Les Cloches de St. George / Vernet Bells
Saint George's Anglican Church
Rue du Temple
66820
Vernet les Bains
Despite our tranquil, country location, we are in fact very easy to get to. Note though that unless you're staying in Vernet itself, you'll probably want a car to get around and for food shopping, the main supermarket being at the bottom of the hill on the way out of the village. The other villages in our valley, Casteil and Corneilla, are 20-30 minutes walk from Vernet. Note also that, on some days in winter, you might need to drive to Prades (a few miles) to find a restaurant that's open.
By plane:
The nearest airport is Perpignan, but direct flights to the UK don't operate in the winter. Other airports within about a two hour drive are Béziers, Carcassonne and Girona. The last of these is known as Barcelona (Girona) but is well north of Barcelona (and thus closer to Vernet). More like three hours away, you might also consider Barcelona, Toulouse or Montpelier.
By train:
The nearest station is Perpignan. The TGV from Paris takes about five hours. Note that the branch line from Perpignan to Villefranche-Vernet-les-Bains is currently closed. It was due to re-open in March 2020, but damage to the line because of unusually heavy snow in January means that the re=opening looks likely to be delayed. With careful planning, it's possible to arrive on the narrow gague and very scenic Little Yellow Train from la Tour de Carol (connections to Toulouse and Barcelona).
By boat and then driving:
Calais and Dunkerque are the obvious ports, but if coming from the north of England, consider also the Hull-Zeebrugge overnight ferry. Zeebrugge isn't much further to drive from than the two French ports.
By car:
If coming from the northern ports, try to give Paris a wide berth unless you like heavy traffic. The route round the east side of Paris via the A104 is probably best. Alternatively, miss Paris entirely and drive via Rouen. Once south of Paris, there are essentially three motorway routes to choose from: the western A20 via Limoges, the central A75 via Clermont Ferrand, or the eastern A6 via Lyon. Unusually for France, the long stretch of the A75 from Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers is toll free, apart from the spectacular Millau viaduct (which can be avoided by a detour through the town if you're a cheapskate). The A20 also has a good toll-free stretch between Vierzon and Brive. The eastern route sets you up for some spectacular mountain scenery if you head towards Andorra from Toulouse, via the col (or toll tunnel) de Puymorens. Alternatively, you can continue on the motorway via Carcassonne. Be aware that the N116, the main road between Andorra and Villefranche is closed for the foreseeable future because of a landslide near Fontpedrouse. The road down here from Mont Louis is impassable. To drive from Toulouse, you must either take the autoroute or Nationale via Carcassonne down to Narbonne or use the minor roads across the mountains.
By bus:
from Perpignan airport there is a shuttle and buses into town. From Perpignan station, take the 240 bus all the way to Vernet. The bus station is at the back of the train station and is easy to find.
