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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail tour

Southern and Central France

Steam, heritage and mountain railways of the Cévennes and Massif Central

Illustration of Southern and Central France

The Railway Touring Company's six-day Southern and Central France tour combines rail travel through two UNESCO and heritage railway regions south of Lyon. You depart London via Eurostar, arriving in Montpellier for two nights, then travel by First Class TGV and rail to Clermont-Ferrand in the Massif Central for three nights. The heart of the tour is five named trains: the steam-hauled Train à Vapeur des Cévennes through the River Gardon Valley on Day 2, the dramatic Cévennes main line crossing 16 viaducts and 51 tunnels on Day 3, the AGRIVAP heritage railway to La Chaise-Dieu on Day 4, and the Puy de Dome rack railway to a 1465-metre volcanic summit on Day 5. A Tour Manager travels with you throughout. Five nights include breakfast and three dinners at your hotels. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, photographers, and history enthusiasts who want to move slowly and explore both well-known Roman sites and rural French rail heritage.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one June 2026 departure is published; confirm availability before committing
  • The Ground Only tier (starting Montpellier) excludes UK rail, flights, and hotel transfers on the first and last days; the full Tour Price includes Eurostar from London

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Montpellier

    London to Montpellier via Paris

    Direct Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord, then direct TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Montpellier Saint-Roch. Free time to explore Montpellier's old town; dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Montpellier

    Steam at the train à vapeur des Cévennes

    Coach transfer to Anduze; steam-hauled round trip on the preserved Cévennes railway through the River Gardon Valley to St-Jean-du-Gard, with time to photograph the locomotive and have lunch, then by coach to Nimes to view the Roman arena and old town. Free evening in Montpellier.

  3. Day 3overnight: Clermont-Ferrand

    The Cévennes main line over the Chamborigaud viaduct to Clermont-Ferrand

    392km, five-hour journey on the Cévennes main line from Nimes to Clermont-Ferrand through the Massif Central, passing 51 tunnels and 16 viaducts including the Chamborigaud and Chapeauroux viaducts and the summit at La Bastide (1024m). Free afternoon in Clermont-Ferrand using a complimentary tram ticket; group dinner at the hotel.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Clermont-Ferrand

    Panoramic trains at the AGRIVAP heritage railway

    Coach transfer to Ambert station for the panoramic AGRIVAP tourist railway, a 42km journey through countryside scenery to La Chaise-Dieu with time for sightseeing and lunch, then return by train to Ambert and coach back to Clermont-Ferrand. Dinner at leisure in the city.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Clermont-Ferrand

    Puy de Dome rack railway

    Full return journey on the Puy de Dome rack railway (5.3km, Swiss-made mountain-climbing trains) to the UNESCO World Heritage volcanic summit (1465m). Free time in Clermont-Ferrand afterwards, then a farewell dinner at the hotel.

  6. Day 6rail

    Return by rail to London via Paris

    Direct morning SNCF Intercity train from Clermont-Ferrand to Paris-Bercy, transfer in Paris Nord for the return to London by Eurostar (or transfer by train to Lyon).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Steam-hauled Train à Vapeur des Cévennes climbs through the River Gardon Valley to St-Jean-du-Gard
  • Day 3Cévennes main line crosses the Chamborigaud viaduct and summits La Bastide at 1024m on a 392km, five-hour journey through 51 tunnels
  • Day 4AGRIVAP panoramic heritage railway (42km, France's longest preserved railway) runs through countryside to La Chaise-Dieu
  • Day 5Puy de Dome rack railway ascends 5.3km to the UNESCO World Heritage volcanic summit at 1465m

Included

  • Eurostar plus seating on Eurostar services from London to Paris
  • First Class rail travel on SNCF TGV and Intercity services
  • 5 nights accommodation with breakfast at a centrally located hotel
  • 3 dinners
  • Complimentary tram tickets and all travel within France
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included?
Yes, the Tour Price includes Eurostar London to Paris and all rail travel within France in First Class on SNCF services, plus rides on the steam, heritage, and rack railways.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes, The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the six days.
What is the pace like?
Relaxed. You spend two nights in Montpellier and three in Clermont-Ferrand, with free time to explore each city and included attractions such as Nimes's Roman arena.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. There are walking tours of Montpellier and Nimes, time for sightseeing at La Chaise-Dieu, and the ascent to the Puy de Dome summit by rack railway. Coach transfers handle most longer distances.
What is not included in the tour price?
Lunch is not included, though the Ground Only tier explicitly excludes UK rail, flights, and hotel transfers on the first and last days.
When does this tour depart?
One departure is published for June 2026 at GBP 1895 (or USD 2531) for the full Tour Price from London.

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