The French Rail Journey You'll Want to Book This Summer
Avoiding the airport? We've found a fabulous French rail tour to book this summer
Starting in London, make your way to St Pancreas to board the Eurostar, destination Lille. This vibrant capital of Hauts-de-France is just and hour and half by train and the compact city centre is easily explored on foot. Once the merchant centre of Flanders, its cobbled streets are lined with colourful 17th century Flemish townhouses, visit the Palais des Beaux Arts and don’t miss La Piscine-Musée d’Art, an unusual gallery in the beautiful Art Deco, former municipal swimming pool.
From Lille take the train to Strasbourg, renowned for its stunning Gothic cathedral, UNESCO-listed Petite France district, and major political institutions like the European Parliament. Next it’s on to Colmar, just half an hour away on the eastern border of France. Colmar blends French and Germanic influences with a canal-crossed old town and Renaissance buildings. The town was the original inspiration for the village in Beauty and the Beast, and in the heart of the Alsace wine region, age-old wine-making traditions can still be seen today across the vineyards that stretch out from the centre. Spend a little time there and visit the fully-restored, medieval Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle with its panoramic views of the Vosges, Black Forest, and even the Alps on clear days. Wander Colmar’s ‘Little Venice’, and pass through the Fishmonger’s District, the Tanner’s Quarter and Place de l’Ancienne Douane.
From Colmar, Lyon is under four hours by train and well worth a visit, if only to enjoy some of its culinary excellence. But the next destination is Valence, on the banks of the River Rhône, with its medieval Old Town, and known for its vibrant culinary scene and delightful local produce, like the AOC Val de Loire apple, the black truffle and its wine. From Valence your tour takes you to nearby Avignon, the ‘City of the Popes’ in Provence, with its immense UNESCO World Heritage Gothic architecture, the Palais des Papes and the famous Pont d’Avignon. You’ll love its walkable medieval centre, thriving Provençal markets, and its location as a gateway to the Rhône Valley vineyards. Two hours away is Beziers, a charming hilltop town in the wine-producing region of Languedoc-Roussillon. It is the birthplace of Paul Riquet, the brain behind the Canal du Midi, and the impressive Fonseranes Canal Lock can be found nearby.
Next stop Lourdes, a major Roman Catholic pilgrimage site where visitors seek spiritual renewal, physical healing and comfort, often visiting the grotto where Saint Bernadette experienced apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Then it’s on to the seaside town of Biarritz in French Basque Country on the Atlantic coast. With a history of whaling and fishing, it became the chic seaside resort frequented by Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie, and later a favourite of Chanel. The elegant Belle Époque and Art Deco villas overlook the coastline, which is also a prime spot for surfing, while the town is surrounded by mountains, lakes and its a short hop over the border to Spain. It’s worth spending a few nights here to explore the elegant town and dramatic coastline before jumping back on the train for Bordeaux on the banks of the Garonne River.
Bordeaux is the world’s largest urban UNESCO World Heritage Site and its quiet cobbled streets are lined with grand 18th-century sandstone buildings, a wide choice of restaurants and boutique shops. Stroll around the Jardin Public, discover the history of Bordeaux from the Iron Age through to the 21st century at the Musée d’Aquitaine and don’t miss the famous reflecting pool at Place de la Bourse.
Poitiers is the last stop before you reboard the Eurostar in Paris. Capital of the Vienne département in west-central France, Poitiers is an elegant city with an obvious Romanesque heritage, and more than 80 listed monuments. Often called the ‘city of a hundred steeples’, its highlights include the stunning Notre-Dame-la-Grande church, the Palais des ducs d’Aquitaine, and the historic Baptistère Saint-Jean. Wander the pedestrian streets of the old town and stroll around the Place du Maréchal Leclerc, and take to the river for a unique view of the city from the water.
