Railtrail Annual Brochure 2018 European

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DEPARTS
HOTELS
Saturday 21 July 2018
© Marie Carcassonne
© AdobeStock
Carcassonne Medieval Castle
Agrivap at St Just
Train Rouge Pont du Gard
Cevenol Line to Nimes
12
DAYS
Mercure Hotel,
Clermont Ferrand
A new 4 star hotel right at the centre of
Clermont Ferrand, with good transport
connections, panoramic bar area and fitness
centre.
Novotel Nimes
Discover ‘French Rome’ from this central 4
star hotel with well-equipped modern rooms,
restaurant and bar.
Mercure Béziers
Situated just a short walk from the main
Allée Paul Riquet avenue and cathedral of St
Nazaire, the 4 star Mercure is a welcoming,
modern hotel right at the heart of Béziers.
érence!
© Guy Banyuls
DAY 8
Our train whisks us from Nimes through
Montpelier and skirts the Mediterranean en
route to Béziers, a cathedral city on the River
Orb. Béziers was the home of Paul Riquet,
the engineer responsible for the Canal du
Midi, an extraordinary piece of engineering
that links the Atlantic with the Mediterranean.
On arrival we visit a staircase of nine locks,
before sampling local wine, Béziers’ other
claim to fame, and checking into the Mercure
Hotel for three nights. (B,D)
DAY 9
Travelling south by train, today’s excursion
arrives at Rivesaltes to join the Train du Pays
Cathare et des Fenouilledes. Better known
as the Red Train, this tourist service climbs
from Rivesaltes to Axat in the foothills of the
Pyrenees, twisting and turning through the
terrain. There is free time in Axat before we
make our return journey to Rivesaltes and
Béziers. (B,D)
DAY 10
Another rail excursion travels due west
across Languedoc to Carcassonne, one of
the world’s most incredible medieval fortified
towns . Carcassonne’s citadel is entirely
encircled by an impenetrable wall, all turrets,
towers and battlements. Explore the quaint
alleys of this UNESCO World Heritage site
before we return to Béziers. (B,D)
DAY 11
Completing our triangular tour, we depart
Béziers on another of France’s forgotten,
yet beautiful lines, the Ligne des Causses,
which climbs through the Massif Central using
tunnels and viaducts to master the difficult
terrain to arrive back in Clermont Ferrand for
a final night at the Mercure Hotel. (B,D)
DAY 12
After breakfast we retrace our tracks to
Bercy, crossing Paris to join the Eurostar to
London St Pancras, arriving early evening. (B)
NEW
TOUR
FARE
From London St Pancras International:
Standard Class rail travel
to/from France, including £2095
Standard Eurostar
First Class rail travel to/from
France, including Standard £2395
Premier Eurostar
Single Traveller Supplement £499
11 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Rail travel to & from Clermont Ferrand in the class of
your choice (internal journeys all Standard Class)
All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
GUARANTEED FARE