The most beautiful tourist trains in France

The Mure train in Isère

After a 10 year break, the train of La Mure will start again to run along its 15 kilometres of road in Isère between La Mure and the belvedere of Monteynard in July 2021. Completely renovated and painted in a bright red colour, the train will run on the side of the mountain, allowing you to discover magnificent landscapes such as the Matheysin plateau, the Pierre Percée, the Mont-Aiguille, the Vercors massif and the Trièves mountains. This tourist line was the first in the world to be electrified with high voltage direct current in 1903.

⋙ What are the most beautiful tourist trains in Europe?

The Cévennes steam train

The route between Anduze and Saint-Jean-du-Gard offers an exceptional panorama of the Gardons Valley. Inaugurated on 26 May 1909, the line measures exactly 14 kilometres 432 metres and serves the stations of Anduze, Saint-Jean-du-Gard, Bambouseraie de Prafrance, and a fourth, Thoiras, on special occasions. Closed in the early 1970s, the line was resumed in May 1986 to become exclusively tourist.

The Baie de Somme Railway

Created in 1887, the former sea bathing network covers 27 kilometres and stops at 4 stations: Le Crotoy, Noyelles-sur-Mer, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme and Cayeux-sur-Mer. A journey of 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the route chosen, punctuated by steam locomotives. It is also possible on certain weekends to book a dinner on board, enhanced by the green scenery of the Bay of the Somme.

The La Rhune train

The departure station is located four kilometres from Ascain at the Col de Saint-Ignace near Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The cogwheel train dating from 1924 allows you to reach the summit of La Rhune at an altitude of 905 metres. The journey takes about 35 minutes, a faster ascent than that of Empress Eugénie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III, who undertook to climb the summit on a mule in 1859.

The Limousin-Périgord Steam Train

Managed by the association Conservatoire Ferroviaire Territoires Limousin Périgord, this 1950s steam train runs on the Limoges - Ussel line from mid-July to mid-September. Other trips are also organised during the summer, allowing you to enjoy the landscapes of the Limousin and surrounding regions.

The Ardèche train

The famous Mallet locomotives of the Ardèche steam train link Saint-Jean-de-Muzols to Lamastre at an altitude of 373 metres. The Vivarais railway line clinging to the rock face was built between 1886 and 1890. It winds through the Gorges du Doux offering an incredible panorama of the valley.

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Read also:

⋙ Top 10 longest train journeys in the world

⋙ Anatolia by train: we boarded the Turkish Orient-Express

⋙ Midnight Trains: hotel-on-rails-style night trains

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• Tourism

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• holidays in France

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