Traveling by train can be one of the greatest moment of your journey. Discover new landscapes from the seat of a train and it is a more relaxing experience than driving as well. Read more about the Best scenic rail routes in France to enhance your trip and prepare your future adventures.
| Unlike the United Kingdom or the USA, France did not close down half or more of her railway or railroad network in the nineteen-sixties and seventies, at the start of the motorway age. As a result, modern France still boasts a dense rail network, including a lot of rural branch lines, some of them quite long.
Thanks to a network of minor and sometimes very scenic railway lines, amateurs of rail tourism can visit some of the parts of France that other means of transport do not reach ! Evidently, the most scenic rail routes are to be found in the mountainous regions of France, which means the southern half of the country for a great majority of them. Some of them are still operated by the SNCF (the French National Railway Company), others are not. |
| The longest of France’s long-distance single-track lines starts at the small station of Arvant (60 kms south from Clermont Ferrand) and heads to Béziers, 300kms further south. It operates only once per day, takes a full day and travels through the majestic and wild plateaux of Causses (the train’s line unofficial name is the “line of the Causses”) and l’Aubrac, with stops in Saint Flour and Millau. This line has been often threatened with closure, but it’s still open and alive!
The line is remarkable as it runs across the top of the plateaux of the Massif Central, up to an altitude of 1100 metres, and is also electrified. Highlights include the Viaduc de Garabit, another of the masterpieces of Gustave Eiffel, spanning the gorge of the river Truyère, and the descent into the deep valley of the Tarn. The line actually runs underneath the modern Millau viaduct (inaugurated in 2004), on the A75 motorway, which is a real technological feat and considered by many as a modern artistic masterpiece. The line also goes through Roquefort, home of the famous cheese. Want to come back to your point of departure on rail again? So make an overnight stay in Béziers or Sète, on the Mediterranean coast, and hop on the “the line of the Cévennes” the next morning : the second long distance route across the Massif Central through Nîmes – Alès – Langogne – Brioude, with a terminus in Arvant as well. It’s a bit busier than the line of the Causses, (up to four trains per day each way.) This line is also more spectacular, as it runs through the upper end of the Allier gorge, in a section where no roads go, and through the spectacular Cevennes mountains, on a twisting line with dozens of tunnels and impressive viaducts. |
In Brittany: between Paimpol and Pontrieux, enjoy the charm of the olden days by hopping aboard the famous Trieux steam railway. Pulled by a Mallet locomotive, let yourself drift along to the commentary, given by a hostess in period costume. After departing from Paimpol, the train runs along the river Trieux, inaccessible by car. The 45 minute stop at the manor in the Traou Nez estuary, in the centre of the forest, will give you just enough time to have some pancakes and cider whilst listening to the sound of bells ringing. Back on board, don’t miss the Château de la Roche-Jagu, behind whose defensive façade hides a beautiful Breton manor house. The train then crosses the viaduct over the Leff, a few kilometres before reaching Pontrieux. An original and picturesque way to see the region!
Have a look on our suggestions of trips in Brittany where we could include that train
In Charente (close to the Atlantic Ocean and the estuary of Gironde): between Saujon and La Tremblade, board the Seagull Train for a fabulous experience, a journey back in time, with family or friends. At 30 km/h, you will take the railway line, opened in 1876 and formerly dedicated to the transport of oysters, which links the two villages of Saujon and La Tremblade, serving the stations of Mornac-sur-Seudre, one of the most beautiful villages in France and Chaillevette , high place of oyster farming. On board, pulled by the oldest steam locomotive in France (1891), classified as a historical monument, you will admire the marsh landscape, the oyster beds, the small bridges and the shimmering huts. And for children, a wagon is specially reserved for them, transformed into a padded and secure play area!
Have a look on our suggestions of trips including Bordeaux (the closest big city to Charente).
