Trains like no other!
Forget about high-speed trains on a getaway in the Sarthe or the Vendée aboard a little industrial train, an old steam train meandering through the countryside or even an authentic restaurant car from the legendary Orient Express.
Gourmet excursion on a luxury train
Welcome to the world of Agatha Christie! Mahogany panelling, carpeted floors, little lamps on white tablecloths – just like the novel, no detail has been spared in this authentic car from the Orient Express, the luxury train that once linked Paris to Istanbul as it travelled through Europe. Built in 1940 and fully restored in 2016 by the Chemin de fer de la Vendée association, this restaurant car still features old advertisements and a coal-fired stove. From May to October, visitors can board at Mortagne-sur-Sèvre (85) for a three-hour gourmet escape with a menu by a top chef!
Full steam ahead for a bucolic journey
From June to September, the association also offers a magnificent trip in the tracks of an antique locomotive that crosses the viaducts over valleys and offers an unforgettable glimpse of the Vendée countryside. The same retro feel can be found in the Sarthe, in Beillé (72), where Transvap has returned to the Mamers-Calais line to provide a steam train from 1923, as well as railcars, during the summer months. Themed trips are organised all year round, for example at Easter and Christmas, to prolong the fun.
En route to the Muséotrain!
Near Semur-en-Vallon (72), a little station hidden among natural scenery invites visitors to take their place, between June and September, aboard a little Decauville train, an industrial model that was once used to help workers in the fields or on construction sites. At the end of the 1.5-hour journey, travellers arrive at the Muséotrain, with its display of railway treasures, some of which date back to the 19th century. A special mention goes to the metro car that, for a few minutes, transports us back in time to 1960's Paris... All aboard!
