Another train from Paris to SJPDP question..

[Gumba]

Is there any difference catching the train from CDG Paris airport or going in to Paris proper and catching the train from Paris Montparnasse?

We arrive in Paris around 1.00pm (was 12.30 but they have just changed the time grrr) and was hoping to catch the train that departs CDG around 4pm, getting in around 10pm - should I stay at Bayonne - or, for the Antipodeans out there, take it easy after the loooong flight and spend the night in Paris and get an early flight the next day???? (we wont have time to explore Paris, sadly.. next time)

 

[Robo]

I caught the train from Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne, after staying over night in Paris. Like you I arrived at CDG around midday. Staying the night in Paris was a nice way to get over the flight. I stayed near the station and had a great lunch...........and dinner!

Then caught the TGV next morning to Bayonne.

If you look at the timetables online, you will see the TGV also departs CDG airport. But looks like a change is required en route.

So you have 2 options. Don't stop in Paris and arrive late and probably very tired.
Or night stop in Paris.

Opton 1 would certainly save you a day if pushed for time.

 

[Gumba]

Thanks Robo

 

[Felipe]

As I see it in the SNCF webpage, there is a train from CDG to Bourdeaux, then to Bayonne.
But Paris Montparnasse has many more choices. If you want to bypass Paris , you can take a direct train fron CDG to Massy TGV (beware: two adjacent gares, one for the TGV express and other for the regional services) and catch there the train coming from Montparnasse. But check the schedules carefully.
The clerks at CDG train bureau are used to confused foreigners, and speak English.
As a very personal comment, I could not imagine being in Paris just to take a train connection....

 

[KinkyOne]

Is there any difference catching the train from CDG Paris airport or going in to Paris proper and catching the train from Paris Montparnasse?

We arrive in Paris around 1.00pm (was 12.30 but they have just changed the time grrr) and was hoping to catch the train that departs CDG around 4pm, getting in around 10pm - should I stay at Bayonne - or, for the Antipodeans out there, take it easy after the loooong flight and spend the night in Paris and get an early flight the next day???? (we wont have time to explore Paris, sadly.. next time)

I didn't traveled to Bayonne from Paris on any of my three starts there but I think that taking the afternoon train (and catch some sleep on it) to Bayonne and stay overnight there would be better for your jet lag. The next day you can catch the first morning train to SJPdP and start walking to Valcarlos which is only 2-3 hours (I have read your post about road walking ) the same day if you are tight on days available. Or even spend morning sight-seeing in Bayonne and the afternoon in SJPdP which are both nice Basque towns.

 

[Helen1]

If you're not in a rush I would start your pilgrimage in Paris. Try one of the St James Walks e.g.: http://parisisinvisible.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-way-of-saint-james-through-paris.html and get your first stamp at Notre Dame. A little bit of walking might help you stay awake and adjust to the timezone change too!

I think there is something special about the Tour Saint Jacques and Rue Saint Jaques in Paris because they give you a sense of the history and geographic scale of pilgrimage in Europe. Kind of a weird observation but going to Notre Dame really made me think about how special Santiago Cathedral is. Amiens, Notre Dame, Chartres, Tours are all active places of worship but until I went to Santiago I hadn't realized how closed and museum like they are with the chapels mostly closed. Santiago is something else entirely, the chapels are in use with with services in different languages at different times of the day, it's vibrant and you can almost feel people's faith.

 

[Gumba]

Yes Filipe, it would be a bit of a crime not to spends some time there, even though I have been to Paris several times over the years. Helen, thank you fort hat link - it is perfect - I did not know this although it turns out my husband did when I told him! We have decided to spend a couple of nights in Paris (Luxenberg Gardens for one, and Tour Montparnasse which will be very close to where we will stay) and look in to a paris St James walk as per Helen's link.

thank you everyone for your contributions and helping me make this decision

 

[Nancy Drew]

If you're not in a rush I would start your pilgrimage in Paris. Try one of the St James Walks e.g.: http://parisisinvisible.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-way-of-saint-james-through-paris.html and get your first stamp at Notre Dame. A little bit of walking might help you stay awake and adjust to the timezone change too!

I think there is something special about the Tour Saint Jacques and Rue Saint Jaques in Paris because they give you a sense of the history and geographic scale of pilgrimage in Europe. Kind of a weird observation but going to Notre Dame really made me think about how special Santiago Cathedral is. Amiens, Notre Dame, Chartres, Tours are all active places of worship but until I went to Santiago I hadn't realized how closed and museum like they are with the chapels mostly closed. Santiago is something else entirely, the chapels are in use with with services in different languages at different times of the day, it's vibrant and you can almost feel people's faith.

I hope to walk part of the Paris route on my return back to The USA. Am spending 5 days in Paris and will be ready for a bit more walking,

 

[pjacobi]

Gare Montparnasse is a large main train station with frequent departures to Bayonne. CDG is a smaller station with less frequent departures to Bayonne. Depending upon your schedule, it may be faster to take Metro/RER to Gare Montparnasse to catch a more frequent departure to Bayonne, rather then wait for train at CDG.

Most trains from Bayonne travel back to Gare Montparnasse, with only a few continuing on to CDG.

-Paul