Route nationale 21
Encyclopedia
The Route nationale 21 is a trunk road (nationale
) in south west France
.
but after 1972 ended at Argelès-Gazost the old road is now the D921. Since 2006 the section south of Lourdes which is partly dual carriageway has been maintained by the Department Hautes-Pyrenees.
and heads west along the bank of the river Vienne
which it crosses at Aix-sur-Vienne. The road turns south west over open countryside to the small town of Châlus
. The road passes through the Parc Regional Limousin reaching 350m altitude. The road passes the town of Thiviers
before joining the River Isle close to its joining the river Auvezere. The road turns west to the town of Périgueux
.
To the south of Périgueux the road is now numbered the D6021, with through traffic directed to use the N221 and A89 autoroute
. The N21 recommences after the junction with the A89 and D6021 heading south. The countryside is now wooded including the Forêt de Montclard. The road meets the River Dordogne
at the town of Bergerac
.
and continues to the south. The road then heads to the Garonne
valley and the town of Agen. The town is home of the attraction Walibi Aquitaine and famous for its Prune
s. Through traffic is directed west of the town along the N113.
. The countryside becomes more rugged as the road passes thes town of Astaffort and Lectoure. The road heads into the valley of the Ger and the town of Fleurance. Further south the road passes through the town of Auch
. The road heads south west to Mirande
and the town of Miélan. The road heads west crossing a ridge and the Puntous de Laguian (342m). At Rabastens-de-Bigorre the road turns south again to the town of Tarbes
.
The road leaves Tarbes to the south west (old road now the D921) with a junction (12) to the A64 autoroute
. It passes the Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport before reaching the town of Lourdes
.
resort of Gavarnie overlooked by the Pic de Tentes (2,322m) and the Cirque de Gavarnie (3,248m).
Route nationale (France)
A route nationale, or simply nationale, is a trunk road in France. Trunk roads are in France are important roads which cross broad portions of the French territory, as opposed to secondary or communal roads who only serve local areas....
) in south west France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Reclassification
The N21 used to end at Gavarnie in the PyreneesPyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
but after 1972 ended at Argelès-Gazost the old road is now the D921. Since 2006 the section south of Lourdes which is partly dual carriageway has been maintained by the Department Hautes-Pyrenees.
Limoges to Bergerac (0 to 145 km)
The road starts at a junction with the N20Route nationale 20
The Route nationale 20 is a trunk road between Paris and the frontier with Spain heading south through the heart of France and passing through the Cathedral City of Orléans and Toulouse. The road forks at Col de Puymorens with one branch being the Route nationale 22 which leads to Andorra...
and heads west along the bank of the river Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
which it crosses at Aix-sur-Vienne. The road turns south west over open countryside to the small town of Châlus
Châlus
Châlus is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in western France.-History:Châlus' is where Richard I of England was wounded by a crossbow bolt and killed as a result of the wound...
. The road passes through the Parc Regional Limousin reaching 350m altitude. The road passes the town of Thiviers
Thiviers
Thiviers is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-Personalities:It is notable as being the town in which Jean-Paul Sartre lived as a child. Painter Pierre Bouillon was born there.-References:*...
before joining the River Isle close to its joining the river Auvezere. The road turns west to the town of Périgueux
Périgueux
Périgueux is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Périgueux is the prefecture of the department and the capital of the region...
.
To the south of Périgueux the road is now numbered the D6021, with through traffic directed to use the N221 and A89 autoroute
A89 autoroute
The A89 autoroute is a motorway in central France. It is known as the La Transeuropéenne. It will connect Lyon with Bordeaux.-Completed Sections:* Antenne de Balbigny* Combronde-Saint-Julien-Puy-Lavèze-Ussel-Tulle-Saint-Germain-les-Vergnes...
. The N21 recommences after the junction with the A89 and D6021 heading south. The countryside is now wooded including the Forêt de Montclard. The road meets the River Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
at the town of Bergerac
Bergerac, Dordogne
Bergerac is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Dordogne department in southwestern France.-Population:-Economy:The region is primarily known for wine and tobacco...
.
Bergerac to Agen(145 to 236 km)
After Bergerac the road heads south east past the Chateau Montbazillac, to the small town of Castillonnes and then Cancon. The countryside becomes more rolling and the road reaches the Lot valley. The road now by-passes the town of Villeneuve-sur-LotVilleneuve-sur-Lot
Villeneuve-sur-Lot is a town and commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France. The commune was formerly named Villeneuve-d'Agen....
and continues to the south. The road then heads to the Garonne
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
valley and the town of Agen. The town is home of the attraction Walibi Aquitaine and famous for its Prune
Prune
A prune is any of various plum cultivars, mostly Prunus domestica or European Plum, sold as fresh or dried fruit. The dried fruit is also referred to as a dried plum...
s. Through traffic is directed west of the town along the N113.
Agen to Lourdes (236 to 402 km)
The road continues south crossing the river and a junction (7) with the A62 autorouteA62 autoroute
The A62 autoroute is a French motorway forming part of the Autoroute de Deux Mers.The road is the western portion of the Autoroute de Deux Mers connecting Toulouse with Bordeaux with a junction with the A630...
. The countryside becomes more rugged as the road passes thes town of Astaffort and Lectoure. The road heads into the valley of the Ger and the town of Fleurance. Further south the road passes through the town of Auch
Auch
Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.-The Ausci:...
. The road heads south west to Mirande
Mirande
Mirande is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
and the town of Miélan. The road heads west crossing a ridge and the Puntous de Laguian (342m). At Rabastens-de-Bigorre the road turns south again to the town of Tarbes
Tarbes
Tarbes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.It is part of the historical region of Gascony. It is the second largest metropolitan area of Midi-Pyrénées, with 110,000 inhabitants....
.
The road leaves Tarbes to the south west (old road now the D921) with a junction (12) to the A64 autoroute
A64 autoroute
The A64 autoroute is a motorway in south western France. It is also called the La Pyrénéenne and numbered the European route E80. It is a toll road for part of its length....
. It passes the Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport before reaching the town of Lourdes
Lourdes
Lourdes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in south-western France.Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous...
.
Lourdes to Argelès-Gazost/Gavarnie (402 to 453 Km)
The road is dual carriageway south of Lourdes and is now numbered the D821 following the River Luz. Thereafter the old road is now the D921 continuing south along the Gorges de Luz into the Pyrennees mountains. It passes Luz-St-Sauveur before taking the Gorges de St Sauveur to the skiingSkiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
resort of Gavarnie overlooked by the Pic de Tentes (2,322m) and the Cirque de Gavarnie (3,248m).