Train Journey To Entrevaux, South France

If you’re looking for an action-packed long weekend away in the South of France, then we’ve got just the ticket.

Flying in to Nice from the UK is a nice and easy distance if you don’t want to waste tonnes of time travelling. Whilst in Nice, you can lose yourself in the cosmopolitan laneways, promenade along the beach, or even cool down on a hot summer’s day in the fountains and steam jets that put their stunning stamp on the Place Massena area of Nice.

If you’re looking to get a little more out of a weekend away in Nice and want to try and travel a bit, taking a train journey up to Entrevaux will make you feel as if you’ve had two holidays in one.

If you’re staying in the city, it’s only a short tram journey to reach Chemins de Fer de Provence Gare de Nice to take the train to Puget Theniers. As the train makes its way through the streets of Nice, you cross roads and start to move away from the urban setting.

The further you move away from the city, the more it opens up, as the bouncy train appears to zigzag across a dove grey river that swells and rages past. The sheer colour of the water and stones as you travel up to Entrevaux almost doesn’t look real, due to the strong stoney wash of grey that devours the view.

Once you reach Puget Theniers, it’s advisable to disembark from the train, and climb aboard the old steam train – but a word of warning – don’t sit outside, especially wearing white, as you will most definitely end up covered in soot as we unfortunately found out. The short 15-20-minute ride to Entrevaux presents more rugged mountainous countryside as you pass by the river and woodland before reaching your destination.

Arriving in Entrevaux, you have to remind yourself you haven’t travelled back to the days of Sleeping Beauty, particularly as you cross over the medieval bridge. A flash of colour comes from the brightly painted yet rundown houses that flank the old stone walls of the castle, and as the river rushes below the bridge, you realise just how dauntingly high up you are.

The cobbled streets pave the way to a medley of little cafes and gift shops, where the most wonderful tiny épicerie can be found, selling real Provencal herbs, oils and spices.

Getting lost around Entrevaux certainly isn’t a worry as, no matter how many corners you turn, you will eventually always get back to the main square. Although there isn’t a million things to do in this sleepy town, it’s certainly worth either walking up to the castle – if your knees can hack it – and visiting the cathedral, which is opulently decorated in the richest purples and gold that you will ever behold.

When in France, it would, of course, be rude not to have a glass of wine, and when in Provence, it would be even ruder not to have a rosé. Entrevaux has a number of little bars and eateries, but the best you’ll find is right near the bridge in the square on the left – nearly opposite that amazing épicerie. Run by a cheerful middle-aged husband and wife, we were lucky enough to have a man playing the oboe whilst we supped on the clearest, palest rosé.

After drinks, of course it’s time to eat. There are a few places to get a meal, as mentioned before, but we opted to go for pizza, as yes, you are in France, but you’re so close to Italy that the cuisine isn’t dissimilar, and therefore, the pizza is totally amazing – yet there’s a twist – instead of mozzarella, it’s covered in a local French cheese.

If you’re staying in Entrevaux longer than a day, then of course you can get involved in kayaking, and other activities, as negotiating the rugged terrain makes for great entertainment. It’s also advisable that if you’re on a driving holiday, it’s a great place to stop, if you’re thinking of continuing to the Italian border, but if you’re going for the day as we did, then four or five hours is absolutely ample time to wonder around, talk to the local people, and really practice your French, and you can safely be back in Nice by the evening, to enjoy their most famous meal – daube de beouf avec gnocchi. We told you it was close to Italy!