Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
This 9-night luxury holiday by train joins up two of the most sophisticated and elegant cities in France: Lyon and Bordeaux, both famed for their elegant and charming architecture, outstanding fine wine and dining and a wealth of cultural activities with both the French capital, Paris, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Carcassonne, one of the most perfect and larges mediaeval fortified cities in Europe. The holiday begins with a Eurostar journey from London to Paris, where you stay for three nights, giving time to soak up the atmosphere of the French capital. If it is your first visit to the city, it is worth spending time visiting popular sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Stroll along the Champs-Elysées and through the Jardin des Tuileries. Fascinating ‘quartiers’ to visit include Le Marais with trendy bars and restaurants, Saint Germain, once the hangout for intellectuals such as Ernest Hemmingway and Montmartre, with cobbled streets and a bohemian atmosphere. Then you take the fast TGV train south to Lyon, known as the gastronomic capital of Europe. You have one full day to explore the city. We suggest visiting Place Bellecour and Place des Terreaux, impressive squares nestled between the Saone and Rhone rivers. Climb to the Norte Dame Basilica either on foot or by funicular to take in the breath-taking views across the city and to the countryside beyond. Sample one of the many restaurants that the gastronomic capital has to offer. Your next location is the eerily magical, mediaeval fortified town of Carcassonne. Within the ancient walls, you’ll find the castle and the houses of the town, cheek by jowl in narrow winding lanes and alleyways. The last destination on this rail holiday of France is Bordeaux, a cathedral city on the river Garonne. Bordeaux is famed as the historical centre for wine trade and boasts glorious examples of 18th century, grandiose architecture such as at the Place de la Bourse. At the end of your stay, take the TGV direct from Bordeaux to Paris, changing on to the Eurostar for the final leg back to London.
Highlights
Paris • Visit Les Invalides • Visit the Louvre and the Tuileries • Champs-Elysées • Lyon • Place Bellecour • Notre Dame Basilica • Carcassonne • Bordeaux • Place de la Bourse • Musée des Beaux-Arts • Pey Berland Tower
Day by day
Begin your rail holiday by departing on a Eurostar from London to Paris. Departures are hourly and the journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Choose a departure time to suit although we suggest taking a mid-morning departure to arrive into Paris in the afternoon. Check-in to your hotel where you will spend three nights.
You have two full days at leisure to explore Paris. The hotel we suggest is situated on the Left Bank, a stone’s throw away from La Place de la Concorde, the Assemblée Nationale and Les Invalides. Highlights to visit include the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most famous of Paris’s monuments, where you can take a lift to the top floor at 899 feet and enjoy the view across Paris. Other places to visit include the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe which dates from 1836. Spend some time taking in the atmosphere of Montmartre where you can find the Sacre-Coeur basilica. Montmartre is one of the most charming areas of Paris, and it is worth exploring the narrow winding streets that make it so appealing. Another appealing district is Le Marais, on the right bank. Here you can find the elegant Place des Vosges, an attractive square known formally as the Place Royale built in the early 1700s. There are also many museums on offer. Notable museums include the Louvre, Musée Rodin and Musée d’Orsay. Take a break from sight-seeing and enjoy one of the many pretty gardens such as the Jardin du Luxembourg or the Jardin des Tuileries.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before taking a taxi to the Gare de Lyon where you board a direct TGV service to the city of Lyon. The journey takes about two hours with trains departing about two every hour. There are no tunnels on this route and you’ll see the forests and fields south of Paris give way to the hills and vineyards of Burgundy. Check-in to your hotel where you will spend two nights.
Lyon has much to offer, with history dating back to Roman times. The old town is located on the banks of the River Saone. Spend time exploring the narrow, cobbled streets with medieval buildings and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Visit Place Bellecour, an impressive square with a statue of Louis XIV on horseback as its centrepiece. Stroll to Place des Terreaux and admire the fountains dotted about the square. The striking Notre Dame Basilica, situated in Fourviere, can be accessed on foot up several steps or by funicular. Enjoy panoramic views over Lyon from here. Lyon is also home to around 30 museums including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilisation. Dine in one of Lyon’s many restaurants or try the Michelin starred restaurant, Les Loges, at your hotel.
Check-out of your hotel in Lyon and board a direct TGV train to Carcassonne. The journey south along the Rhone Valley into Provence and then Languedoc-Roussillon takes approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. You will spend two nights in the medieval town of Carcassonne.
