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By Train in Provence

By Train

The high-speed TGV Méditerranée line ushered in a new era in Trains à Grande Vitesse travel in France; the route (lengthened last year from the old terminus, Valence, in Haute Provence) means that you can travel from Paris's Gare de Lyon to Avignon in two hours and 40 minutes, with a mere three-hour trip to Nîmes, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille. Not only is the idea of Provence as a day-trip now possible (though, of course, not advisable), you can even whisk yourself there directly upon arrival at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport.

After the main line of the TGV divides at Avignon, the westbound link heads to Nîmes and points west; heading east, the line connects with Orange. The southeast-bound link takes in Marseille, Toulon, and the Côte d'Azur. Montpellier is the stop after Nîmes, with other links at Béziers and Narbonne. There is also frequent service by daily local trains to other towns in the region from these main TGV stops. With high-speed service now connecting Nîmes, Avignon, and Marseille, travelers without cars will find a Provence itinerary much easier to pull off. For full information on the TGV Méditerranée, log onto the TGV Web site; you can purchase tickets on this Web site or through RailEurope, and you should always buy your TGV tickets in advance.

Aix-en-Provence: The station (pl. Victor Hugo) is a five-minute walk from place du Général-de-Gaulle and offers many connections, with hourly departures to Marseille. Arles: The train station (av. Paulin Talabot) has frequent trains to Avignon, Nîmes, Marseille, and other stops. Avignon: The Gare d'Avignon (bd. St-Roch) is across from the entrance to the walled city—easy connections here include Arles, Nîmes, Marseille, and Aix-en-Provence. Marseille: The station (esplanade St-Charles) serves all regions of France and is at the northern end of center city, a 20-minute walk from the Vieille Ville. Trains run almost hourly to Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, and Nice. Nîmes: Frequent trains connect with Arles, Avignon, Montpellier, and Marseille; to reach the Vieille Ville from the station, walk north on avenue Fauchères. Orange: The center city is a 15-minute walk from the train station—walk from avenue Frédéric Mistral to rue de la République, then follow signs.