For holidaymakers visiting France from overseas, the French capital is often their first destination. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned Francophile traveller, it’s hard to resist the lure of all those iconic monuments and museums, the cultural events and – equally important – that unique Parisian lifestyle.
But hard though it can be to tear yourself away, France isn’t only about Paris. There is a vast choice of cities, coast and countryside just waiting to be explored and when you start in the capital, the French rail network will whisk you wherever you want to go. But where to first?
Paris to Provence tour by train
The sun-drenched Riviera is a bucket-list trip for many. Think Mediterranean beaches and chic shops, fascinating heritage, and the scents and colours of vibrant flowers and fresh market produce. You could, of course, just buy an independent train ticket to the Côte d’Azur and leave the rest to chance. Or you could let Authentic Europe create an unforgettable itinerary that will enable you to explore much more than just the French capital and a stylish seaside resort but without any of the uncertainty and hassle about doing it yourself.
Their Paris, Burgundy & the South of France tour can be organised all year round and lasts for eight days, but if you want a more in-depth experience, customise your tour with extra nights and optional experiences. The programme is self-guided, but all arrangements are made for you and there is expert help just a phone call away to answer any customer questions along the way.
Visit Paris and take a day trip
Your adventure begins in Paris, dubbed the City of Light for being one of the first major European cities to use gas street lighting in 1820. And the city has shone ever since. Ease yourself in from the airport with an optional private transfer to your hotel where you will stay for two nights – longer if you wish to take in more of the city’s famous attractions and neighbourhoods.
If you have time to spare, maybe book onto a full-day guided tour to the D-Day beaches and memorials of Normandy, as Europe commemorates the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord in June 2024. Or take the train to Tours in the Loire Valley where your private guide will take you to some of the area’s most iconic chateaux, including magnificent Chenonceau with its arches across the river Cher and François I’s vast party palace and hunting forest at Chambord. Prefer a day at Versailles or touring Champagne? Just say the word.
A brush with history in Beaune
After a free morning in Paris, take the train to Burgundy, passing through rolling vineyards to Beaune, widely regarded as the ‘wine capital’ of the region. Your next day is free to fill as you choose. A visit to the Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune with its roof of multi-coloured tiles is highly recommended. This magnificent Gothic hospital contains an extraordinary 18th century pharmacy lined with authentic bottles.
You could follow this with a half-day wine tour by bike, but if you are passionate about wine, maybe opt for a full-day wine tour by minivan to taste famous vintages such Mersault and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Or combine tastings with a little gentle exercise on a full-day wine tour on two wheels.
The sunny south and enchanting Aix-en-Provence
From Beaune, your next stop is Aix-en-Provence, passing through Lyon where you have a one-hour wait for a connection. France’s third largest city, Lyon boasts a stunning Renaissance Old Town, twin Roman theatres, and many museums, including one dedicated to the Lumière Brothers, inventors of moving pictures. So maybe leave that rail connection for a couple of days and explore this fascinating city first before heading to Aix-en-Provence.
This atmospheric city has strong connections with painter Paul Cézanne and you could spend your free day following in his footsteps round the town centre and enjoying the fountains and Renaissance facades from a café in the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau. Eager for a taste of Provence? Then book a place on a 3-hour gourmet walking tour that includes the extensive market where tightly packed stalls piled with fruit and vegetables, cheeses and chocolates will send you into sensory overload. Or head out on a guided tour to the wider area. The hilltop villages of the Lubéron, perhaps, several of them ranked amongst The Most Beautiful Villages in France. A full-day drive to experience Provençal highlights such as the Roman aqueduct of the Pont du Gard, the historic city of Avignon, and a wine tasting in the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Or, from mid-June through mid-July, the lavender fields and spectacular Verdon Gorge. You will never forget the sight – or scent – of those neat rows of purple blooms stretching to the horizon.
Irresistible Nice
Final stop on your itinerary is Nice, a glorious resort that welcomed many famous visitors from America, Britain and Russia in the late 19th and early 20th century, all of whom left their mark on its architecture and lifestyle. More than 100 years on, Nice is still a jewel of the Riviera with its enchanting Old Town, vast bay, and sweeping views from Castle Hill. Visit some of its many cultural attractions including museums to Paul Chagall and Henri Matisse, a Fine Arts Museum, and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Book an extra night or two and you can also enjoy a number of optional day trips including a drive through the countryside to Grasse, world capital of perfume, with stops in Cannes and the hilltop medieval village of Gourdon. Or maybe a trip to Monaco by car, returning via the hilltop village of Eze and stopping in both Cannes and Antibes.
Flexible rail tours of France to suit you
Whatever you want to do, options with Authentic Europe are endless. You can start the itinerary in Nice and do the journey in reverse; choose from comfortable tourist class hotels (Silver) or 4-star hotels and unique properties (Gold); and add on as many days and optional excursions as you wish. And although you will probably want to see as many places as possible, if you just want to concentrate on Paris and Nice, their 7-day Discover Paris & the French Riviera may be your perfect fit, missing out Burgundy and Aix-en-Provence in favour of an extra day in each of these contrasting cities.
Authentic Europe customers are provided with detailed travel itineraries that include full information on how to get from your airport to hotel and from hotels to train stations, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy yourself. And as added reassurance, they promise to reply to any enquiry the same day during office hours, and outside of office hours, they are available 24/7 through an emergency line.
Sound like an offer you can’t refuse? Paris and Provence are ready and waiting for you.
Discover all of Authentic Europe’s France tours and book your place at: authenticeurope.com
