www.Mapquest.com can help you find St Loup 23130, Creuse, Limousin. Central France. Please note that for reasons only known to mapquest, that the red star on the map is slightly out of location but does give a general idea of the location.
www.multimap.com Is another option for finding out where we are. Our post code is 23130 and this will help you in your search as there is a lot of St Loup's and several Gouzons in France.
Another option for findinding us is to use Google Map.
Just alter the departure point to your ferry arrival port and click go. You can alter destinations and options from the next screen.
Please note that the routes mentioned below are just a few of the routes you can take, and are here to help plan your trip.
We are situated in the village of St Loup. This is in the Creuse ( 23 Department) which
is located in the region of Limousin in the centare of France. We are 8 kilometers from
Gouzon which is just of the the RN 145, between Gueret and Montlucon. Access to
the RN 145 can be from the A20 (toll free motorway) Junction 23 sign posted Gueret), and the A71 auto route (peage) junction 10 sign posted Montlucon) depending on what route you prefer.
There are several ways to drive here depending on your choice of route, ferry departure point in France, the need to avoid Paris, toll or toll free driving, the need for speed or to see some of the french countryside. I have tried all of these routes over the last few years at it comes down to swings and roundabouts. some are faster but cost more in tolls. Some are slower but without tolls, giving you the chance to see the countryside.
Directions around Paris
These directions around Paris were found on another web site and as they were many posts regarding it, So I thought it might be a good idea to include them.
Outward bound
Take the A16 from Boulogne to Paris and take the exit/route sign posted Cergy-Pontoise
which will be the N184. Before you get to Cergy-Pontoise you will see green signs for St Germain en Laye, N186. Before you get to St G you will see signs for Versailles, tiny bit of A13 and then A12. Then signs for St Cyr l'Ecole and you will see green signs for Rambouillet, N10.
Before you get to Rambouillet you will see green signs for Ablis, N10. Before you reach Ablis there are blue signs for Orleans, A10.
Homeward bound
A10 direction Paris - off at junction Ablis/Rambouillet - N10 towards Rambouillet - Continue on A10 - After Trappes take A12 towards Paris -
Turn right before junction with A13, signed St Germain en Laye - Then turn left at traffic lights onto N186 dir. St Germain en Laye -
Follow through St Germain - Look for signs to Cergy Pontoise - Take N184 - over Seine at Conflans - keep following dual carriageway - Still N184 -
then onto A16 towards Calais or Boulogne.
Hope they are useful but please check just in case.
You can set off from Calais and take a choice of the A26/A1 autoroutes (peage) to Paris or the A16 (toll free motorway) to Boulogne Sur Mer which becomes the A16 auto route (peage) to Paris. Then from Paris ( good luck navigating round Paris!) You have the choice of two options once you have got round Paris.
1) Take the A10 auto route (peage) to Orleans. Just south of Orleans the auto route divides. Take the A71 auto route (peage) direction of Clermont-Ferrand. Exit at junction 10 sign posted Montlucon, and after Montlucon follow the RN 145 sign posted to Gueret till you come to Gouzon.
On entering the village of Gouzon on the D997 follow the directions for Chenerailles and Aubusson, and after approx 200 meters bear left just before the camping grounds (over a little bridge) sign posted D40 to St Loup ( approx 7 Kilometers). In the center of the village after passing the war monument on your right and the church on your left, you should see the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant on your right. (opposite the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant) bear left onto the D55 (Lussat). Approx 1 kilometer down the road take the 2nd turning right. We are 100 hundred yards on the left. Look for the yellow house with the brown and yellow lids on the wheelie bins outside the gates.
2) As above, but on the A71(peage) come of at Vierzon and pick up the A20 (toll free motorway) heading for Chateauroux and Limoges. At junction 23 leave the A20 and head in the direction of Gueret-Montucon on the RN 145. At Gouzon exit the RN 145. On entering the village of Gouzon on the D997 follow the directions for Chenerailles and Aubusson, and after approx 200 meters bear left just before the camping grounds (over a little bridge) sign posted D40 to St Loup ( approx 7 Kilometers). In the center of the village after passing the war monument on your right and the church on your left, you should see the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant on your right. (opposite the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant) bear left onto the D55 (Lussat). Approx 1 kilometer down the road take the 2nd turning right. We are 100 hundred yards on the left. Look for the yellow house with the brown and yellow wheelie bins outside the gates.
This route is slightly longer than above but is compensated by the fact there is no toll charges after Vierzon and if you are in no hurry and want to see some of the countryside you can leave the A20 at Chateauroux and cut across country to Le Chatre on the D943 heading in the direction of Montucon. After Le Chatre, pick up the D917 heading for Ste Sevre Sur Indre - Boussac- Gouzon. On entering Gouzon follow the directions to St Loup as mentioned above. The choice is yours. This section of the route might be useful to you if you have used the ferry points from Le Havre, Caen, St Malo and Dieppe.
You can also travel via Portsmouth - Le Havre on LD Lines.co.uk and there is a service every day. The ferry is a overnight crossing from Portsmouth and you arrive in Le Havre at approx 7.30 a.m French time. This route avoids Paris..yipppeee! You can pick up the A131 heading for the Pont De Tancanville (peage for the bridge) , then follow the A131 until you reach the A13 auto route (peage) direction of Paris and follow the signposts for Evreux.
Pick up the A154 at Junction 19, (becomes the RN 154) and follow it to the outskirts of Nonancourt. Pick up the N12 to Dreux, and follow the signposts for Chartres. After navigating round Chartres you can pick up the N154 again and head for Orleans. Pick up the A10(peage) at any point you fancy heading for Orleans.
