Unless you’re a motorsport fan, or live there, chances are you’ve never heard of Le Castellet in France. This little village is situated on the French Riveria in between Marseilles and Toulon, and is renowned for it’s stunning vineyards as well as the Paul Ricard circuit.
If you’re planning on visiting the French Grand Prix but find yourself asking “Where is Circuit Paul Ricard?!” then never fear, we’ve got everything you need to know here.
Here’s how to get to the French Grand Prix by plane, train and driving.
Renting a car to drive to Circuit Paul Ricard is a popular option, especially as the nearest airports are both over 50km away. The circuit is well-connected by local motorways and there are also various Park & Ride options available (more on those further down).
If you are planning on camping then you’ll more than likely want to drive too.
Circuit Paul Ricard address: 2760 Rte des Hauts du Camp, 83330 Le Castellet, France
As mentioned, there are several Park and Ride options available if you’re going to be driving to Circuit Paul Ricard. The French GP official website has details of their Park and Ride + Shuttle options which are free, you just need to register here. Park and Ride sites are located at motorway exits at La Ciotat, Roquefort la Bédoule, Le Beausset, Signes, Aubagne and Bandol.
If you want to park at the actual circuit, then you’ll be pleased to know it’s free if you go for their carsharing option! If there are 4 or more of you in one car then you can park at Circuit Paul Ricard free by booking here.
Free parking is also available for motorcycles and for those who need special access.
Alternatively, there are a number of paid parking options around the circuit which start at €20 with their premium parking available at a higher price too. See all options here.
If you are staying in Marseille, Aix-en-Provence or Toulon then you’ll want to make the most out of the Express GP Downtown shuttles. They cost 25€ per day for your return fare and there are frequent departure times. Once you’ve booked, you’ll be called to confirm your time slot so there’s no waiting around either.
The closest train stations to the track are:
- La Ciotat Train Station – 21km away
- Toulon Train Station – 32km away
- Marseille Saint-Charles Train Station – 44km away
- Aix en Provence Train Station – 58km away
Most provide a free shuttle service to the track too.
There’s also a brand new service for 2022 with the special TGV high-speed train for the race weekend. It departs from Paris before stopping at Lyon and then dropping you off at Circuit Paul Ricard. This service includes the return journey and shuttle service too.
Find out about the different train options and book through the official French GP website here.
While Le Castellet does have an airport, it’s a private airport that you won’t get into without a private jet!
However, your best options to fly to the French Grand Prix are:
- Marseille Provence (MRS) – A fairly large airport with several routes available
- Toulon Hyères (TLN) – The closest airport but smaller and fewer routes available
- Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE) – Generally has more long-haul flights and a wider number of routes
Or now you can fly to Paris or Lyon and take the TGV high-speed train if you’d prefer.
