Chalabre is a hidden gem in a quiet, rural part of France, so you will need a car, either your own or hired at an airport/railway station.

Nearest airports are Toulouse (one and a half hours away), served by Easyjet, British Airways and Ryanair, and Carcassonne (one hour away) served by Ryanair.

The nearest main railway station is Toulouse, served by services from Paris and Bordeaux. From there, connecting services go to Carcassonne, Pamier and Foix.

The road system is excellent, and the only congestion you are likely to find is around major cities at rush hour. The nearest motorway to Chalabre is the A61/A62, exiting at Pamiers.

As we are in the south of France, all the channel ports are at least one day's drive away although many people choose to make the journey over two days. There are multiple budget hotels along the road, offering clean, comfortable rooms at very reasonable cost.

The nearest ports are Bilbao and Santander, about five and six hours away respectively. The two ports are served by Britanny Ferries, connecting to Portsmouth, Plymouth and Cork. Many drivers opt for these services, saving the drive down through France.

The airport at Carcassonne (one hour away) is served by Ryanair. It is a charming airport but with limited facilities. Car hire is available. Toulouse (one hour forty minutes away) is much bigger with more facilities, multiple car rental companies, etc. It is served by Easyjet, Ryanair and British Airways.