Take a Grand Tour of France by train

Enjoy an irresistible mix of cities and scenery on a Grand Tour of France by Train.

Mainland France offers a huge variety of urban and rural attractions, all neatly packaged within an area affectionately dubbed the Hexagon for its geometric shape. And whether you want coast, countryside, or heritage cities, the extensive French train network makes it easy to explore the best of France by train.

Many people choose to start and finish their journey in Paris. From here you can take in all of France from Bordeaux and the vineyards to Marseille, Nice and the Riviera, maybe returning via the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Avignon, Lyon or Strasbourg.

Paris

The French capital offers so many iconic experiences that it pays to plan your time before your travel. Art your thing? Then you may want to visit the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile or head to the Orsay Museum to soak up their famous Impressionist collection. Notre-Dame is a must, and the Eiffel Tower and Sacré Coeur Basilica can be seen from all over the city and really merit a closer look. Or maybe just spend the day on foot, exploring some of the City’s most famous streets, squares and neighbourhoods.

Bordeaux and vineyards

It takes just three hours by high-speed TGV train from Paris to Bordeaux, which stands at the heart of one of the world’s most famous wine regions. This elegant city is an architectural delight with its grand town houses, buzzing shopping streets and impressive buildings. Step inside historic St-André Cathedral, wedding venue in 1137 for Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII. Watch the changing reflections in the vast Water Mirror that covers the ground between 18^th century facades and the banks of the Garonne. And discover international wines at the eye-catching Cité du Vin.

Marseille to Nice

Watch the countryside unfold from your comfortable train carriage as you travel seamlessly from Bordeaux to Marseille, closest French port to Africa and a city of many diverse cultures. Watch the fishing boats unload in the Old Port; wind gently up through the streets on the Little Train to the lofty Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde; and wander through the atmospheric Panier, Marseille’s oldest district. Or maybe book a city walk with a private guide.

Then off to the French Riviera and the beautiful city of Nice. Stroll along the stylish promenade beside the Bay of Angels, then take the winding footpath or funicular to the top of Castle Hill for views over the roofs of ‘Vieux Nice’, the city’s historic old town, and the gleaming yacht harbour. Nice also boasts an eclectic mix of museums from Matisse and Chagal to Fine Arts and Roman artefacts. Optional experiences include food and wine tasting; Provençal villages; and Riviera towns.

Avignon to Lyon

You could head next to Avignon, famous not only for the Saint Bénézet ‘half-bridge’ but also for the imposing Palace of the Popes, both listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Tour the apartments of the 14^th century popes then chill out over a drink at a café beneath the towering papal walls.

Your fast train then whisks you northwards between the vineyards and heritage towns of the Rhône Valley to Lyon, gastronomic capital of France with architecture spanning 2,000 years of history from its twin Roman theatres to the Renaissance old town, grand 19^th century mansions to ultra-modern public buildings. Discover hidden courtyards with Italianate loggias in Vieux Lyon; follow the trail of intricate murals throughout the city centre; and relax over authentic Lyonnais gastronomy in a cosy bouchon or bistro.

Strasbourg to Paris

The scenery and the atmosphere change yet again as you travel towards Strasbourg, a city that has changed hands five times between France and Germany since the late 17^th century. Since the close of World War II, this attractive city has been French, but the street name signs still have their old German names underneath and the influence of both cultures is evident in the cuisine, the customs and the eclectic mix of architectural styles.

Cruise the flower-fringed waterways for a close-up view of Strasbourg’s riverside mansions and the half-timbered buildings of the Petite France quarter, the Vauban dam designed under Louis XIV and the three picturesque stone towers of the Covered Bridges that have not in fact had roofs since the Middle Ages. Don’t miss the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, highest medieval building in Europe, nor the contemporary outlines of the European Parliament and the Human Rights Building. You could hop on a train to Colmar – it’s just 30 minutes away.

From Strasbourg, it is just two hours by train back to Paris.