There's no doubt that train travel is having a bit of a moment, as travellers shun planes for the greener and more relaxing alternative of the railways. With its high-speed TGV network, France is particularly good at train travel. But as well as being better for both the planet and your sense of adventure, railways have one extra advantage - great views.
Here’s our pick of seven breathtaking rail journeys in France that will show you way train travel is still the best travel.
The Côte d’Azur
A - very affordable - train journey along the coast of the Côte d’Azur is one of the great French travel experiences - the train hugs the cliffs on one side, as the sea laps against the coast on the other.
Head from Marseille to Nice - and perhaps on to Monaco, Menton and Italy - on the Marseille-Ventimiglia line - passing through the glamorous Riviera resorts of Cannes and Antibes, as well as Juan-les-Pins, and Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap d'Ail if you opt to head towards the Italian border.
La Ligne des Hirondelles
This two-and-a-half hour, 123 km journey between Dole and Saint-Claude in eastern France on a typically comfortable TER train passes far too quickly.
It goes through the forest of Chaux, the Jura vineyards, the valley of Grandvaux, the Valley of Bienne... not to mention crossing 36 tunnels and 18 viaducts.
A joy from start to finish.
La Ligne de Cerdagne
If you haven’t heard of the train jaune, you’re in for a thoroughly pleasant surprise.
A true emblem of the south west, the yellow train travels the heights of the Pyrénées-Orientales through forests, chasms, gorges, viaducts, past old fortresses and a precariously perched monastery on a 63k m picture-postcard journey between Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol, nearly 1,600m above sea level.
Two types of trains operate on this route, a modern enclosed train as well as an older historic train that sometimes runs with open carriages when mountain weather allows.
Le train de Montenvers
Not to be outdone by those upstarts in the Pyrenees, the Alps has the bright red train de Montenvers, which climbs from the Chamonix valley around Mont Blanc, before stopping at the Mer de Glaces all year round.
In winter, you can watch skiers doing their thing on the slopes. In summer, the stunning scenery will just have to do...
La Ligne des Cévennes
The 304 km journey from Clermont-Ferrand to Nîmes never looked so good, passing through astonishing landscape including the spectacular Gorges de l’Allier and the peaceful Cévennes national park.
The train route also crosses numerous equally astonishing 19th-century bridges and viaducts - including the twin curved 433m Chapeauroux Viaduct, and the 409m Chamborigaud Viaduct.
Le Mastrou
The age of steam still has the power to get rail travel lovers all emotional.
The 130-year-old Le Mastrou train travels from Tournon-Saint Jean through the stunning Ardèche landscape, crosses the Gorges du Doux for a relaxing lunch in the picturesque town of Lamastre in the mountains.
Interloire
One for cyclists - the link between Orléans and Le Croisic, on the Atlantic coast, cuts through the painfully pretty Loire Valley and passes through Nantes and Angers, following the Loire à Vélo path. In summer, cycles can be safely stored for the journey in a dedicated wagon.
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