France is known as the first country in Europe to introduce high-speed trains. The illustrious TGV, in full the Train à Grande Vitesse. Later, the Thalys was added, which connects Rotterdam with Paris. The distances in France are just right for fast trains, while they are just too long for the car and just too short for the plane.
That is why less environmentally conscious French people also travel en masse with the TGV. As a tourist, this means that you can move around France in a fast and environmentally friendly way. Because almost all electricity in France is generated in an almost CO2-neutral way with hydropower or nuclear energy. This means that your ecological footprint is much smaller than if you travel to France by car or plane. A holiday by train to France is therefore ideal for every holidaymaker. Because not only are all corners easily accessible, but there is also plenty to do! From sporting activities to historical stories and from extensively admiring the beautiful nature to just relaxing and doing nothing at all. It’s all possible during a holiday by train to France!
France from the train: long coasts, distant vineyards and authentic French places pass you by without having to sit behind the wheel for that long journey! Once you’ve packed your bags and checked in, the vacation has already started! Do you want to see France from this perspective this holiday? Then quickly book your tickets for a holiday by train to France!
Seeking the sun in the Hérault
Voulezvous chercher le soleil? Do you want to look up the sun? France is both a Northern and Southern European country and nowhere is this more apparent than in the sunny, Mediterranean southern France. The good news is: the south of France is also a very attractive destination for the sun seeker, who wants to live in harmony with the earth at the same time. A sustainable train journey to this beautiful area with a unique history is enriching for body and mind. Lavender fields, olive trees and the Pyrenees have attracted the real connoisseurs among tourists for over a century. So during a holiday by train to France, this is also recommended for the modern tourist.
For a wonderful independent trip to a unique accommodation, the village of St André de Sangonis, in the Hérault department, is definitely recommended. This village is a stone’s throw from the atmospheric and historic city of Montpellier, where you can travel relaxed and in a relatively short time via Paris by Thalys and TGV. If you have the time, you can travel more cheaply via Paris to Montpellier by bus or via ride-sharing. In Montpellier there are several rental companies where you can rent electric cars and e-bikes.
There is a lot to see in the area. The bustling student city of Montpellier is about the size of Utrecht. Founded by coastal residents fleeing pirates, Montpellier dates back to the early Middle Ages and has always been a center for medical knowledge. The mysterious Nostradamus, for example, studied there at the University of Montpellier, which was founded in 1220. At one point, half of all doctors in France had graduated from this university. This is a very interesting city for young and old to visit during a holiday by train to France.
Montpellier. This always atmospheric city is packed with art and culture. For example, La Place de Comédie, home to various architectural delights during the day, is the center of cultural life in the evening. The city also has a real aqueduct from the eighteenth century, the aqueduct Saint-Clément.
And of course a royal palace for the Sun King, because Louis the Fourteenth also didn’t feel like staying in the damp Versailles in winter and preferred to enjoy the wonderful Occitan sun. Montpellier is thus a great destination for those seeking a slow and relaxing train journey to France.
If you prefer to experience some rougher nature, then safaris to the Camargue east of Montpellier, with the famous feral white Camargue horses, are definitely your thing. This swampy coastal plain and lagoon now form a unique area, where agriculture and nature develop in a precarious balance. The Camargue is one of the few areas in Europe where flamingos can be found.
And who says Camargue, naturally says sea. Because the Camargue can best be seen as a kind of Wadden area. From -o là là – the naturist beaches at Cap d’Agde to the town of Agde itself and the atmospheric fishing village of Sète. And of course the shallow étang (inland lake) de Thau, around which these towns and cities are located.
For lovers of culinary delights, there are countless wine tastings and picturesque bistros, where you can get acquainted with the excellent Occitan cuisine. The wines of the Hérault, the region around Montpellier, are highly regarded by connoisseurs. The viticulture in this high-quality area dates back to Roman times and both the Vin de Pays de Hérault and the wines of IGP and AOC level are in great demand. So don’t miss the opportunity to visit a Domaine and take some bottles of Hérault wine with you to enjoy at home. The advantage of a holiday by train to France here is that you don’t need a Bob!
For cave lovers there are the Grotte de Clamouse and a few other caves, such as the Grotte des Demoiselles. You can also explore the medieval village of Olargues with the Pont du Diable from the twelfth century and tour the adjacent Parc Naturel, with countless spectacular lakes, rivers and gorges. One of the most dramatic places is the pretty village of Minerve, where in 1210 a group of Cathars, a heretical sect, held out heroically against the cruel Inquisitor Simon de Montfort. But Aigne, Beaufort and Montoulours are also worth a visit.
In terms of natural beauty, the spectacular Cirque de Navacelles and the Gorges de l’Herault at St Guilhem-le-Desert are not to be missed. The Lac du Salagou lake is a mecca for water sports enthusiasts and did we mention the natural amphitheater of the Cirque de Mourèze? So there is also plenty to find and experience for the more adventurous travelers who are looking for a holiday by train to France.
Unique to this destination is that you can actually come here all year round because of the nice climate. The nearby Mediterranean Sea tempers the winter and the northern Massif Central blocks many cold air currents. The nearby sea makes the summer nice and warm, but not easily stiflingly hot.
Why fly halfway around the world, when you can also discover the sun on holiday by train to France and enjoy the French natural beauty along the way? It is not without reason that France is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.
