Luxury rail holiday to St Jean de Luz in the French Basque region
This 7-night holiday is a simple and efficient train holiday from London to St Jean de Luz travelling there in one day and spending seven nights in St Jean de Luz in the French Basque Country. The rail journey starts with a Eurostar train from London to Paris, and then you change stations and board a fast TGV to your destination. The travelling time from London to St Jean de Luz, door to door, is between 10 and 11 hours, with very sensible train times. You then have seven nights in a luxury, boutique hotel in St Jean de Luz. The Hotel Parc Victoria is about 5 minutes' walk from the seafront in a quiet residential area surrounded by a beautiful park and gardens. During your stay in St Jean de Luz, there is time to explore on foot the winding lanes, charming shops and cafés near the picturesque port as well as the wide sandy beach that the town has to offer. The old quarter displays examples of Basque architectural design such as the traditional port, the half-timbered, shipowners’ houses and the Church of Saint Jean Baptiste. There are also good rail connections to explore further afield. Both Biarritz and Bayonne can be reached in under half an hour, whereas Bordeaux is around 2 hours 15 minutes by train.
Highlights
St Jean de Luz • French Basque country • Bayonne • Biarritz • Bordeaux
Day by day
Begin your rail holiday by departing on a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, before changing station for your high-speed train journey to St Jean de Luz. Enjoy the scenery outside your window as the TGV heads south through Bordeaux. We recommend you leave London at about 10.20 hrs and 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. You spend seven nights in St Jean de Luz.
You have six full days at leisure to explore St Jean de Luz and the nearby areas. St Jean de Luz, almost on the Pyrenean border between France and Spain, 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. The Church of Saint Jean Baptiste was the site of the marriage of Louis XIV in 1660. Its interior makes it a unique religious building, split onto three levels, lined by wooden galleries, and adorned with extravagant gold decoration, while in the centre of the main room hangs a model ship, harking back to the nautical history of the town. 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, the latter two popular for surfing. St Jean de Luz hosts numerous festivals including a Sardine festival at the end of July and beginning of August, a classical music festival in September and an International Basque Choral Singing Festival at Halloween. 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. We recommend walking along the coast to reach Rocher le Vierge where a statue of the Virgin Mary offers panoramic views of the bay. Further inland is the historic town of Bayonne which can be reached in 25 minutes by train. The cathedral city of Bordeaux can be reached in 2 hours 15 minutes by rail, well-known as the historical centre for wine trade in this area, situated on the river Garonne.
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.
I would like to thank you all in getting me home under difficult circumstances on Monday 6th June. I like to give special thanks and high praise for not only organising my rail ticket home, but also organising and communicating with me of my holiday itinerary arrangements on a number of occasions both on the phone and email.Ms I, June 2022
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,780 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class from £380 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR10
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to St Jean de Luz in the French Basque region
Begin your rail holiday by departing on a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, before changing station for your high-speed train journey to St Jean de Luz. Enjoy the scenery outside your window as the TGV heads south through Bordeaux. We recommend you leave London at about 10.20 hrs and 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. You spend seven nights in St Jean de Luz.
You have six full days at leisure to explore St Jean de Luz and the nearby areas. St Jean de Luz, almost on the Pyrenean border between France and Spain, 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. The Church of Saint Jean Baptiste was the site of the marriage of Louis XIV in 1660. Its interior makes it a unique religious building, split onto three levels, lined by wooden galleries, and adorned with extravagant gold decoration, while in the centre of the main room hangs a model ship, harking back to the nautical history of the town. 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, the latter two popular for surfing. St Jean de Luz hosts numerous festivals including a Sardine festival at the end of July and beginning of August, a classical music festival in September and an International Basque Choral Singing Festival at Halloween. 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. We recommend walking along the coast to reach Rocher le Vierge where a statue of the Virgin Mary offers panoramic views of the bay. Further inland is the historic town of Bayonne which can be reached in 25 minutes by train. The cathedral city of Bordeaux can be reached in 2 hours 15 minutes by rail, well-known as the historical centre for wine trade in this area, situated on the river Garonne.
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.
I would like to thank you all in getting me home under difficult circumstances on Monday 6th June. I like to give special thanks and high praise for not only organising my rail ticket home, but also organising and communicating with me of my holiday itinerary arrangements on a number of occasions both on the phone and email.Ms I, June 2022
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,780 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class from £380 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR10
Our prices include
● Standard class Eurostar and second-class TGV from London to St Jean de Luz return (standard premier can be booked at a supplement)
● 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
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers, entrance fees and meals except daily breakfast at each hotel
● 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
Additional information
Dates
This holiday can be arranged throughout the year. Additional nights can be added at any point on this itinerary. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to St Jean de Luz in the French Basque region
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
I would like to thank you all in getting me home under difficult circumstances on Monday 6th June. I like to give special thanks and high praise for not only organising my rail ticket home, but also organising and communicating with me of my holiday itinerary arrangements on a number of occasions both on the phone and email.Ms I, June 2022
Holiday price guide Prices from £2,780 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room and including standard class rail travel. Supplement for standard premier/first class from £380 per person.
Holiday Code FRBR10
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury rail holiday to St Jean de Luz in the French Basque region
About French Basque Country
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the French Basque Country is a chance to explore this rural and picturesque region of France. One of the French Basque Country's great attractions is the close proximity of sea and country. The coastline is dramatic, with its wide sweeps of sandy beaches, cliffs and fishing harbours, beautiful sunsets over the sea and the Atlantic surf breaking on rocky outcrops; yet just a few minutes' drive inland are green, rolling hills, streams and rivers and flower filled pastures. The Basque identity of this region is apparent; the place names, the local accents, the Basque colours of the red and green timbered houses of villages where pelota is played regularly and in locally woven linens. Pimentos hanging from houses are a common sight as are locals in traditional costume for festivals and feast days. We loved the Basque Country from the moment we first visited it. The luxury hotels in the Basque Country which we recommend are located in and around St Jean de Luz, an old fishing port with wide sandy beaches. An excellent way to explore the Basque country is by car, perhaps also visiting other parts of southern France including Carcassonne and Bordeaux or venturing into Spain for a touring holiday including Northern Spain and French Catalonia.
Highlights of French Basque Country
Sample traditions such as pelota and pimento festivals. Local crafts such as the makhila walking stick, fine linens and Thalassotherapy are also available throughout the region. There are excellent golf courses and sandy beaches. Notice the red and green timbered houses.
Climate of French Basque Country
Average air temperatures by month in centigrade: Jan: 10.0, Feb: 9.4, Mar: 12.2, Apr: 19.5, May: 18.0, Jun: 23.7, Jul: 27.2, Aug: 25.7, Sep: 24.2, Oct: 19.7, Nov: 15.4, Dec: 11.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
