A new tour for 2010, exploring an area we have not featured before, based in the medieval town of Perpignan, former capital of the Counts of Roussillon. We also visit the walled fortress city of Carcassonne, and enjoy the Little Yellow Train, one of the great railway journeys of France, climbing from Villefranche to Latour de Carol at the Spanish border, with spectacular views and considerable feats of engineering along its 63km route.

OUTLINE ITINERARY
Day 1) Morning departure by Euostar from London to Lille , thence southwards by TGV across to the former capital of French Catalonia.
Day 2) A day tour to the city of Carcassonne, with its formidable medieval citadel.
Day 3) To Villefranche for the spectacular Little Yellow Train into the Pyrenees to Latour du Carol, close to the Spanish border.
Day 4) A free day to explore Perpignan
Day 5) Today we take the Train du Pays Cathare from Rivesaltes to Axat, a beautiful steeply graded line which uses open carriages for the upper part of the journey.
Day 6) We return to Villefranche de Conflent, with time to linger and enjoy the ambience of this medieval town.
Day 7) After breakfast we board the TGV for the return journey to Lille, and thence onward to London, arriving early evening.

OUR HOTELS
We have chosen the Best Western Park Hotel, close to the own centre. Tour price is £849 per person sharing twin or double room , with £120 single supplement if required.
As usual for our continental programme the tour is arranged on a bed and breakfast basis.
Deposit £150 per person.