The Gallo-Roman upper town of Carcassonne is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historically of great significance in France. Walk along the city walls, past the castle’s amphitheatre, the basilica, and its 53 watchtowers, before making your way into the 12th century Château Comtal to view its archaeological exhibits and tour its inner ramparts. Visit the Cathedral of St Nazaire, which was built between the 11th and 14th centuries. The lower Carcassonne town subverts its title as a city, instead offering a peaceful, somewhat sleepy atmosphere, with a central square that holds a weekly market and numerous restaurants and cafés. From Place Carnot, walk further out into the town centre to discover the quaint individual stores that sell unique gifts, or La Ferme, which sells fine food and wines.
Today you travel by train to Bordeaux. This is a direct service which takes approximately 3 hours, heading north-west through the ‘pink city’ of Toulouse, along the valley of the River Garonne to Bordeaux.
The city of Bordeaux is a thriving hub of wine making in the Aquitaine region. On the bank of the Gironde Estuary, just south of the Médoc Peninsula, and about 40 minutes’ drive from world-famous Saint-Emilion. Within the port city of Bordeaux, stroll around the streets to get a feel for the wealth of extensive and interesting architecture. Recommended stop-off points include the Amphithéâtre de Bordeaux dit Palais Gallien, the Cathédrale de Bordeaux, the Opéra National de Bordeaux, and the Basilica of St. Michel. Making your own way around this city and exploring in your own time is the best way to experience the place first-hand. To delve deeper into the heritage of the city, visit the Musée d’Aquitaine, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, or catch a show at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux.
Depart from Bordeaux on a late morning train in the direction of London, changing stations in Paris before boarding the Eurostar to arrive back in the UK at about 6pm.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,990 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class £380 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR13
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
Begin your rail holiday by departing on a Eurostar from London to Paris. Departures are hourly and the journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Choose a departure time to suit although we suggest taking a mid-morning departure to arrive into Paris in the afternoon. Check-in to your hotel where you will spend three nights.
You have two full days at leisure to explore Paris. The hotel we suggest is situated on the Left Bank, a stone’s throw away from La Place de la Concorde, the Assemblée Nationale and Les Invalides. Highlights to visit include the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most famous of Paris’s monuments, where you can take a lift to the top floor at 899 feet and enjoy the view across Paris. Other places to visit include the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe which dates from 1836. Spend some time taking in the atmosphere of Montmartre where you can find the Sacre-Coeur basilica. Montmartre is one of the most charming areas of Paris, and it is worth exploring the narrow winding streets that make it so appealing. Another appealing district is Le Marais, on the right bank. Here you can find the elegant Place des Vosges, an attractive square known formally as the Place Royale built in the early 1700s. There are also many museums on offer. Notable museums include the Louvre, Musée Rodin and Musée d’Orsay. Take a break from sight-seeing and enjoy one of the many pretty gardens such as the Jardin du Luxembourg or the Jardin des Tuileries.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before taking a taxi to the Gare de Lyon where you board a direct TGV service to the city of Lyon. The journey takes about two hours with trains departing about two every hour. There are no tunnels on this route and you’ll see the forests and fields south of Paris give way to the hills and vineyards of Burgundy. Check-in to your hotel where you will spend two nights.
Lyon has much to offer, with history dating back to Roman times. The old town is located on the banks of the River Saone. Spend time exploring the narrow, cobbled streets with medieval buildings and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Visit Place Bellecour, an impressive square with a statue of Louis XIV on horseback as its centrepiece. Stroll to Place des Terreaux and admire the fountains dotted about the square. The striking Notre Dame Basilica, situated in Fourviere, can be accessed on foot up several steps or by funicular. Enjoy panoramic views over Lyon from here. Lyon is also home to around 30 museums including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Gallo-Roman Civilisation. Dine in one of Lyon’s many restaurants or try the Michelin starred restaurant, Les Loges, at your hotel.
Check-out of your hotel in Lyon and board a direct TGV train to Carcassonne. The journey south along the Rhone Valley into Provence and then Languedoc-Roussillon takes approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. You will spend two nights in the medieval town of Carcassonne.
The Gallo-Roman upper town of Carcassonne is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historically of great significance in France. Walk along the city walls, past the castle’s amphitheatre, the basilica, and its 53 watchtowers, before making your way into the 12th century Château Comtal to view its archaeological exhibits and tour its inner ramparts. Visit the Cathedral of St Nazaire, which was built between the 11th and 14th centuries. The lower Carcassonne town subverts its title as a city, instead offering a peaceful, somewhat sleepy atmosphere, with a central square that holds a weekly market and numerous restaurants and cafés. From Place Carnot, walk further out into the town centre to discover the quaint individual stores that sell unique gifts, or La Ferme, which sells fine food and wines.
