French Travel Service is offering four brand new independent rail tours of France in 2011, costing from £589 pp for one week. Each itinerary is totally flexible allowing you to stay at favourite places for a little longer, for example.

Explore the gardens of the Loire including the Parc Floral de la Source near Orléans, the gardens of Clos Lucé in Amboise (once home to Leonardo da Vinci), Chaumont (renowned for its annual flower show and horticultural exhibitions), and Angers’ Terra Botanica, a state-of-the-art horticultural theme park. Optional trips are also available to Villandry, Chenonceaux or the Jardin des Plantes and Parc Brotteaux in Nantes.

One week including all rail travel, 7 nights’ B&B and garden entrance fees costs from £589pp.

On the Millau Bridge tour, gaze at the rugged landscapes and ancient towns of the Auvergne and the Cévennes as the train snakes its way south along the Ligne des Causses. After stays in historic Issoire and St. Flour, you cross the Garabit viaduct, one of Gustave Eiffel’s greatest masterpieces, on your way to Millau, a delightful market town now internationally famous for its viaduct, ranked the tallest bridge in the world.

Five nights B&B (including 3 with dinner too) costs from £559 pp, with rail travel and the bridge excursion.

Take the train to Marseille and enjoy a relaxing cruise on the beautifully appointed Louis Majesty as it takes you from Marseille to Mallorca, Malaga, Tangier, Ibiza, Barcelona and Genoa. Prices from £663 pp including return rail travel to Marseille, 1 night in Marseille and a 7-night cruise with all meals and on-board entertainment.

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