France

Digne, France, at Midnight Most visitors arriving in Nice never venture beyond the beaches and glamorous resorts of the Côte d'Azur. Yet just a short walk from the city's main station, another railway tells a completely different story. The Train des Pignes leaves the Mediterranean behind almost immediately, climbing steadily through narrow valleys, medieval villages and dramatic limestone landscapes before reaching the spa town of Digne-les-Bains. Operated by the historic Ch

Menton, France There are train journeys where the destination is everything, and then there are journeys where you find yourself reluctant to arrive. The railway from Marseille to Ventimiglia falls firmly into the second category. For almost four hours, the tracks hug the Mediterranean coastline, weaving between fishing ports, glamorous resorts, sandy beaches and rocky headlands before quietly crossing into Italy. Unlike many scenic railways that exist purely for sightseeing,

Paris in Summer Some people avoid Paris in summer. They imagine crowded boulevards, long queues outside museums and temperatures that make sightseeing feel like hard work. The reality is rather different. While millions of visitors continue to arrive throughout July and August, many Parisians head for the coast, the countryside or their family homes, giving the city a noticeably different rhythm. Neighbourhood cafés feel more relaxed, parks fill with picnics rather than commu

Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France Few places in France capture the imagination quite like Mont-Saint-Michel. Rising dramatically from the sands of Normandy Bay, crowned by a soaring medieval abbey, it seems almost too extraordinary to be real. For centuries, pilgrims walked across the tidal flats to reach it. Today, high-speed trains have replaced those long journeys, but the sense of anticipation remains remarkably similar. The first glimpse of the Mont rising above the ho

Touring France by Train Last FREE DAY TODAY If you've been thinking about downloading Touring France by Train, this is your reminder—today is the final day to get the Kindle edition completely FREE. 👉 Download here:https://mybook.to/TouringFranceByTrain France is one of Europe's finest countries to explore by rail. High-speed TGV services, scenic regional routes and excellent local connections make it easy to discover everything from iconic cities to hidden villages, spectac

Touring France by Train Guidebook is Free to Download from June 30th to July 2nd 2026 If France has been on your travel wish list, now is the perfect time to start planning. For the next three days only (30 June–2 July), you can download the Kindle edition of Touring France by Train completely FREE. 👉 Download your free copy here:https://mybook.to/TouringFranceByTrain France is one of Europe's most rewarding countries to explore by rail. Its extensive high-speed and regional

Some buildings are beautiful. Others are historically important. The Hospices de Beaune somehow manages to be both. At first glance, visitors are drawn to the famous glazed roof tiles — colourful geometric patterns that have become one of the defining images of Burgundy. But behind those striking roofs lies a much deeper story. For more than five centuries, this was not a palace, monastery or château. It was a hospital. A place created to care for the poor, the sick and the v

Menton Old Town, France There are train journeys that take you somewhere. And then there are those where the journey itself becomes the reason to travel. The short coastal line from Nice-Ville Station to Menton is one of the latter. It takes less than an hour. But in that time, you pass through some of the most sought-after coastline in Europe — Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu, Monaco — with the Mediterranean opening up beside you almost the entire way. No driving. No parking.

There is something quietly satisfying about arriving in Lille by train. One moment you are in Paris, London or Brussels. The next, you step out into a city that feels distinctly different from anywhere else in France — more northern, more Flemish, more relaxed. Trains arrive directly into the centre at Lille Flandres Station and Lille Europe Station, and within minutes you are walking through cobbled streets lined with colourful façades, bakeries, independent shops and cafés

Paris by Night There is something quietly satisfying about leaving Paris after dinner and waking beside the Mediterranean. Not dramatic. Not luxurious in the Orient Express sense. Just deeply civilised. The overnight train to Nice still preserves a version of European travel that airports have almost completely erased: the sense that the journey itself matters. At around 8pm, passengers begin filtering into Gare d'Austerlitz carrying paper bags from wine shops, backpacks pack

