Paris to Provence tour by train

*Menton Photo copyright Marianne Furnes*

For holidaymakers visiting France from overseas, the French capital is often their first destination. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned Francophile traveller, it’s hard to resist the lure of all those iconic monuments and museums, the cultural events and – equally important – that unique Parisian lifestyle.

But hard though it can be to tear yourself away, France isn’t only about Paris. There is a vast choice of cities, coast and countryside just waiting to be explored and when you start in the capital, the French rail network will whisk you wherever you want to go. But where to first?

Paris to Provence tour by train

The sun-drenched Riviera is a bucket-list trip for many. Think Mediterranean beaches and chic shops, fascinating heritage, and the scents and colours of vibrant flowers and fresh market produce. Paris to Avignon takes from just 2 hours 33 minutes by train, Aix-en-Provence and much of the region can be reached by both local and fast trains.

The sunny south and enchanting Aix-en-Provence

From Paris you could reach Aix-en-Provence in just 2 hours 55 minutes by fast train. Or you could go via Lyon and make an extra stop! France’s third largest city, Lyon boasts a stunning Renaissance Old Town, twin Roman theatres, and many museums, including one dedicated to the Lumière Brothers, inventors of moving pictures. So maybe leave the fast train for the return and take a couple of days to explore this fascinating city first before heading to Aix-en-Provence.

This atmospheric city has strong connections with painter Paul Cézanne and you could spend your free day following in his footsteps round the town centre and enjoying the fountains and Renaissance facades from a café in the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau. Don’t miss the dazzling market where tightly packed stalls piled with fruit and vegetables, cheeses and chocolates will send you into sensory overload.

Lavender fields in Provence — Photo copyright Raina Stinson

Or head out on a guided tour to the wider area. The hilltop villages of the Lubéron, perhaps, several of them ranked amongst The Most Beautiful Villages in France. Add on a tour to experience Provençal highlights such as the Roman aqueduct of the Pont du Gard, the historic city of Avignon, and a wine tasting in the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Or, from mid-June through mid-July, the lavender fields and spectacular Verdon Gorge. You will never forget the sight – or scent – of those neat rows of purple blooms stretching to the horizon.Some of these places are hard to reach without transport – take a half day or full day tour with local photographic artist Raina Stinson who will take you to the most beautiful parts of the area and be your guide while helping you with your photography skills (camera or mobile phone) – you’ll go home with amazing photos, the perfect souvenir rainastinsonphotography.com/dayphotographytours

Irresistible Nice

Maybe you’ll take the train from Paris to Nice, or from Aix (a little over 2 and a half hours by train), a glorious resort that welcomed many famous visitors from America, Britain and Russia in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, all of whom left their mark on its architecture and lifestyle. More than 100 years on, Nice is still a jewel of the Riviera with its enchanting Old Town, vast bay, and sweeping views from Castle Hill. Visit some of its many cultural attractions including museums to Paul Chagall and Henri Matisse, a Fine Arts Museum, and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Book an extra night or two and you can also enjoy a number of optional day trips including a drive through the countryside to Grasse, world capital of perfume, with stops in Cannes and the hilltop medieval village of Gourdon. Or maybe a trip to Menton by train, returning via the hilltop village of Eze or take the train around the coast to visit Cannes and Antibes.