Vintage Southern France and The Pyrenees by Rail

Today we will ride a slow train on the line SNCF calls the “Train des Merveilles”, from Nice to Tende following the Roya Valley and crossing the Alps into Italy. There are many viaducts and even more tunnels with wild mountain-and-valley scenery. This is an exceptional route and of interest to any railway enthusiast; it includes three spirals and a summit almost as high as Mt Kosciuszko. Alighting in the fascinating mountain town of Tende for some sightseeing and lunch. We travel back down the line as far as Breil-sur-Roya to visit the excellent railway museum. Return to Nice by train. Tonight, we have our Welcome Dinner in a restaurant near the hotel.

Overnight: Mercure Centre Notre Dame, Nice (B, D)

Today we ride the long non-electrified metre gauge CF Provence line from Nice to Digne, a distance of 151 km in a new 2-car DMU with large windows on a very scenic line, on the “Train des Pignes”. Alighting at Puget-Theniers to join the steam train hauled by an ex CP (Portugal) 2-4-6-0T mallet, along the same line to Annot. Annot is a fascinating little town in the mountains, and if you venture behind the main square, it seems you have stepped back in time to the 1500’s with old, but well-kept buildings and narrow streets. We return to Nice by coach in time for dinner.

Overnight: Mercure Centre Notre Dame, Nice (B)

This morning we travel by train from Nice to Nimes. In the afternoon, we will be joined by a local guide for a guided walk through the historic centre of Nimes. Included in the guided walk are some Roman buildings still standing such as the Amphitheatre “the best preserved in the whole of the Roman Empire” and the Maison Carrée, a remarkably well-preserved square temple. Subject to visiting restrictions, we will visit the amphitheatre, which is still in use and regularly hosts concerts.

Overnight: Novotel Centre Atria, Nîmes (B)

We’ll start our day today with an incredibly scenic train trip through the Cévennes mountains from Nimes to La Bastide-St. Laurent, before returning to Alès, where our coach will be waiting to transfer us to Saint Jean-du-Gard. This is our departure point for the “Train a Vapeur des Cévennes”, whose ex SNCF 2-8-0 steam locomotive was only recommissioned in 2011. This is a lovely 13 km return train journey along the Gardons valley, where we do a return trip. Soak up the picturesque views of the river valley and the Cévennes scenery. After our visit, we’ll return to Nîmes by coach.

Overnight: Novotel Centre Atria, Nîmes (B)

Today we will travel to Avignon – a walled city next to the River Rhone and Pont du Gard, an impressive Roman aqueduct built in the 1st century AD. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueducts and is the best preserved along with the aqueduct of Segovia. Because of its historic importance it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Today it is one of France’s five top tourist attractions with around 1.4 million visitors each year. We head to Avignon in time for lunch. Attractions here include the Papal Palace (the biggest Gothic palace ever built, anywhere). Today the Palace is a place of culture and primarily a tourist attraction. With around 650,000 visitors each year it is regularly among the top ten attractions in France. With its size, architecture and historical significance the Palace regularly serves as an exhibition centre. During your free time, we suggest you visit the famous medieval bridge, the Pont d’Avignon on which one dances as the 15th century song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” says. After our journey, we’ll return to Nîmes.

Overnight: Novotel Centre Atria, Nîmes (B)

The highlight of today is a trip on the very scenic “Le Train Rouge”. We begin with the train journey from Nimes to Carcassonne and if it is running with a suitable timetable, the branch south to Quillan. There our coach will meet us and take us to Axat, the upper terminus of Le Train Rouge. After time for  lunch, we head to Axat station and, weather permitting, we will get to ride the first part of the journey through mountains and gorges in open wagons. Halfway down we will change to a historic railcar to complete the journey to Rivesaltes. Our coach will be waiting to take us to our hotel in Perpignan.

Overnight: Suites Novotel, Perpignan (B)

We will travel from Perpignan to Villefranche-Vernet where we pick up our Little Yellow Train, one of the great railway journeys of the world – a historic metre-gauge electric railway in the French Pyrenees, opened in 1909, and still going strong. The line rises through dramatic scenery from an altitude of 427 metres at its lower terminus at Villefranche de Conflent, to a summit at Bolquère Eyne, France’s highest railway station, lying at an altitude of 1592 metres (5226 ft) above sea level. It then drops down to a high Pyrenean valley, to its terminus at Latour de Carol. On arriving at Latour de Carol, we immediately join our standard gauge train direct to Toulouse, arriving late afternoon.

Overnight: Mercure Wilson, Toulouse (B)

In the morning we travel on the 500-mm narrow gauge Chemin de Fer Touristique du Tarn. Due to a weak bridge awaiting repair, they run a diesel train over the line. Our visit includes their workshops and the museum. We return to Toulouse for a free afternoon to explore this city, known as the “pink city” due to the unique architecture made of pinkish terracotta bricks. Note to transport enthusiasts: as well as the new tram line, there is also a driverless metro system in Toulouse.

Overnight: Mercure Wilson, Toulouse (B)

Our coach will take us to the medieval walled city of Carcassonne where you will have free time to explore the narrow streets and the castle. The walled city is one of France’s “must see ‘’ attractions, yet in the 19th century, the government decided to demolish it. Fortunately, it won a reprieve, and is still here today. This afternoon we will have a cruise on the UNESCO World Heritage Canal du Midi, from where we will have views of the walled city. At the end of the afternoon, we return to Toulouse by coach and meet up for our Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight: Mercure Wilson, Toulouse (B, D)

Our tour comes to an end today, with our coach standing by to take us to the train station or airport for our flights home. (B)