In Alsace: take a journey through time aboard the Doller Valley train. This steam railway runs between Cernay Saint-André and Sentheim on a line of approximately 15kms. It operates every Sunday from June to September and also on Wednesdays in July and August. The journey is completed with a discovery of the valley organized by the tourist office of the Doller Valley. Many animations and shows are proposed : « Small Montmartre with artists », « The Doller western with horses, cowboys and indians », « The train of stars with observations by the telescope », « The Halloween train and its participatory games », « The Christmas train »…On arrival in Sentheim, visit the Artists’ Station, which presents different painters and visual artists every weekend.
Have a look on our suggestions of trips in Alsace where we could include that train.
| In the Alps: the famous Montenvers railway. Departing from Chamonix, this famous rack and pinion railway brings you to the Montenvers site at 1913 m, on the slopes of the Mont Blanc. An imposing panorama of the Mer de Glace glacier, the Drus and the Grandes Jorasses ! It takes about twenty minutes to climb the 1,000 metres up to the Montenvers – Mer de Glace attraction. Simply hop on board the famous little red railway train. Time will stand still, and you’ll enjoy this vintage method of transport. The track climbs the mountainside, running through the forest and tunnels cut through the rock and over viaducts. You enter the realm of the high mountains, and round the last bend you’ll feel the magic: you’ve arrived at your destination at the foot of the famous Mer de Glace glacier, at an altitude of 1,913 m.
Have a look on our suggestions of trips in the French Alps where we could include that train. |
In the Western Pyrenees: ride along the mountainside on the Little Train of Artouste (in the Central Pyrenées, south of Lourdes). Imagine rocky cliffs in full sun, their peaks piercing an indigo sky. It is a quite delicious experience of heights that the Little Train of Artouste has to offer. Climbing the peaks up to 2000 m altitude, it is one of the highest trains in Europe ! A unique chance to reach the summits, to discover the Artouste lake and coming across the sheep as they move pastures in transhumance… and all this without getting tired ! Originally, the Little Train of Artouste was created to transport the men and materials necessary for the construction of the Artouste lake dam (in 1920). It was only 12 years later that it began to be used for tourism purposes. It is 100 years old !To find out more about this great adventure, go to the museum which is to be found at the start of the train ride, in Fabrèges. The entry is included in your ticket. Have a look on our suggestions of trips in the Western Pyrenees where we could include that train.
In Eastern Pyrenees: the Little Yellow Train of the Pyrenees – a famous mountain train running from Vernet les Bains, near Perpignan , to Latour de Carol, at 1200 metres altitude, on the Spanish border, a distance of 63 km. The line winds up through the Eastern Pyrenees and sunny area of Cerdagne, amid spectacular scenery, to a summit at 1593m. The name derives from the colour of the coaches, which are bright yellow. Our tip : book a ticket in one of the open coaches (if weather permits), offering spectacular viewing of the surrounding mountains. Operates all year round ! Have a look on our suggestions of trips in Northern Spain and French Catalonia where we could include that train
In Côte d’Azur: Nice-Digne les bains. This is the surviving part of the once extensive Chemins de Fer de Provence. It is a one-metre gauge private railway (owned by Veolia), linking the seaside city of Nice with Digne les Bains, a distance of 151 km. The route is operated by diesel railcar (not the most comfortable), and runs through the spectacular scenery of the Mediterranean Alps. The single journey takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes. In summer, there is a steam service at weekends over a short section of the line. Ardèche (Rhone valley). Have a look on our suggestions of trips in Nice where we could include that train.
In Rhône Valley: The Chemin de Fer du Vivarais is a delightful 33 km line winding up through the hills of the Ardèche from Tournon, on the Rhône, to Lamastre, high in the Cévennes. The line operates steam services in the summer season. 2013 saw the line reopened for service after five years of interruption. Have a look on our suggestions of trips in Lyon and Rhone Valley where we could include that train.
Of course this list is not comprehensive, and there are many other touristic and scenic trains in France. So don’t hesitate to ask us if this kind of experience is on your bucket list! Next time I’ll talk you about the scenic trains of Switzerland, another fabulous country for rail lovers!
This article has been written with the help of About France. I hope you enjoyed this article about the Best scenic rail routes in France.
If you are interested in discovering more pre-designed paths than you just have to follow to discover beautiful scenery, check out my following article on the GR34 The Customs Trail in Brittany