Today you travel by train to Bordeaux. This is a direct service which takes approximately 3 hours, heading north-west through the ‘pink city’ of Toulouse, along the valley of the River Garonne to Bordeaux.
The city of Bordeaux is a thriving hub of wine making in the Aquitaine region. On the bank of the Gironde Estuary, just south of the Médoc Peninsula, and about 40 minutes’ drive from world-famous Saint-Emilion. Within the port city of Bordeaux, stroll around the streets to get a feel for the wealth of extensive and interesting architecture. Recommended stop-off points include the Amphithéâtre de Bordeaux dit Palais Gallien, the Cathédrale de Bordeaux, the Opéra National de Bordeaux, and the Basilica of St. Michel. Making your own way around this city and exploring in your own time is the best way to experience the place first-hand. To delve deeper into the heritage of the city, visit the Musée d’Aquitaine, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, or catch a show at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux.
Depart from Bordeaux on a late morning train in the direction of London, changing stations in Paris before boarding the Eurostar to arrive back in the UK at about 6pm.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,990 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class £380 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR13
Our prices include
● Second-class travel on all trains, with standard class on Eurostar (first and standard premier can be booked at a supplement)
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a superior room at Hotel Bourgogne et Montana, Paris
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a classic room at Hotel La Cour des Loges, Lyon
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a classic room at Hotel de la Cité, Carcassonne
● 2 nights’ bed and breakfast in a deluxe room at the Hotel de Seze, Bordeaux
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers, entrance fees and meals except daily breakfast at each hotel
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris, Lyon, Carcassonne and Bordeaux
Additional information This holiday can be arranged throughout the year. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
The hotel Bourgogne et Montana is a luxury, 4-star, boutique hotel in an 18th century building, elegantly and discreetly furnished, a short walk from the iconic sights of the Left Bank.
Superior double room
Hotel Cour des Loges is a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel in the centre of Lyon's Old Town. This 'Renaissance Jewel', offers a Michelin-starred restaurant, Roman bath style spa and unique blend of historicity and modernity to create a relaxing retreat.
Classic double room
Hotel de la Cité is a luxury 5-star hotel in an excellent location in the heart of the mediaeval city. Delicious gourmet cuisine and pampering spa facilities afford guests a relaxing and indulgent experience.
Classic double room
Hotel de Sèze is a charming 4-star city centre hotel whose architecture is inspired by the 18th century.
Classic double
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
My daughter and I had a fabulous time on our holiday. The hotels were all spectacular in their different ways, the train journeys were exciting and gorgeous scenery and the organisation from the various rail networks was spot on.Mrs B, June 2022
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,990 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class £380 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR13
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
About Bordeaux Region
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Bordeaux is a chance to explore a region renowned the world over for its wines and its awe-inspiring chateaux, whilst Cognac is less explored yet holds a countless store of treasures waiting to be appreciated. The Bordeaux region is ideal for short breaks and touring holidays with a range of sights to discover. Cognac country is a perfect destination for the discerning traveller as it is still relatively unknown yet is within very easy reach of more popular areas such as the coastal resorts between La Rochelle and Royan about 30 minutes` drive to the west, the Medoc and Saint Emilion vineyards about 45 minutes` drive to the south and the intriguing Marais Poitevin about an hour`s drive to the north. Moreover, the cuisine has a character of its own, utilising cognac, pineau and Marennes oysters. A holiday to the Bordeaux and Cognac regions is highly recommended. A fantastic way to discover the region is to incorporate it into a self-drive touring holiday, flying to Bordeaux and then exploring this area as well as the Basque Country and Carcassonne by hire-car. It is also accessible by train, such as in our suggested rail holiday travelling to the Loire Valley and Bordeaux which also allows you to explore by hire-car.
Highlights of Bordeaux
Visit vineyards and chateaux, for tasting and buying. Visit the oyster beds. Experience the Cognac distilleries, and the Romanesque architecture. Bordeaux is the historical centre for wine however you may also visit the villages of the wine region such as St Emilion.
