Steam through Rural France
Saturday 16th August to Monday 25th August 2008
This tour allows us to appreciate the scenery and easy way of life in southern France using very fast trains to get there. Our tour takes in the beautiful Chemins de Fer de la Provence railway that runs from Nice to Digne, through the Alpes Maritime. This area is off the tourist track with quiet, unspoilt villages dating back to the Middle Ages. A ride along the Vivarais line, France’s premier preserved railway, is also included. Together with several steam hauled trains from Toulouse, this makes for a lovely holiday.
Saturday 16th August
Eurostar and TGV to Nice
We travel first class on the Eurostar from London St. Pancras with lunch served on board.
We change to a TGV service that takes us at high speed across France to Nice where we stay two nights in the Sofitel Nice Hotel, situated near the old town and the Mediterranean Sea. (L D)
Sunday 17th August
Nice to Digne
Nice Sud Station is the terminus of the narrow gauge Chemins de Fer de la Provence Railway, which runs through the Alpes Maritime passing mountains up to 9,500 feet high via a series of narrow gorges beside fast flowing rivers.
In all, there are 32 bridges and viaducts on this exhilarating journey. We depart Nice Sud at 09:00 by diesel railcar to Puget Theniers. Here we transfer to our steam hauled charter train, which should be ex Reseau Breton Railway 4-6-0T No.327 for the scenic journey to Annot.
On arrival, a typical French lunch with wine will be served in a local restaurant. Afterwards, there is a choice, to return with our steam train back to Puget Theniers, connecting with the railcar service to Nice arriving at 17:15. The alternative is to continue to Digne by service train. This is the end of the line and gives one and half hours to explore the town before returning on the 17:25 railcar, which arrives in Nice at 20:30. Dinner is not included this evening giving the choice to explore the restaurants of Nice. (B L)
Monday 18th August
Nice to Valence by TGV
We leave Nice to travel to Valence TGV station. Valence sits on the east bank of the Rhône, opposite the cliffs of the Ardèche. On arrival, we check into our hotel for two nights. (B D)
Tuesday 19th August
The Vivarais Railway
The 10:00 steam hauled train takes us along the famous metre gauge Vivarais railway where first class vintage coaches are reserved for our exclusive use. The route takes us from Tournon-sur-Rhône to Lamastre through the Doux Gorges. We have a break of four hours in Lamastre where there is plenty of time for a gourmet lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area. We return to Tournon-sur-Rhône by train, then by coach for the short distance back to our hotel in Valance. (B D)
Wednesday 20th August
Toulouse
The mid-morning TGV takes us from Valance to Toulouse, where we check into the Holiday Inn for four nights. It is near the town centre and in the afternoon there is a guided tour of Toulouse, the most important town in southwest France. The majority of the old town is constructed from rose brick, which according to locals appears pink at dawn, red at noon and mauve at dusk. (B D)
Thursday 21st August
To Rodez
Our charter train will be waiting for us hauled by a steam locomotive (141R 1126). This is our locomotive for the next three days to explore this area of France. It heads north from Toulouse through Albi, Carmaux and Tanus to Rodez.
One of the many highlights of the journey is crossing the hundred year old Viaduct de Viaur, a single arch railway bridge fifteen hundred feet long that spans the gorge nearly four hundred feet below. At Rodez we have time to explore this delightful medieval French town before returning to Toulouse by service train. (B D)
Friday 22nd August
Rodez to Toulouse
We return to Rodez by coach, to join our steam train again. We head for Capendac where we break for lunch afterwards returning to Toulouse, through Narjac and Lexos with more superb French scenery. (B D)
Saturday 23rd August
Bagnères-de-Luchon
After breakfast, we transfer to Toulouse Station where our steam train, with our reserved coach, waits to take us to a flower festival. Heading south in the shadow of the Pyrenees we travel to Montrejeau. From here we travel through the scenic Pyrenean foothills to Bagnères-de-Luchon. It will be the time of the flower festival including a parade and street performers. Later we return to Toulouse by our special steam hauled train.
(B D)
Sunday 24th August
The Little Yellow Train
After breakfast we board a diesel train to Perpignan. After around one and a half hours to explore we join the midday train along the scenic branch line to Villefranche. Here we change trains to join the famous Little Yellow Train, which cuts and weaves through awe-inspiring scenery in the Pyrenees. Unusually it is powered by third rail electrification. We arrive at the terminus of La Tour de Carol on the Spanish border around 16:00. Very unusually La Tour de Carol has three rail gauges. Our connection departs La Tour de Carol around 17:00 on a regular SNCF train to Toulouse. Dinner and overnight accommodation is in our hotel. (B D)
Monday 25th August
TGV and Eurostar to London
We catch the morning TGV service to Paris travelling first class. Then it’s back on the Eurostar for the fast run back to London. A relaxing lunch with champagne is served on board, the perfect way to end any holiday! The train arrives into London St. Pancras at around 18:00. (B L)
Eurostar and TGV to Nice
We travel first class on the Eurostar from London St. Pancras with lunch served on board.
