BY RAIL
FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY BY TRAIN HOLIDAY
7 nights / 8 days From £ 1,590 per person
St Jean de Luz fishing harbour
ST JEAN DE LUZ • FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY
This holiday has seven nights in the seaside resort and charming fishing port of St Jean de Luz, with plenty of time to soak in the scenery of the French Basque country and to explore the coast and places further afield by train. We include Eurostar from London to Paris and then a direct TGV service to St Jean de Luz and back.
DAY ONE London to St Jean de Luz Eurostar takes you to Paris where you change stations and board the TGV direct to St Jean de Luz. If you leave London at about 10.20 hrs you reach St Jean de Luz just after 20.00 hrs. Your hotel in St Jean de Luz is a short taxi ride from the station.
DAY TWO TO SEVEN In Provence at Terre Blanche Resort You have six full days to explore St Jean de Luz and the nearby areas. St Jean de Luz is renowned for its pretty architecture, sandy beach, gastronomy and light. The coastline here is a mixture of cliffs and sandy beaches, creating interesting scenery, and there are the foothills of the Pyrenees in the distance. This fishing port has a charming town centre, lined with picturesque 17th century shipowners’ houses. Many of the buildings are in the distinctive Basque half-timbered style, often with the beams painted a dark red or green, with matching shutters at the windows. The main shopping street is pedestrianised and called the Rue Gambetta and it’ s here that you can buy the Linge Basque, solid, brightly striped fabrics made into napkins, kitchen towels and tablecloths. There is a very popular market, open every day of the week, selling fish, meat, vegetables and local produce, such as sheep’ s cheese. Whilst the obvious beach in the town is called the Grande Plage, flanked by a wide promenade and attractive buildings in local style, there are actually four more sandy beaches: Erromardi, Mayarco, Lafitenia and Cenitz. Take some time to explore nearby regions by train. To the north is the sophisticated and larger resort of Biarritz, around 15 minutes by train. Further inland is the historic town of Bayonne which can be reached in 25 minutes by train.
DAY EIGHT St Jean de Luz to London Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before you check out and take a local taxi to the train station. There is a departure from St Jean de Luz at about 09:43 hrs. With a change of train stations in Paris, you will reach London just after 18:30 hrs.
What’ s included
• Standard class Eurostar and second-class TGV from London to St Jean de Luz return
• 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Hotel Parc Victoria, St Jean de Luz
• Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
What’ s not included
• Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
• Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
• Transfers in Paris
PRICES
Prices from £ 2,170 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room
Supplements
• Standard premier on Eurostar and first class on the TGV £ 490 per person
• Supplement for travel from 19 June until 31 August £ 510 per person.
Holiday code FRBR10
22 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk