We often want to escape for a weekend, to swap the greyness of cities for a green setting. Here are five destinations among the most beautiful regions of France that offer you a total change of scenery in contact with nature by jumping on the first train, in a few hours maximum.
Picardy: the Bay of the Somme
You only have a little time, a day or a weekend? Catch the train to Noyelles-sur-mer from Paris and you are in Picardy, one of the most beautiful regions of France. On the spot, all you have to do is rent a bike or even go on foot to discover the breathtaking Somme Bay. Cliffs, sand, dunes, pebbles, and marshes follow one another between heaven and earth and have inspired many painters and writers. Nature lovers will be charmed by the thousands of migratory birds that have found refuge there, as well as the largest colony of sea seals in France.
This video can explain it more:
The bus will take you in a quarter of an hour to Saint-Valéry where you can take the little historical train, where you can discover the medieval city, to go along this bay among the most beautiful bays of the world on the Picardy Coast, using the old Sea Bath Network, created in 1887. Admire the sea on one side, the salt meadows on the other, as in the Belle Époque, and why not a gastronomic dinner in season have.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: The Luberon
In just a few hours from Paris, Lyon or Marseille, you arrive in Cavaillon, at the gateway to the Luberon, in one of the sunniest regions of France. If you prefer to take advantage of this time to visit the city of the Popes, you should first go to Avignon TGV. Cavaillon is strategically located at the crossroads of many roads of Provence where flavors, smells and colors mix. Rent a bike and ride through the fragrant valleys of lavender and on the ochre trails, a natural phenomenon with a Far West feel. Located in the heart of the most important ochre deposit in the world, Roussillon, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, owes its fame to its impressive ochre quarries. Immerse yourself in a landscape where reds, yellows and browns blend with the green of the pine forests for surreal walks that will fill your eyes. Our TER PACA page will help you to buy a TER ticket or a ZOU card! Our page on trains in Provence Côte d’Azur will give your ideas on cities to visit and activities to do in this region.
Whether you’re looking for thrills, relaxation or sports, these destinations will satisfy your desire for nature. Discover the most beautiful regions of France just a few hours by train from the largest French cities.