We change to a TGV service that takes us at high speed across France to Nice where we stay two nights in the Sofitel Nice Hotel, situated near the old town and the Mediterranean Sea. (L D)
Sunday 17th August
Nice to Digne
Nice Sud Station is the terminus of the narrow gauge Chemins de Fer de la Provence Railway, which runs through the Alpes Maritime passing mountains up to 9,500 feet high via a series of narrow gorges beside fast flowing rivers.
In all, there are 32 bridges and viaducts on this exhilarating journey. We depart Nice Sud at 09:00 by diesel railcar to Puget Theniers. Here we transfer to our steam hauled charter train, which should be ex Reseau Breton Railway 4-6-0T No.327 for the scenic journey to Annot.
On arrival, a typical French lunch with wine will be served in a local restaurant. Afterwards, there is a choice, to return with our steam train back to Puget Theniers, connecting with the railcar service to Nice arriving at 17:15. The alternative is to continue to Digne by service train. This is the end of the line and gives one and half hours to explore the town before returning on the 17:25 railcar, which arrives in Nice at 20:30. Dinner is not included this evening giving the choice to explore the restaurants of Nice. (B L)
Monday 18th August
Nice to Valence by TGV
We leave Nice to travel to Valence TGV station. Valence sits on the east bank of the Rhône, opposite the cliffs of the Ardèche. On arrival, we check into our hotel for two nights. (B D)
Tuesday 19th August
The Vivarais Railway
The 10:00 steam hauled train takes us along the famous metre gauge Vivarais railway where first class vintage coaches are reserved for our exclusive use. The route takes us from Tournon-sur-Rhône to Lamastre through the Doux Gorges. We have a break of four hours in Lamastre where there is plenty of time for a gourmet lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area. We return to Tournon-sur-Rhône by train, then by coach for the short distance back to our hotel in Valance. (B D)
Wednesday 20th August
Toulouse
The mid-morning TGV takes us from Valance to Toulouse, where we check into the Holiday Inn for four nights. It is near the town centre and in the afternoon there is a guided tour of Toulouse, the most important town in southwest France. The majority of the old town is constructed from rose brick, which according to locals appears pink at dawn, red at noon and mauve at dusk. (B D)
Thursday 21st August
To Rodez
Our charter train will be waiting for us hauled by a steam locomotive (141R 1126). This is our locomotive for the next three days to explore this area of France. It heads north from Toulouse through Albi, Carmaux and Tanus to Rodez.
One of the many highlights of the journey is crossing the hundred year old Viaduct de Viaur, a single arch railway bridge fifteen hundred feet long that spans the gorge nearly four hundred feet below. At Rodez we have time to explore this delightful medieval French town before returning to Toulouse by service train. (B D)
Friday 22nd August
Rodez to Toulouse
We return to Rodez by coach, to join our steam train again. We head for Capendac where we break for lunch afterwards returning to Toulouse, through Narjac and Lexos with more superb French scenery. (B D)
Saturday 23rd August
Bagnères-de-Luchon
After breakfast, we transfer to Toulouse Station where our steam train, with our reserved coach, waits to take us to a flower festival. Heading south in the shadow of the Pyrenees we travel to Montrejeau. From here we travel through the scenic Pyrenean foothills to Bagnères-de-Luchon. It will be the time of the flower festival including a parade and street performers. Later we return to Toulouse by our special steam hauled train.
(B D)
Sunday 24th August
The Little Yellow Train
After breakfast we board a diesel train to Perpignan. After around one and a half hours to explore we join the midday train along the scenic branch line to Villefranche. Here we change trains to join the famous Little Yellow Train, which cuts and weaves through awe-inspiring scenery in the Pyrenees. Unusually it is powered by third rail electrification. We arrive at the terminus of La Tour de Carol on the Spanish border around 16:00. Very unusually La Tour de Carol has three rail gauges. Our connection departs La Tour de Carol around 17:00 on a regular SNCF train to Toulouse. Dinner and overnight accommodation is in our hotel. (B D)
Monday 25th August
TGV and Eurostar to London
We catch the morning TGV service to Paris travelling first class. Then it’s back on the Eurostar for the fast run back to London. A relaxing lunch with champagne is served on board, the perfect way to end any holiday! The train arrives into London St. Pancras at around 18:00. (B L)
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Price
| Price per person | £1395 |
| Single supplement | £175 |
Price includes:
- 9 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
- 8 dinners
- 4 lunches
- All rail travel, charter trains and visits indicated in the itinerary
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner