Atelier de la Rose has created its own range of road-books for people who like to tour independently.

Each road-book has an itinerary marked on a map, accompanied by a list of relevant road numbers and key towns. Places to visit are described on one page and, on another, we give advice on travelling in France.

These were originally designed for motorcyclists and are A5 format (just right for a tank bag). However car drivers also find our road-books help them get the most out of the region.

All road-books are in English. They cost 4 euros each.

This is the list of Atelier de la Rose's 8 paper guides with maps for independent touring.


Road-book 1
Pech Merle - 179 kms. (112 miles)
Some 30,000 years ago, our ancestors used sophisticated drawing to represent animals and encode the origins of the social group. A language we do not completely understand. The cave at Pech Merle is both culturally and geologically outstanding. Return by way of a cliff-top village, claimed to be 'the most beautiful place in the world', then follow the river through the vines of the Cahors region. Touring speeds.

Road-book 2
Bastides - 116 kms. (73 miles)
Built by the English and the French, a bastide is a medieval 'new town'. There are hundreds of variations on the theme throughout the South-West. Characteristics include: central square, streets in a grid-pattern, covered market, fortifications or ramparts, houses of solid age and character. Bastides are now protected in the interests of preserving their architectural qualities for tourism. Touring speeds linking five good examples, including Montcabrier.

Road-book 3
Gascony - 343 kms. (206 miles)
Gascony provides rolling hill country with larger farms, excellent roads with a wide variety of rapid bends and clear views. There are numerous small towns with plenty of opportunities to stop and explore. Armagnac and bull-fighting are noticeable preoccupations. Nogaro is a distinguished airfield circuit worth a look. Return on quick, scenic roads via Condom.

Road-book 4
Albi - 324 kms. (203 miles)
The old city on the Tarn river gave its name to the Albigensian heresy. The cathedral and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum alongside are exceptional. Cordes-sur-Ciel is hard to miss and well worth a visit. Saint Antonin provides a choice of cafés and restaurants. Mainly superb fast roads and fine scenery.

Road-book 5
Biscarosse - 519 kms. (325 miles)
Destination is a sea-food restaurant on the Atlantic coast. Pass Europe's largest sand-dune! Good quick roads and long straights through towns and villages set in pine forests. The small church that is now a cyclists museum (!) merits a short detour on the return route via Nérac, heart of the Buzet wine region.

Road-book 6
Rocamadour - 195 kms. (122 miles)
This spectacular pilgrim city was restored in the nineteenth century. Climb the original stone steps that the kings of France did on their knees! You can also visit an ancient mill in working order or the possible site of the Gaul's last stand against Julius Caesar not far from Rocamadour.

Road-book 7
Hill Villages - 158 kms. (99 miles)
Good views were once valued for security! Each of these sites repays the short time needed to walk round, finding interior features and glimpses of the surrounding countryside. From Temple-sur-Lot, where Monet bought his water-lillies, take the D 13 towards Agen. Don't miss this road!

Road-book 8
Trémolat - 184 kms. (115 miles)
A brief sortie into the Dordogne that gives you spectacular scenery and many opportunities to make detours to discover historic structures (including a communal oven and the abbey of the Holy Shroud).