Including a night train from Paris to Latour-de-Carol in the snow-clad Pyrenees!
23rd February to 1st March 2024
A great trip which took us to Paris, the Pyrenees, Perpignan, Figueres (Spain) and the Dalí Museum, Béziers near the Mediterranean coast, Nimes with its Roman colosseum and through the beautiful hills of Languedoc and the Massif Central.
We journeyed over 2000 miles (3000 km) by train through France and Spain, (incl 250 miles on cross Channel journeys and in England).
After an evening meal at the Bistrot de la Gare near the Gare du Lyon we boarded an overnight train with the Intercités de Nuit from Gare d’Austerlitz, in Paris departing at 9:40 pm. By just after 10am the next day we were about 850 km south in the Pyrenees! The night train was a bit of a letdown as the sleeping compartments were really no more than cushettes with a light duvet. If we had booked earlier enough we could have been travelling for about €30 but we left it too late and had to pay a lot more. However, I’m very grateful to the English speaking service of SNCF for actually getting us on to the train because of its popularity. I had forgotten that in February the Pyrenees is quite popular for skiing and the train would be quite full. Sleeping cars consist of 6 berth for 2nd class and 4 berth for 1st class. The other dissapointment was that the buffet car had been disconnected at Toulouse, so no morning coffee and croissant for us! Thankfully we were able to have our petit dejeuner at the station café in Latour-de-Carol. Despite these inconveniences the journey we arrived on time in the heart of the beautiful Pyrenean snow-topped mountains, bathed in sunshine!
Click HERE for the photos of the journey including the Pyrenees
Below are some photos of special interest: (click the heading of each section for photos and or the link in the text for more information)
Le Petit Train Jaune in the Pryenees
The Ligne de Cerdagne, usually referred to as Le Petit Train Jaune, (the Yellow Train) is a 1m gauge railway that runs from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg in the French Pyrenees.
I had miscalculated things in my researches as I thought the Little Yellow Train was operating but when we got to Latour-de-Carol I found it was closed for winter maintenance. However there was a silver lining. We were soon able to board a bus costing only €1 which would take us on a road parallel to the train route so we could see all the many amazing railway viaducts cut into the mountainside. When we arrived at Villefranche-de-Conflent we were able to see these wonderful little trains all sitting in sideings ready for use in the spring and summer. Our onway train journey to Perpignan was also only €1 !!
Villefranche-de-Conflent
This heavily fortified village in the Pyrénées-Orientales is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When the territory was ceded to the French in the 17th C the town became an important French defence against possible Spanish incursions. We had a great lunch in a restaurant which was had very thick stone walls. Atmospheric and very welcoming!
Perpignan
Some of its older buildings
Dalí Museum – Figueres
This was the highlight of our trip! – I was blown away by the number of artistic pieces, their variety and quality! See the special page for photos on the link as above.
Béziers to Clermont-Ferrand
Through the beautiful hills of the Mediterranean in the Languedoc region to the Massif Central leaving behind small stations and villages with red terracotta roofed houses and far ranging views into the hills, some with beautiful limestone escarpments and fast flowing rivers in gorges lined by trees below us. In the far distance I even caught sight of the snowy tops of the Massif Central mountains.
Route Map Sketch
click to enlarge
Vic Ient 