before coming down to Paris in June but it looked rather complicated and my sat-nav prefers the being 'sat' bit to doing the 'nav'-ing so I chickened out when I got to the turnoff at the Villepinte exhibition centre just past CDG and took the Périphique. That's why I ultimately ended up in yet another 1-1.5 hour crawl with the rear view mirror displaying France's rustiest Ford Transit with a driver strongly resembling an escapee villain from Pirates of the Caribbean. ViaMichelin didn't make it clear that there was continuous signposting to follow.
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Have a look at this thread on TF - details peoples routes for getting round paris.
www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1...7
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Number one rule in Paris, make eye contact with another driver and you have conceded your right of way to him.
Number two rule, don?t hold a grudge if someone cuts you up, because they generally don?t.
Number three rule, go with the flow.
It is good fun.
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I've been driven round the peripherique a few times by a French rep. Its mostly been at snails pace with him explaining to the customer that we would be late because:-
Perepherique, accidente super
enjoying lunch
I've also driven round it once, at about 3am, driving a luton bodied motorhome, trying to keep up with a Porsche 911 and a Corvette Stingray. Traffic was still heavy though moving at 60mph. It needed all the wits I could manage at that time of night having already been driving for ten hours.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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