The Foothills of the Pyrenees by Rail
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The Foothills of the Pyrenees by Rail Train Seats On all legs of the journey you have reserved seat Travel and carriage numbers which are shown clearly on your ticket. Passports Please ensure your 10 year British Passport is not out of date and is valid for a full three months beyond the duration of your visit. EU, Andorra, Baggage Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino or Switzerland valid national identification cards are also As with most trains, passengers are responsible for acceptable for travel to France and Spain. carrying baggage onto and off the train. Baggage can be stored on overhead shelves or at the entrance to the carriages. Trollies are available at St Visas Pancras and Lille, but bags do need to be carried on British and EU passport holders are not required to to the platform. Porters are sometimes but not have a visa. always available at St Pancras. Travel Editions recommends a luggage delivery For all other passport holders please check the visa service called thebaggageman, where your suitcase requirements with the appropriate embassy. can be picked up from your home before departure and delivered straight to your hotel; therefore French consulate: PO Box 57, 6A Cromwell Place, removing the worry about carrying your cases onto London SW7 2EW; Tel (020) 7838 2000/1. and off the trains. Information Service: Tel (0891) 887 733, Fax: (020) For further information: 7838 2046. Opening hours: 0900-1130 (and 1600- http://www.thebaggageman.com 1630 for visa collection only) Mon-Fri (except British and French national holidays). Labels Please use the luggage labels provided. It is useful to have your home address located inside your suitcase should the label go astray. Tickets You will be issued with a return train ticket. Please take care not to lose your tickets and please check that the details on your tickets are accurate. Transfers Your ticket is non-transferable and non-refundable. On arrival in Perpignan, transfer by coach to No refund can be given for non-used portions. Mercure Perpignan Centre. Standard Premier on Eurostar tickets is indicated by two asterisks in the class type section in the top right hand corner. A light meal will be served to Special Requests passengers travelling Standard Premier on Eurostar. If you haven’t already, please notify Travel Editions Standard class Eurostar tickets do not include any of any special requests as soon as possible to allow food or drink on board, although there is a buffet sufficient time to make the necessary car serving drinks and snacks. arrangements. TGV tickets do not include any food or drink on board, although a buffet car is available. Accommodation Mercure Perpignan Centre The 3-star Mercure Perpignan is situated in a great Almost all restaurants offer two types of meals: à la location in the city centre, just outside of the old carte (extensive choice for each course, generally town and within walking distance of a host of more expensive) and le menu (a set meal at a fixed restaurants. Facilities at the hotel include a bar, the price). The bill (l’addition) will not be presented partner restaurant "La Passerelle" located 20 until it is asked for, even if clients sit and talk for meters from the hotel, a fitness centre and half an hour after finishing their meal. Usually, a comfortable bedrooms with private bath/shower, discretionary service charge is added to your bill in hairdryer, TV, telephone, wi-fi, mini-bar and restaurants and bars, and no further tipping is coffee/tea making facilities. required, although it is customary to leave small change if good service is provided. For more information please visit the hotel’s website: http://www.mercure.com/gb/hotel-1160-mercure- Generally speaking, mealtimes in France are strictly perpignan-centre-hotel/index.shtml observed. Lunch is as a rule served from noon to 1330, dinner usually from 2000-2130, but the larger the city, the later the dining hour. Food In this geographically diverse region, you will find quite a varied cuisine noted for its mix of sweet and Drink savoury, stews and use of sumptuous sauces. From Wine is by far the most popular alcoholic beverage the typical fresh seafood, locally grown vegetables in France, and the choice will vary according to and olive oil of the Mediterranean, to the cheeses, region. The viticulture area around Perpignan, AOC salted smoked hams and sausages of the Côtes du Roussillon, is best known for its delicious mountainous inland region, you will not be medium bodied red wine, but also boasts excellent disappointed. dry rosé and white wines and the sweet Muscat Local specialities include Escalivada (grilled white. On the Spanish side of the border, DO aubergine and peppers with olive oil, tomatoes, Empordà mainly produces refreshing rosés and rich, onions and