Remarkable pranks with a touch of mystery.
Would you rather stay closer to home? That is of course also possible, because Northern France is surprisingly close. For example, consider beautiful Brittany. A few hours with the fast Thalys and TGV, and you are already abroad.
You wake up with crusty baguettes, and see road signs in French and a mysterious language. An almost extinct variant of Celtic, the Breton language. This already lifts a corner of the veil, because Brittany is one of the most fascinating regions in France. That is why we take a closer look at a holiday by train to France, in Brittany.
Celts and menhirs in France? Hell yes. The last Celts inhabit not only the British Isles, but also a part of France. Get to know an unexpected piece of France in the far west, where the mild Atlantic sea climate and the special nature and culture ensure an unforgettable holiday. Get the ultimate Astérix and Obelix feeling at this center of Neolithic monuments in Europe.
The sleepy village of Prat is close to the north coast of Brittany. With just over a thousand inhabitants, it is an ideal rustic holiday destination, with lots of peace and space. In Prat you can fully enjoy the rustic, Breton farm life, with crispy, fresh, organic baguette from Monsieur Le Boulanger and numerous delicious regional products. A very suitable destination for a relaxing and carefree holiday by train to France.
With any luck, you may still hear some elderly residents speaking Breton, or Brezhoneg in the local language. Breton is a Celtic language, once spoken throughout Brittany, but now confined to the far west and spoken almost exclusively by the elderly.
However, many traffic and street signs are now bilingual. During a holiday by train to France, the train may just be the only sign of modern times, otherwise you imagine yourself almost completely in the distant past of France.
Near the village is also within walking distance the étang de Prat, a small lake where you can fish and swim when it is warm. The rural area with small atmospheric villages is ideal for hiking or cycling.
If you travel a little further, you have the coast about twenty kilometers north of Prat. The coasts are spectacular, with small sandy beaches between the climbing rocks. A popular pastime is looking for oysters on the tidal beach.
Ploumanac’h on the Pink Granite Coast was voted the most beautiful village in France in 2015. This atmospheric village with the spectacular rocky coast of pink granite is located on the coast northwest of Prat and is not to be missed.
The changeable Brittany is less suitable for a holiday in the sun, but all the more for a sporty and active holiday. Because you keep moving in this special region. For example, due to the tides, mussels, oysters and lobsters are regularly found on the sandbanks.
Collecting these is a fun activity, and they can be grilled in the evenings. It is also an important part of Breton culture. The “Fête de la coquille Saint-Jacques”, ie the scallop festival, returns every year, around April 30 to May 1. For example, a holiday by train to France is suitable for almost every season!
And while you’re collecting, you can also do some shopping at the countless farmers’ markets.
But the most famous attraction of Brittany are the menhirs. These are large boulders, which in the New Stone Age were erected upright and alone, in circles or other structures (dolmens) by early farmers. Are they temples? Large sundials? Or a way to arrange and mark the landscape? Archaeologists and pseudoscientists are still arguing about its exact meaning.
But they are spectacular, and characteristic of this special part of France. And an impressive contrast to today’s modern world during a holiday by train to France.
You can see the spectacular menhirs and megalithic structures in Penvénan, Kerbors and Ploubazlanec, among others, all on the north coast.
Well-known menhirs near Prat are the Menhir de Kerguezennec, the menhir de Minhir and the Menhirs de Pergat. The largest menhir is the Menhir de Glomel, pictured here. It is almost nine meters high. Someone must have worked very hard for this. Or if baby fell into a cauldron of magic potion, of course.
But besides menhirs, there is much more to see in Brittany. There are beautiful villages and towns such as Moncountour, Guingamp, Châtelaudren and Quintin. Pontrieux and the bridge of Léhon. And also the beautiful medieval city of Tréguier, with half-timbered houses, a cathedral and ornamental gardens. This region has an ancient history dating back to before Roman times. So there is a lot to see, not only because of the spectacular natural beauty, but also the rich culture. From the New Stone Age to the present. Because many artists settled in this inspiring region.
This is just part of all there is to see and discover in Brittany. So if you want a quiet, rural and at the same time active holiday, where you get in touch with your inner primitive man, Brittany is definitely recommended for a holiday by train to France!
Holiday by train to France? No problem, with the French rail network you can get to most places.
You reach Prat with a combination of TGV and Thalys, where you travel from Rotterdam to Paris in the Thalys. There you travel by public transport, the Métro, from Gare du Nord to Paris Montparnasse, where you can change to the TGV to Guingamp. Brittany is quite sparsely populated, so public transport is scarce.
Therefore rent a car in the town of Guingamp. Near the train station there is a rental company. The only question is whether electric cars are available here, Guingamp is only small. Check this first. That is probably why it is smarter to bring your own e-bike from the Netherlands.
Because the distances are great in unspoilt, sparsely populated Brittany. Then you will notice that an electric bicycle or speed pedelec gives you just that extra speed and power that you need for longer day trips. And the bicycle can simply be taken on the Thalys and the TGV. So a holiday by train to France is always possible, wherever you want to go in France.
Heading out in your own country? Find your sustainable holiday!
The best climate-neutral trips in unique places
Utrecht, Nederland
T: 0031 627 00 94 99
