How to visit the Quercy region in a motorhome or van? GV gives you all the information you need to discover this beautiful region of the South-West!
Are you visiting Quercy by motorhome? Quercy is a historic region in south-western France, stretching across the limestone plateaus of the Lot and Tarn-et-Garonne limestone plateaus. It also includes a number of communes in Corrèze, Dordogne andAveyron.
This touring trip in a motorhome or converted van will take you to some of the world’s must-visit towns and villages. These include Cahors, Figeac, Collonges-la-Rouge, Martel, Castelnau-Bretenoux, Rocamadour, Padirac, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Moissac, Caussade and Montauban.
Visiting the Quercy region by motorhome allows you to explore a remarkable historical and cultural heritage, unique and varied landscapes and listed villages. Here’s our mini-guide to the South of France, between the Causses, the Périgord and the Garonne valley.
Itinerary ideas in the Quercy region by motorhome
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Semmick Photo
The Causses du Quercy lie on the northeastern edge of theAquitaine basin, between the Massif Central and the Garonne valley. You’ll arrive in the Quercy region from the north of Brive-la-Gaillarde.
From the south, you’ll be visiting the region from Montauban or Toulouse. As a result, you won’t be visiting the Lot and Tarn-et-Garonne in the same way, depending on where you’re coming from. These two départements cover an area of 8,934 km², equivalent to that of Gironde or Landes.
So you’ll need to adapt your stopovers to the length of your trip, and also to your desires. Not sure where to start visiting the Quercy region in a motorhome or van? Here are a few ideas for itineraries to explore the Quercy’s unmissable heritage:
- The Quercy region by motorhome in 5 to 7 days: Collonges-la-Rouge, Martel, Castelnau-Bretenoux (and the castle of the same name), Padirac chasm, Rocamadour, Gramat, Figeac, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Cahors ;
- The Quercy in 15 days: same stages, plus Puy-l’Évêque, the Pech-Merle site at Cabrerets, Bouzies and the towpath, the pterosaur beach at Crayssac, Autoire, Loubressac, Carennac, the Lacave cave;
- Visit Quercy in 20 to 30 days: Souillac and the Dordogne (classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO), the villages of Cardaillac, Capdenac-le-Haut, Carjac, Marcilhac-sur-Célé and Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, Montbrun, Faycelles, Montvalent, Calvignac.
Do you have even more time, or have you done the Quercy tour more quickly? To the south, you’ll find the Aveyron gorges, between Tarn-et-Garonne and Aveyron, from Bruniquel to Najac.
Also visit Montauban, Moissac, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Albi and Toulouse. These stages are of course only indicative.
Rent a motorhome for the Quercy region
Driving a motorhome in the Quercy region: traffic rules you need to know
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Anibal Trejo
To drive in the Quercy region, you must of course comply with the French highway code. Take care when exploring the Lot mountains. The valleys of the Lot and Célé, the Ségala, the Causse de Limogne, etc., can all be visited by small roads. Crossings in motorhomes can be difficult, if not impossible. Keep up the pace, and even pull over to the side of the road to let traffic pass.
Another fundamental piece of advice: when visiting the Quercy region in a motorhome, be aware of the vehicle’s size. Take wider bends than you would with a car, and be aware of braking distances. The weight of a motorhome means it takes longer to stop than a car.
Freeway tolls in the Quercy: what price for your category of motorhome?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Alberto Loyo
The A20 freeway runs through the Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park from north to south. Nicknamed « l’Occitane », this freeway links Vierzon (Cher) to Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne). You’ll certainly want to take it to get to the Quercy region, either from Limoges and Brive-la-Gaillarde, or from Toulouse and Montauban.
The good news in this article is that the A20 is free of charge from Vierzon to the Gignac tollbooth, which marks the entry point to the Quercy region. Concessioned by ASF, it is chargeable on the rest of the section, i.e. all along the Causses du Quercy regional nature park: Souillac, Cahors, Caussade, Montauban.
Here are some prices for visiting the Quercy region by freeway in a motorhome (class 2):
- Vierzon-Montauban: €21.30,
- Bordeaux-Souillac (A89, A20): €31.80,
- Gignac-Cahors: €10.50.
How and where to rent a motorhome in France?
Would you like to visit the Quercy region by motorhome, but don’t have your own vehicle? It’s now very easy to rent these vehicles between private individuals, especially in France. There are a number of online rental platforms, such as Yescapa.
How does it work?
- First, you need to choose the motorhome in your city (e.g. Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
- Make sure you choose unlimited mileage, check the number of berths available and whether international travel is possible.
- Make your rental request online and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) with the owner.
- If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner’s contact details to arrange a first meeting.
- On the day, present your driver’s license and pay the deposit.
- An inventory of fixtures is drawn up and a rental contract is signed by both parties. You’ll need to sign it as soon as you return from the South-West, and once you’ve done that, it’s all over!
RV parks in Quercy: where to park?
Parking is always a thorny issue, especially in cities and with motorhomes. In the Lot département, there are no major conurbations. Cahors, the department’s main town, has a population of just 20,000.
However, we recommend that you use the motorhome service areas in towns and villages (Cahors, Figeac, Rocamadour, Gourdon, Saint Cirq Lapopie…). In a van, you’ll be able to park in any of the spaces reserved for cars. In any case, whether public or private, the choice is pretty wide!
To find a place to sleep, you can use an application such as Park4night. This tool for sharing spots between travelers includes a free limited version. Wild camping is forbidden, so avoid taking your camping equipment (tables and chairs) out onto the public highway.
You’ll find motorhome service areas, campsites and parking lots (paid or free) for your stopovers. When you’re out and about, make sure you stay away from dwellings and don’t obstruct road traffic or signs. The Quercy is a protected natural area: always leave the area free of litter.
When is the best time to travel by motorhome in the Quercy?
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Clem Hencher-Stevens
When is the best time to visit Quercy by motorhome? Due to its geography, the Quercy region has several climatic influences. To the east, its proximity to the Massif Central makes for a mountainous climate. To the south, the climate is more temperate, with oceanic, continental and Mediterranean variations.
Rainfall is high and regular in the Quercy region, averaging 883 mm per year. The Lot is swept by winds, notably the autan and northerly winds. Average maximum temperatures range from 9°C in January to just over 30°C in July and August. Nights are cool all year round, even in summer. Average minimum temperatures are 12°C in June and 20°C in July.
July is the hottest and driest month of the year, with an average temperature of 30°C and less than 40 millimeters of precipitation. Summer heat often leads to thunderstorms and heavy rain. The best time to visit Quercy by motorhome is therefore in summer, between June and early September.