garlic), Coque catalane or coca (pizza- powerful reds, known as black due to the colour of like dough garnished with sweet or savoury the Carignan grape. topping), Ouillade or Ollada (pork and vegetable Catalan sparkling wine, Cava, is produced rosé and stew), Bullinada (fish and potato soup), Cargolade white, and comes, as champagne, from the dry brut (snails), and Escudella (meatball and vegetable to the sweet dulce. soup). You will also find fish, poultry or lamb, cooked in the sauces of the region – the garlic and In elegant restaurants the wine list will be separate oil aioli or a tomato, onion and pepper sauce. from the main menu, but in less opulent establishments will be printed on the back or along The region’s most famous sweet is the Crème the side of the carte. The waiter will usually be glad Catalane (egg yolk, milk and sugar custard), enjoyed to advise an appropriate choice. If in doubt, try the plain, with a thin layer of caramelised sugar, or used house wine; this will usually be less expensive and as a filling of one of the numerous pastries, such as will always be the owner’s pride. the Girona Xuixo. Other typical desserts include Rousquille (ring shaped and icing covered biscuit) and El mel I mato (goat or cow cheese with honey, Meals included in the price of your holiday are: simple, light and delicious). Coffee is served after the meal and will be black, in Breakfast – daily small cups, unless a café au lait (or crème) is requested. Often served with coffee are Carquinyolis (crunchy almond biscuits) or Catanies (almonds covered in white and dark chocolate). Destination The area of France in the shadow of the Pyrenees Elne around Perpignan houses a wealth of sights from The ancient town of Elne housed Hannibal and his Cathar hilltop castles to underground grottoes. The elephants on his epic journey in 218BC. It is now region’s culture and heritage is strongly influenced famed for its 11th century Cathedrale de Ste Eulalie by the historic principality of Catalonia reaching et Ste Julie, its impressive cloisters now house a over the Pyrenees and along the Mediterranean Museum of History and Archaeology. coast into the old county of Roussillon in France. With hills peppered with the ruins of Cathar castles, For more information about Elne: a rugged coastline and lush plains dotted with http://ville-elne.fr charming old towns, this beautiful region offers an air of the romantic and, reputedly, the sunniest weather in France. Cabestany The small town of Cabestany was the home of the Places of interest included in the tour: Master of Cabestany whose remarkable workmanship dating from the 12th century was Perpignan discovered during restoration of the local church The lovely city of Perpignan, close to the Spanish during the 1930s. His works can now be seen at the border, is a great base for this fascinating and Centre de Sculpture Romane. varied tour. A thoroughly Southern city, Perpignan is the multicultural capital of the French Catalan http://www.maitre-de-cabestany.com region. The city’s small old town is a little rough- around-the-edges, but the vibrantly painted facades and palm tree lined boulevards make it feel Ceret and the Serrabone Priory wonderfully Mediterranean. Sights here include an The cherry town of Ceret has a true taste of Arab quarter, the 13th century Palais des Rois de southwest France, though with its tiled and painted Majorque, the Loge de Mer Maritime Exchange, the facades, the town has a very Spanish feel. Popular 14th century Hotel de Ville, the Gothic Cathédrale St with the likes of Picasso and Matisse, it has an Jean Baptiste, and the Musée Catalan of North artistic heritage reflected in its Museum of Modern Catalonian history. Art (entrance included) that houses an outstanding collection. The town comes of life with its local For more information about Perpignan: http://www.perpignantourisme.com/gb market on a Saturday morning. The small 12th century Prieuré de Serrabone enjoys a beautiful unspoilt setting fronted by a pleasant Collioure mediterranean botanical garden, its beautiful pink A picturesque seaside town in the foothills of the marble pillars are not to be missed. Pyrenees, backed by a series of ancient terraced vines, the colourful harbour town of Collioure is delightful. In the early 20th century the town Villefranche-de-Conflent, the Grottes became the meeting place of Fauve artists, des Canalettes & St Michel de Cuxa including Matisse, Derain and Picasso, and their Abbey artistic influence survives. Highlights here include The original town of Villefranche-de-Conflent dates the Château Royal, built by the Knights Templar in from 1098 – strategically placed and fortified due to the 13th century, the 17th century Église de Notre- its precarious location. The town was also fortified Dame-des-Anges and its famous bell tower, and the by Vauban, Louis XIV’s military architect, in 1707.