Option 1) Just south of Orleans the auto route divides. Take the A71 auto route (peage) direction of Clermont-Ferrand. Exit at junction 10 sign posted Montlucon, and follow the RN 145 sign posted to Gueret till you come to Gouzon. On entering the village of Gouzon on the D997 follow the directions for Chenerailles and Aubusson, and after approx 200 meters bear left just before the camping grounds (over a little bridge) sign posted D40 to St Loup.In the center of the village opposite the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant) bear left onto the D55 (Lussat). Approx 1 kilometer down the road take the 2nd turning right. We are 100 hundred yards on the left. Look for the yellow house with the brown and yellow wheelie bin covers out side the gates.
Option 2) After joining the A71(peage) head for Vierzon and pick up the A20(toll free motorway) heading for Chateauroux and Limoges. At junction 23 leave the A20 and head in the direction of Gueret-Montlucon on the RN 145. At Gouzon exit the RN 145. On entering the village of Gouzon on the D997 follow the directions for Chenerailles and Aubusson, and after approx 200 meters bear left just before the camping grounds (over a little bridge) sign posted D40 to St Loup ( approx 7 Kilometers). In the center of the village after passing the war monument on your right and the church on your left, you should see the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant on your right. (opposite the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant) bear left onto the D55 (Lussat). Approx 1 kilometer down the road take the 2nd turning right. We are 100 hundred yards on the left. Look for the yellow house with the brown and yellow wheelie bins outside the gates.
Option 3)after navigating round Chartres pick up the N10 to Chateaudun- Vendome. After Vendome pick up the D957 to Blois. Navigate through Blois over the Loire heading for Chatearoux via Valancay, and Levroux. (this section of the route is classified as tourist route on some of the signposts). Along this route depending on the time of year you pass through many smaller vineyards where you can be tempted to buy direct from the producers. There are also loads of strawberry and asparagus fields. This option might look like it takes longer but in the right conditions and at the right time of year you can travel a lot faster on minor roads than you might expect.
Watch out for speed cameras( If you see a sign for a camera it will always be within 100 meters of the sign) and the Gendarmes just like British police see the motorist as a good fund raiser especially on the weekends. On the spot fines and being escorted to a cash machine are not unheard off or being given 7 days to pay or the fine doubles.
After Levroux and just before Chateauroux you can pick up the A20 (toll free motorway) heading for Limoges. At junction 23 leave the A20 and head in the direction of Gueret-Montlucon on the RN 145. At Gouzon exit the RN 145. On entering the village of Gouzon on the D997 follow the directions for Chenerailles and Aubusson, and after approx 200 meters bear left just before the camping grounds (over a little bridge) sign posted D40 to St Loup ( approx 7 Kilometers). In the center of the village after passing the war monument on your right and the church on your left, you should see the ' Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant on your right. (opposite the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant) bear left onto the D55 (Lussat). Approx 1 kilometer down the road take the 2nd turning right. We are 100 hundred yards on the left. Look for the yellow house with the brown and yellow wheelie bins outside the gates.
Or as you approach Chateauroux and the A20 (toll free motorway) junction, carry on into Chateauroux and cut across country to Le Chatre on the D943 heading in the direction of Montucon. After Le Chatre, pick up the D917 heading for Ste Sevre Sur Indre - Boussac- Gouzon. On entering gouzon follow the directions to St Loup as mentioned above.
This a local map of St Loup
When you find St Loup on the map look towards Fleuraget and we are 2nd turning right in the direction of Fleurat. The road that takes you in the direction of Fleuraget and the road that takes you to Fleurat forms the edge of our land.
To help you locate St Loup in relation to Limoge airport - A20 -Gueret - Gouzon -Chenerailles and Lussat the directional arrows on the map allow you to pan right, left, up,down and zoom in and out.
I hope the above gives you some help and guidance to getting to St Loup and that it is not to confusing to follow my directions. As we are slap bang in the middle of France there are many ways to get here. Don't take my advice as gospel and please check as my routes might not suit you. Failing that just use sat nav if you have one or fly. Below are some of the options you have if you decide to fly.
Flybe also fly to Limoges Airport with services from Southampton, Newcastle (once a week) and a new service from Glasgow starting from the 26th of October 2008 (on Wednesdays and Saturdays)
From the airport head for the A20(toll free motorway) and head in the direction of Chatearoux and Paris. You can leave the A20 at junction 23 heading for Gueret and Montucon on the RN 145, but after junction 23.1 there is a slip road that leads directly onto the RN 145 sign posted Gueret. This is an off slip road only and is useful for lorry drivers as it allows them to keep up there speed and cuts the corner onto the RN 145. Don't worry if you miss this as you can still exit at junction 23 a little further down.
Once on the RN 145 head to Gueret - Gouzon- Montlucon. At Gouzon exit the RN145. On entering the village of Gouzon on the D997 follow the directions for Chenerailles and Aubusson, and after approx 200 meters bear left just before the camping grounds (over a little bridge) sign posted D40 to St Loup ( approx 7 Kilometers). In the center of the village after passing the war monument on your right and the church on your left, you should see the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant on your right. (opposite the 'Le P'tit Loup' Bar - Restaurant) bear left onto the D55 (Lussat). Approx 1 kilometer down the road take the 2nd turning right. We are 100 hundred yards on the left. Look for the yellow house with the brown and yellow lids on the wheelie bins outside the gates.
P.S. I also know of a route from Calais via Rouen but will let you discover that for yourself. Good Luck on your travels and wishing you a safe journey.
