Travelling by train: 5 ways to travel around France without a car

The book Vacances en train (published by Michelin), published in October 2021 and produced in partnership with the SNCF, takes the reader on a discovery of France through 40 car-free journeys. The train is a means of transport favoured by the slow tourism movement and is an invitation to slow down and let yourself be carried away. By choosing the train, travellers are also making a commitment to sustainable tourism by reducing their carbon footprint compared to a journey by car.

We have selected a few ideas for train journeys to discover France, from station to station.

Paris - Cherbourg, an iodised train journey

Take the train from Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris and settle in for a 3 hour 18 minute non-stop trip to the Cotentin peninsula. Good news for cycling enthusiasts, bikes are allowed on board.

The journey begins with a stop at Caen station. A port city known for its beaches used during the landings of 6 June 1944, Caen also has ramparts where it is possible to take a walk.

Next stop is Bayeux, where a visit to the famous Tapestry is a must. For history buffs, the 74 bus to Arromanches-les-Bains will drop you off on the beach of this seaside resort marked by the Second World War.

The train will then take you to Carentan, the capital of the marshes. Hire a bike and head for the Parc naturel régional des Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin, renowned for its magnificent flora and fauna.

The last stop before Cherbourg is Valognes, and its heritage "which in the 18th century was known as the' NormanVersailles '", says the Vacances en train guide.

Once you arrive in Cherbourg, start by visiting the Cité de la Mer and its superb 20-metre high, 9,000 m2 hall. You can also admire its aquarium and the 3,500 fish that live there.

Nantes - Le Croisic, only 1h15 non-stop

Fancy taking the train to the French seaside resorts of the Côte d'Amour? Take a day to discover the gentle way of life in Nantes, the former capital of Brittany.

Take the train to Saint-Nazaire. The port city is on the "route du vélocean", a greenway that allows you to pedal to La Baule. If you are more comfortable on your feet, the customs path offers a beautiful walk, preferably at low tide.

Next stop, Pornichet, an old salt worker's village bordering the sea, before reaching La Baule-les-Pins and its 9 kilometres of beach where locals and tourists alike flock. Make a stop at Le Pouliguen - only 8 minutes away by train! - famous for its harbour and caves where you might spot a korrigan, and head for Batz-sur-Mer - 4 minutes away by TER - known for its salt marshes.

Once you arrive in Le Croisic, enjoy its fishing port and fine sandy beaches before visiting the Océarium.

Bordeaux - Sarlat in 2h25 by train

Allow around 10 days to complete this itinerary by train to take in the region's rich heritage, the magnificent scenery of the Périgord countryside, the gastronomy and the prestigious Bordeaux vineyards on your way.

To visit the region, board a train in Bordeaux and stop in :

Libourne ;
Saint-Emillion ;
Castillon-la-Bataille;
Sainte-Foye-la-Grande;
Bergerac ;
Trémotat ;
Lalinde ;
Le Buisson ;
Saint-Cyprien ;
Sarlat.

To enjoy the scenery on the train, "turn right to Bergerac, then left", advises the Vacances en train guide.

The Cévennes line, from Nîmes to Brioude

Taking a seat on the Cévennes line is the promise of a natural spectacle lasting 5 hours and 15 minutes (the duration of the journey without a stopover). The journey offers "remarkable and unspoilt views of the gorges, the deserted causses, the forest massifs and the high valleys punctuated by historic villages where time seems to have stood still", explains the guide. Built in the middle of the 19th century, the railway line has the particularity of having been laid out "where no road passed".

Place yourself on the right-hand side in the direction of travel and off you go. After taking time to admire the Roman remains in Nîmes, head for Alès, located near the Cevennes mountains. Stop at Génolhac to visit the medieval town and then head for the village of Villefort (12 minutes' walk from the station).

After a stop in the village of La Bastide Puylaurent, make a stop in Langogne, considered as the "pearl of Gévaudan". Last stop Brioude and its magnificent basilica.

Nice from Marseille by train

Considered one of the most beautiful rail routes in Europe, the train from Nice to Marseille starts at sea level and rises to an altitude of over 1000 metres. Keep to the right-hand side of the train and admire the perched villages of France and the breathtaking scenery that this journey offers.

The route of the so-called "wonder train" from Nice-Ville stops at :