Unwind with a Weekend in the South of France

Whether you’re based in London or Paris, you can simply hop over to the south of France for the weekend. Eurostar’s new routes take you to Lyon, Avignon and the culture capital, Marseille.

You’ll find yourself in Lyon, the French capital of gastronomy, in just over four and a half hours, to Avignon in under six hours, or in Marseille in just over six hours.

Lyon

The two thousand-year-old French capital of gastronomy is situated at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers, resting below the impressive Fourvière and Croix Rousse hills. It’s easy to imagine spending leisurely hours at a bistro, travelling back in time at the Roman amphitheatres of Fourviere and exploring the cobbled UNESCO-listed streets of Vieux Lyon. Cross its traboules (narrow secret passages), walk along its bustling docks and see over 200 sites illuminated at night.

Lyon. Photo: Fred PO/ CC-BY-2.0 via Flickr

Avignon

Avignon was once the residence of the Popes in the Middle Ages and you can see the Palais des Papes, the famous pont d’Avignon, the ramparts, churches and chapels. Ringed by medieval ramparts, explore its cobbled streets, awe-inspiring architecture and take a wine-tasting tour.

The Saint-Benezet bridge, called the pont d’Avignon has a famous legend attached to it. A shepherd, Saint Bénezet, received instructions from God to build a bridge over the Rhone and carried by himself a huge boulder, so heavy that several dozens of people could not move it, to the point where the bridge would start to be built.

Avignon. Photo: Güldem Üstün CC-BY-2.0 via Flickr

Marseille

Marseille is the oldest city in France and the second largest after Paris and offers an incredible coastline, a gorgeous harbour and 300 days of sunshine every year! It’s maritime heritage thrives at Vieux Port (Old Port), its markets are buzzing, the ancient Le Panier neighbourhood makes for delightful exploration. And of course, you can’t miss the famous sea food.

When you’re in Marseille, explore the rocky Calanques coves that make up a large part of coastal waters. With 20 kilometres of cliffs, the Mediterranean views are spectacular.

Also, discover the small fishing ports, the creeks, the If Castle and the archipelago of Frioul.