L Absie to Calais Directions Route Summary heading from L Absie to Calais via Parthenay, Thouars, Saumur and then Auto- Route. Michelin estimate the distance to be 636Km or 395 miles taking @ 6 hours 35 minutes. Toll Charges will be 37.70 as of 1/9/2011 Head for L Absie, once there head East on the D949b for Secondigny and Parthenay At Secondigny the Road gets very narrow go straight on at the Traffic lights heading for Parthenay.
You will pass through Azay-sur-Thouet and then Le Tallud heading for Parthenay. Once you have passed through Le Tallud you will come to a bridge crossing a dual carriageway. Turn left following the Autres Directions sign after crossing the bridge. You will now be heading North on the D743. At the first roundabout you come to take the second turning on to the N149 heading for Saumur, Angers and Poitiers. At the next Roundabout take the D938 Northwards signposted for Saumur, Angers and Thouars. Stay on this this road for about 25 miles until you get to Thouars. When you reach Thouars the road will start going downhill with the town of Thouars before you. you need to follow the signposts for Saumur.
As you cross the River you will see a signpost, you need to take the filter road off to the Right heading for Saumur and Angers. Keep following the signs for Saumur and Angers as you skirt around the town of Thouars. Keep heading North on the D938 heading for Saumur. Along the way you will skirt around the small town of Montreuil-Bellay. When you approach Saumur there is a roundabout where you need to take the 3 rd Exit for Saumur.
At the next Roundabout head straight on on the D347 for Saumur. Stay on the D347 as you pass around Saumur and cross the Loire River. Having crossed the River you will come to a Roundabout where you need to continue on the D347 heading for Tours, Angers and Le Mans.
At the next Roundabout you will need to follow the D767 signposted for Le Mans, Angers and Tours. At the next Roundabout take the 3 rd exit towards the Peage Toll Booths. Once you have gone through the Toll Booth you need to take the Right Hand Slip road heading for Nantes, Le Mans and Angers. You are now on the A85 heading North. There is a service station on the A85 about 10 miles after you get on to the AutoRoute if you need a break. At the end of the A85 you need to take the Right Hand Slip road heading onto the A11 signposted for Paris and Le Mans.
Head North on the A11 until you reach Le Mans. As you approach Le Mans keep on the A11 following the signposts for Rouen, Caen and Paris. As you skirt around the North of Le Mans you will be going downhill towards junction 7. Take the right hand slip road off the A11 on to the A28 heading North for Rouen, Caen and Alencon.
Stay on the A28 as it heads North. The A28 is a relatively new road ask Sam about it, we were the first people to drive North on it when it opened a few years ago! You will cross 2 viaducts which are very impressive. We love the A28 as it is an easy road to drive and has significantly reduced how long our journey takes! There are services on the A28 at Alencon if you need a break, we have yet to visit these services and find the L Arche restaurant open. At the end of the A28 you will need to pay the toll and head off to the right on the A13 signposted for Paris and Rouen. Head East on the A13. As the road descends downhill you will see the signs for Calais, juntion 22 come off the A13 at this junction be careful as the slip road is a sharp continuous bend as it peels off to the right and loops back under the Autoroute.
At the first roundabout head straight on following the signs for Calais on the D18E. At the next Roundabout head straight on following the signposted route for Rouen and Calais. You will now be going through an industrial zone with the railway marshalling yards on the left of you as you pass through several sets of Traffic Lights. Eventually you will escape the industrial zone and will be running paralell to the Seine River. You should see the signs for Calais to the right. You will go up a slip road and at the top there is a sharp right hand turn onto the N28 and E46. Stay on the A28 heading for Calais.
At Abbeville take the slip road off to the right signposted for Amiens, Paris, Boulogne and Calais. Again the slip road is a bit tight so be careful. You will then approach the toll booths. After the toll booth where you pick up your ticket make sure you are over to the left and follow the signs for Berck, Boulogne and Calais heading North on the A16. Eventually you will arrive at the toll booth just outside Boulogne. There are Services just after you get onto the A16 at Baie de Somme good opportunity to stretch your legs and let Darcey chase some Rabbits or even ducks!! After the toll booths head for Calais on the A16. You will eventually see Cite Europe the big shopping centre outside Calais on your right hand side. Look out for the signs for Tunnel sous La Manche junction 42 on the A16. Follow the signs to check in look out for the signs for the Pet Passport checking service.