Roman Arena, Nimes, France Why Go? Nîmes is one of France’s most rewarding small cities — a place where everyday life unfolds among some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Europe. But what makes Nîmes special isn’t just its history. It’s the atmosphere. You can walk from a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre into a shaded square for lunch, spend the afternoon wandering gardens built around Roman ruins, and end the day with a glass of local rosé as the city glows in the evening

If France has been on your travel list, this is your moment. For the final day today , our 2026 guide Touring France by Train is available FREE on Amazon —and after today, it goes back to full price. This isn’t just another travel guide. It was created for a very specific kind of traveler: someone who wants freedom, flexibility, and a more authentic way to explore France—without the stress, the high costs, or the overwhelm. Why Real Travel Guides Published This Guide Too man

Planning a trip to France in 2026? This is the moment most people get stuck. Too many places. Too many logistics. Too many decisions. Flights get booked… and then everything else becomes overwhelming. But there’s a simpler way to do it — and it completely changes the experience. Travel France the Way It Was Meant to Be Seen Forget rigid tours. Forget long drives and confusing road systems. France has one of the best rail networks in the world — fast, scenic, and incredibly ea

Le Puy-en-Velay feels made for spring. After the long winter, the surrounding volcanic landscape softens — wildflowers begin to scatter across the hills, the air is crisp but warming (typically 12–20°C), and walking trails reopen in perfect condition. The light at this time of year is clear, golden, and ideal for those sweeping views across the Haute-Loire. This is also when the town quietly comes back to life. Pilgrims begin arriving to start the Camino, markets fill with lo

Cathedral of St Peter, Montpellier Montpellier is one of southern France’s most vibrant and youthful cities — and in spring, it truly comes into its own. Think warm sunshine without the summer heat, café terraces buzzing back to life, and easy access to Mediterranean beaches just as the season begins. Arriving by train places you right in the centre, making this an effortless long weekend destination with no need for a car. This guide covers what to see, where to eat, where t

Panoramic View of Lyon, France Spring is one of the best times to visit Lyon. The riverside paths come alive with locals, terraces spill into the streets, and the hills above the city turn green again. It’s warm enough to linger outdoors, but still calm enough to explore without summer crowds. Arriving by train, you step straight into one of France’s most rewarding cities — compact, atmospheric, and built for wandering. This guide covers how to spend a relaxed spring weekend

Rouen is one of Normandy’s most atmospheric cities — and in spring , it feels at its most alive. Timber-framed houses, Gothic churches and cobbled lanes are softened by blossom, outdoor markets return, and café terraces begin to fill again. With direct trains from Paris, Rouen makes an ideal car-free weekend escape — compact, walkable, and rich in history without ever feeling overwhelming. This guide covers what to see, where to eat, where to stay, spring walks, and how to e

Pornic city, harbor and castle, Brittany in France, Loire-Atlantic Nantes is one of France’s most inventive and underrated cities — and in spring , it really comes into its own. As riverside paths fill with cyclists, markets spill outdoors, and the Atlantic coast begins to warm, Nantes offers a refreshing alternative to more obvious destinations. Paired with nearby coastal towns, this is a perfect car-free escape — think river walks, creative districts, seafood lunches, and

Colmar, France Colmar is one of France’s most enchanting small towns — but in spring, it becomes something truly special. As window boxes begin to bloom, vineyards awaken, and café terraces spill into cobbled streets, Colmar feels less like a postcard and more like a place gently coming back to life. With excellent rail connections from Strasbourg, Mulhouse and Basel, it’s the perfect slow, car-free escape — ideal for a long weekend of walking, wine, and wandering. Why Visit

Snow-capped peaks of Pic de Péréjat and Pic des Estaqnols in early spring in the French Pyrénées If the Alps feel polished and postcard-perfect, the Pyrenees in spring feel something else entirely — wilder, greener, and quietly alive again after winter. The train from Toulouse to Latour-de-Carol captures that transformation beautifully. This isn’t a journey to rush. In spring especially, it’s one to slow down for — as rivers swell with snowmelt, hillsides turn vivid green, an