Journées du Patrimoine on the Vivarais

Day 1 – Rail to Lyon

Leaving London St Pancras mid-morning, we travel via Lille to Lyon for a 1-night stay.

Day 2 – Continue to Tournon

Enjoy some free time before taking a late morning train from Lyon to Saint-Étienne where we are met by our private coach. Saint-Étienne operates the oldest continuously operating tram system in France and so our first stop will be the Musée des Transports Urbains – a museum dedicated to telling the story of the city’s trams over the last 120 years – we will enjoy a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Afterwards, we continue to Tournon by road for a 3-night stay, dinner is included every evening.

Days 3 & 4 – Steam on the Vivarais

Whilst details of the Journées du Patrimoine are still under wraps, you can be confident that there will be special events running. We shall seek to offer travel on both the Rhone (Tournon, St Jean de Muzols to Lamastre) section, and the Loire-side lines operated as the Voies du Velay. Past experience suggests options for journeys with steam locomotives (both sections have Mallets), railcars, and locotracteurs. There is also the possibility of descending Les Etroits by vélorail (cycle railcar). A rare opportunity to ride most of the remaining lines of the old Vivarais network, it promises to be a spectacular two days.

Day 5 – Homeward Bound

We take a morning coach back to Valence where we begin our rail journey back to London via Lille. We arrive into St Pancras late afternoon.