Provence by Rail

What's Included

INCLUDED

• Return train travel from London St Pancras direct to Avignon, returnign via Lille
• Six nights' accommodation on room and breakfast basis at three-star Hotel Bristol, based on shared occupancy of a twin room with private facilities.
• Full coach touring programme as detailed in the itinerary conducted by experienced tour manager
• Tour manager/guide throughout

NB: All groups are confirmed at the Bristol Hotel with upgrades available at the four-star Avignon Grand Hotel

NOT INCLUDED

• Holiday insurance
• Single room supplement
• Standard Premier/1st Class upgrade on Eurostar/TGV. On Eurostar this constitutes upgraded seating and light meal with complimentary drink with upgraded seating only on the French railway leg
• Avignon Grand Hotel Upgrade
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls
• Porterage and gratuities

PLEASE NOTE: As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages.Trollies are available at St Pancras and Lille, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform.

Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called thebaggageman, where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and we have arranged a 10% discount exclusive to Travel Editions clients off the thebaggageman service. Tel: 01844 264890

Travel Info

Please hover over the departure dates in the panel to your left for train departure points and timings.

Places of Interest

Avignon
Our base is the cultural heart of the Provence region, Avignon; a beautiful and fascinating city. Surrounded by massive ramparts the old town is dominated by the immense (48,000 square feet) and imposing Palais des Papes, headquarters of the Catholic Church from 1309 to 1377. The building’s heavy fortification reflects the violent nature of 14th Century religious life, whilst its luxurious trappings were either looted or destroyed during the Revolution of 1789. Nonetheless there is lots to see here including the Grand Tinel tapestries, Stag Room, Consistory Hall, Benedict XI’s Cloister and Grand Chapel. Elsewhere in the city, major sights include the famous incomplete Pont St Benezet bridge, partially destroyed by floods in 1668, that lends its name to the famous song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon”, Petit Palais, several churches including the Notre Dame Cathedral, two museums and the lively heart of the city, Place D’Horloge.

For more information on Avignon please visit: World Travel Guide to Avignon Website

Aix-en-Provence
The former capital of Provence, Aix is a lovely former spa town with a host of fountains, classical mansions and elegant boulevards. The city’s most famous son is Paul Cezanne, whose studio is preserved exactly as he left it when he died in 1906. Other sights include the Cathedral of St Sauveur, noted for Froment’s “Triptych of the Burning Bush” and several museums, particularly the Musée Granet of fine art and archaeology and Tapestry Museum. It is a wonderful place to linger, too, at an outdoor café, particularly one of many along the elegant tree-lined Cours Mirabeau.

Uzes
A charming hilltop town, Uzes’ narrow streets are perfect for strolling, browsing or stopping at a leisurely cafe, especially on market day when our visit is planned. Sights include the ducal palace and 12th century Fenestrelle Tower.

Pont du Gard
The three tiered Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct dates from around 19 BC and spans the Gardon Valley. Amazingly-preserved, this hugely impressive 158-foot high structure served as aqueduct and general crossing, and is a remarkable symbol of the Romans’ engineering capabilities. Indeed, the Romans considered it the best testimony to the greatness of their Empire and, at 48 metres, was the highest bridge they ever built.

Orange
Orange contains two of the finest Roman monuments in Europe; the Theatre Antique d’Orange and the Arc de Triomphe, which was built to celebrate Caesar’s victory over the Gauls. The old town is also worth exploring with its 17th Century Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame Cathedral, and peaceful, shady squares overlooked by terrace cafes.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In the 14th century, the Popes of Avignon decided to build a new castle (Chateau neuf) and plant the vineyards that have since produced one of the finest Cotes-du-Rhone red wines, famous throughout the world. This attractive village is full of wine merchants offering tastings and sales.

The Luberon National Park
This regional nature park is one of the most appealing areas of Provence with limestone cliffs, river-hewn gorges, rugged peaks and rustic villages, such as the perched village of Gordes with its 16th Century Castle. This is the area that inspired Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’.

Accommodation

You have a choice of two centrally based hotels in Avignon for your stay: the three-star Bristol Hotel (included in price) or upgrade to the four-star Avignon Grand.

Bristol Hotel Located on the main throughfare in central Avignon, the Bristol Hotel enjoys a superb location in the heart of the city. Facilities at this traditional three-star hotel include bar and comfortable bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV and telephone. There is also a ground floor brasserie serving inexpensive meals throughout the day under separate management.

Bristol Hotel Website

Avignon Grand The superior four-star Avignon Grand Hotel, is located directly opposite the old city walls and a 10 minute walk to the main square. All rooms are spacious with modern facilities. Unfortunately, the Avignon Grand does not offer a restaurant for individual guests but a room service menu is available as well as many excellent restaurants nearby. Please note that there is a supplement applicable to upgrade to the four-star Avignon Grand. 

Avignon Grand Website

OUR VIEW ON THE HOTELSOur two hotels in Avignon are excellent in their category and both have superb central locations. The Bristol is a traditional family-owned three-star, whilst the four-star Avignon offers more stylish and sophisticated accommodation - both have a bar but no restaurant though Avignon's myriad of excellent restaurants are within an easy stroll of both. 

More Info

PASSPORTS
Valid passport required by all, except:

(a) EU nationals holding valid national identification cards;

(b) Holders of national identification cards issued to nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland.

VISAS
Are not required by EU citizens. All other nationalities should enquire at the French consulate (PO Box 57, 6A Cromwell Place, London SW7 2EW

Tel: (020) 7838 2000/1. Information Service: Tel: (0891) 887 733. Fax: (020) 7838 2046. Opening hours: 0900-1130 (and 1600-1630 for visa collection only) Monday to Friday (except French and British national holidays).

TRAIN
As with most trains, passengers are responsible for carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages. Trollies are available at St Pancras and Lille, but bags do need to be carried on to the platform. Porters are sometimes but not always available at St Pancras. The Eurostar and French trains are very long (18 carriages in the case of Eurostar and nearly 400 metres long) so there can be quite lengthy walks from the station entrance to your seat. On all legs of the journey you have reserved seat and carriage numbers which are shown clearly on your ticket. 


LUGGAGE TO YOUR HOTEL
Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery service called thebaggageman, where your suitcase can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore removing the worry about carrying your cases onto and off the trains. Please click here for more information and we have arranged a 10% discount exclusive to Travel Editions clients off the thebaggageman service. Tel: 01844 264890

HEALTH & INSURANCE – EHIC CARD
Please note that EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) only allows access to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the EU country they are temporarily visiting. It is NOT an alternative to travel insurance and will not provide the same level of cover as a travel insurance policy..
The EHIC will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property. It is also important to note that each country’s healthcare system is slightly different, so the EHIC might not cover everything that would be generally free on the NHS. On the EHIC application website,  there is a section called Access to Healthcare Abroad which clarifies all the conditions and inclusions. We strongly recommend that you take out an appropriate travel insurance policy when you travel abroad.

Book with Confidence

• Low Deposit

  Travel Editions requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

• Cancellation Policy

  We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel editions charges.

  Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

  At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 45% of booking price.

  At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

  At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.