Bilbao to Leucate - Advice/Suggestions please?

[Freddie328]

Am in the process of planning the first stage of our Euro Road Trip for this year. If possible, we want to drive from Bilbao to Leucate through at least part of the Pyrenees with a one night stopover somewhere along the way. Although we'd love to do it avoiding all motorways, looking at the driving times, unfortunately this doesn't look possible.
Does anyone know of any roads we really shouldn't miss and how we could combine these with some motorways. We share the driving so are happy to do a good few hours in a day.
Any suggestions of a nice place for our stopover along the way would also be gratefully received!

Thanks.

(I've also posted this in the Roads forum)

[PaulHogan]

In Spain we try to stay in a Parador: we've never had a bad one. Some are architecturally more interesting than others - the one in Toledo is magnificent!
There are a few in the Pyrennes. We have stayed here (5 years ago) and it was excellent http://www.paradores-spain.com/spain/pvielha.html

[Kneetrembler]

PaulHogan said:

In Spain we try to stay in a Parador: we've never had a bad one. Some are architecturally more interesting than others - the one in Toledo is magnificent!
There are a few in the Pyrennes. We have stayed here (5 years ago) and it was excellent http://www.paradores-spain.com/spain/pvielha.html

We also stay in Paradors whilst travelling in Spain as a rule, but avoid eating in them as the majority of the food served is badly prepared and poorly served.
Normally much better selection locally in other restaurants