Eurostar has changed the way we look at rail travel, making it possible to reach property in France’s most popular areas without ever having to leave solid ground. The rail link speeds below the English Channel, while ferries cross on the water above and aeroplanes carry passengers who prefer to have their heads in the clouds.
Property in France’s main Eurostar destinations
There are three main cities where Eurostar carries passengers closest to their property in France; these are Paris, Lille and Avignon. Paris is perhaps the most popular destination for Eurostar passengers and takes a little over two hours to reach. The city of romance offers gastronomic delights all year round, with menus suited to the time of year, along with similarly seasonal boutique shopping for refreshing your wardrobe to suit the weather.
Lille can actually be reached more quickly than Paris, at a journey time of one hour and 20 minutes – 55 minutes faster than the trip to Paris. In Lille, French and Flemish influences combine, but the tree-lined avenues to stroll along in the spring and summer sunshine are typically French. The Palais des Beaux Arts serves art-lovers in the area, with works by many of the greats on show, some of which were brought to the gallery by Napoleon himself.
Reaching Avignon during winter does require a change at either Paris or Lille; however, in summer direct routes are added to the Eurostar itinerary, making property in France’s mediaeval city that much easier to reach. A direct journey takes around six hours but, at the end of that time, travellers are deposited right in the heart of southern France, with mediaeval architecture standing against a backdrop of outstanding natural beauty, while the cuisine of the area reflects its Mediterranean influences. Direct travel is offered on Saturdays only, between early July and early September, departing from either St Pancras or Ashford International in the UK.
Property in France’s tourism hotspots
If you’re looking for property in France as a holiday home, rather than as somewhere to spend the majority of your time, the tourist areas might still be the better option. Eurostar’s rail service is perhaps best known as a link to Disneyland Paris – and for good reason. Passengers are taken directly from St Pancras International to Disneyland Paris Station, which is officially called Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy and is located right next to the park. Buses are also laid on from the main park out to the Disney golf courses, reducing the need to walk to reach the fairways.
Meanwhile, during the winter months, extra Ski Train routes directly to Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice allow winter sports enthusiasts to reach any of those resorts at speeds of up to 186 mph. Night-time additions to the schedule hold the promise of an extra day or two on the slopes; although they may come at the expense of a few hours’ sleep.
Property in Belgium’s Eurostar destination of Brussels
Property in Belgium’s capital city of Brussels can also be reached via Eurostar – and takes just one hour and 51 minutes from London. The Magritte Museum attracted more than half a million visitors within its first year of opening and is dedicated to exhibiting the works of surrealist Rene Magritte. The show is part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, which also feature museums dedicated to ancient art and modern art, as well as to Belgian Romantic Antoine-Joseph Wiertz and realist Constantin Meunier.
For a quite different kind of museum, the Musee des Instruments de Musique, within the Magritte Museum itself, features 1,500 musical instruments and offers a headphone tour, along with a top-floor cafe with views across Brussels. Visitors are advised to book tickets in advance, to avoid having to queue around the block.