La Rochelle to Barcelona

[molly]

Can anyone recommend a route from LaRochelle to Barcelona in mid March?

[whoof]

Due to the time of year going over the high passes in the Pyrenees probably not an option. You therefore need to decide if you want to ride down the coast and cross at the western side or across France and cross at the Med. If it's the first you could follow the Atlantic Coast route to the border, problem with this may be accommodation in Spain outside large towns/cities at this time of year.
http://www.velodyssey.com/

You could come down the coast to Bordeaux and then follow the Canal de Garonne to Toulouse
http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/where ... louse.html

Then follow the Canal de Midi toward the coast, someone has done it here, I would go a bit further to visit Carcassonne. The canal can be bumpy in sections but there are quite roads running parallel to it.
http://cycletouring-toulousebarcelona.blogspot.co.uk/

I have ridden the section of this route from the border to Barcelona. There were campsites but I went in June and you would need to check if they were open in March! There should also be plenty of cheap rooms in tourist areas. I found the coast road got busier and not that pleasant the closer I got to Barcelona. If it all gets too much there is a railway running along the coast on which you can take bikes outside commuting times which would take you right in to the centre of Barcelona.

[molly]

Thank you, really helpful info. I'll be quite tight on time so following the canal route might be a good option.