Our inaugural campervanning trip: Spain-France, Christmas 2018

Way in

Tres Cantos—Monasterio de Rodilla, 245km, 2h18
Monasterio de Rodilla—Hendaye plage, 211km, 2h25
Hendaye plage—Pagogaña, 14km, 24m
Pagogaña—Tarn, 379km, 4h56
Montauban—Carlucet, 98km, 59min
Carlucet—Rocamadour, 13km, 20min
Rocamadour—Saint-Martin-de-Tours, 197km, 2h26
Saint-Martin-de-Tours—Issoire, 57km, 1h05

Way back

Issoire—Saint-Saturnin, 25km, ~20min
Saint-Saturnin—Rochefort-Montagne, 35km, 37min
Rochefort-Montagne—Aire de service Bordeaux-Cestas, 348km, 3h10
Aire de service Bordeaux-Cestas—169km, 1h38
Saint-Jean-de-Luz—Area de servicios Briviescas, 204km, 2h20
Area de servicios Briviescas—Arenda de Duero, 128km, ~1h15
Aranda de Duero—Somosierra, 67km, 36min
Somosierra—Alcala, 93km, 53min

Monasterio de Rodilla

17h32-19h39 — Our first stop was conjectural, where we happened to be at the time where a coffee was very much wanting. Elena spotted a place of high-cultural interest, which happened to host one of the best examples of Spanish romanic art: the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Valle.

This was known as Tritium during the Roman era, a place where the autochthone Iberian tribe of Autrigones was located (according to the Antonine Itinerary, the book compiling the Roman roads). The village is peculiar, it has a stream that crosses through the houses. It also features the remains of a castle, high-perched on the mountains, which was as much out of reach for us as it used to be for the past generations when it was not a ruin. The village is also extended into several parts, with the main attraction, the Ermita, to be found at one extreme end. In between, the Santa Marina neighbourhood, also features a noteworthy (eponymous) church, although it was too dark for us to enjoy the building, but we spent some time with Julia making good use of its playground, which was quite a feast since a slide in the night is quite an intimidating sight. Not retained by the darkness, she even went down head first, the first time she tried such a variation of an otherwise familiar attraction.

Nice landscape jumping out of the rocky mountains.
The ruins of the local castle (estimated IX century), dominating the décors.
Popular architecture, with a canalised stream sneaking through the buildings.
A venerable old door still conscientiously doing its job.
La ermita de Nuestra Señora del Valle, a masterpiece of Spanish romanic church.
The church of Santa Marina and its nocturnal playground, between la Ermita and Santa María Magdalena.

Plage des deux jumeaux (Hendaye)

11h10-12h43

Observatoire d'Abbadie

13h00-15h56

Pagogaña

16h20-17h48

Montauban

Tarn (49min)

11h00-13h07

Carlucet

15h21-16h38

Rocamadour

16h58-19h46

Saint-Saturnin

15h02-16h14

Rochefort-Montagne

16h52-18h27

Plage de Bayonne

10h25-12h45

Bayonne

13h02-16h50

Saint-Jean-de-Luz

~17h30-20h15

Contents