Climate in the Bordeaux Region
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 10.0, Feb: 9.4, Mar: 12.2, Apr: 19.5, May: 18.0, Jun: 23.7, Jul: 27.2, Aug: 25.7, Sep: 24.2, Oct: 19.7, Nov: 15.4, Dec: 11.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
About Languedoc-Roussillon
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Languedoc-Roussillon is a chance to encounter this most southerly region of French Catalonia, nestling on the Spanish border. The region is one that continues to delight and charm, offering plenty to discover during your holiday. The coast of Languedoc-Roussillon has long flat sandy beaches with a full range of water sports and golf at St Cyprien. Meanwhile the hinterland is surprisingly green, composed of gently sloping vineyards, Cotes de Roussillon, Banyuls and Rivesaltes and a whole host of fruit trees including peaches, cherries, plums and oranges. Further inland in Languedoc-Roussillon the Pyrenees rise, remarkably green and covered with trees and shrubs. To the north is the mediaeval town of Carcassonne, which rises like a mirage between vineyards and hills. Languedoc Roussillon also offers the fascinating land of the Cathars. With so much to see in Languedoc-Roussillon, a self-drive touring holiday is an excellent choice, either driving all the way from the UK or flying to the south of France before collecting a hire car. Visit other regions including Tarn and Provence to the north or Bordeaux and the Basque country to the west. Discover the Catalonian and Basque cultures by travelling along the Spanish border, or explore the valleys, fortresses and mountains of southwestern France. A rail holiday offers the chance to view the beautiful French countryside during the journey south, travelling by train to Carcassonne before exploring Languedoc-Roussillon by car, or stopping off in Beaujolais en route to the region.
Highlights of Languedoc-Roussillon
Sample the earliest cherries in France and other seasonal fruit. Take a visit to see the local ceramics and paintings, travel on the narrow-gauge railway from Villefranche de Conflent to Font Romeu. There are Folklore and music festivals in August. Gastronomy Sample anchovies, macaroons, Rousquilles aniseed biscuits. Local wines include Banyuls and Rivesaltes wines and Cotes de Roussillon wine. This is one of the most highly-regarded new wine regions of France.
Climate of Languedoc-Roussillon
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 12.4, Feb: 11.5, Mar: 12.5, Apr: 17.6, May: 20.1, Jun: 26.5, Jul: 28.4, Aug: 28.1, Sep: 26.1, Oct: 21.1, Nov: 15.8, Dec :13.5. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
About Paris
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Paris has selected hotels within walking distance of the major sights of the city, all perfect for a luxury holiday in the French capital. Paris is a beautiful city that no one can ever tire of visiting, time after time. As Paris is only 3 hours from London by Eurostar, it really is within easy reach for a long weekend or short break. The hotels are either on the Left Bank near to Notre Dame, the Seine, the Musee d`Orsay and the boulevards of St Germain and St Michel, near the Louvre and the Tuileries, or a short walk from the Champs Elysées.
Highlights of Paris
We can arrange tickets for the opera, ballet and concerts throughout France. Please let us know what you want to see and we will do our best to book tickets in advance.
Paris Climate
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.5, Feb: 7.1, Mar: 10.2, Apr: 15.7, May: 16.6, Jun: 23.4, Jul: 25.1, Aug: 25.6, Sep: 20.9, Oct: 16.5, Nov: 11.7, Dec: 7.8. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to the south-west French cities of Carcassonne and Bordeaux, with Lyon and Paris
About Rhone Valley
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Rhone and Beaujolais offers the opportunity to indulge in a magnificent region of France. The areas of Rhone and Beaujolais extend to the north and south of the city of Lyon. Beaujolais is obviously famous for its wine, but the rolling hills are a patchwork of vineyards and pretty villages and well worth exploring. Further south the landscape becomes more Mediterranean but there are areas of natural beauty with river valleys, mountains, forests and plains as well as more cultivated areas of vines, fruit and flowers. The villages are delightful with stone buildings and red roofs, there are numerous sporting activities and the gastronomy is excellent. The unique Chateau de Bagnols in the Beaujolais region enjoys a pretty location and combines details of the past with the facilities of a four star hotel. Use Beaujolais and Rhone as a stop en route to places further south but also for longer stays of exploring and relaxing. The region provides the perfect stopover for a self-drive touring holiday en route to Provence or to the French Alps and Lakes, or you can explore the Rhone Valley further as well as visiting Burgundy and Provence.
Highlights of the Rhone Valley
Cultural highlights include the Beaujolais vineyards, the Gastronomic centre of the city of Lyon, vineyards of the southern Rhone valley, jazz festivals, olive festivals, and the International shoe museum at Romans.
Rhone Valley Climate
Average air temperature in Centigrade: Jan: 12.4, Feb: 11.5, Mar: 12.5, Apr: 17.6, May: 20.1, Jun: 26.5, Jul: 28.4, Aug: 28.1, Sep: 26.1, Oct: 21.1, Nov: 15.8, Dec: 13.5. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France
