Photo : Wikimedia Commons
Gentiane express
The Gentiane Express is a tourist train running between Riom-ès-Montagnes and Lugarde, in the Cantal, on about 16 kilometres of railway. The trip, with commentary, crosses the Cézallier plateau and offers views of the Cantal mountains, the Sancy massif and summer pastures.
The line, about a century old, has viaducts and tunnels along the way. It is maintained by a volunteer association, to which the SNCF lends historic rolling stock. The trip reveals a part of the Cantal that is otherwise hard to reach and helps visitors understand life on the high plateaus.
The train runs in season, from late winter to autumn, and also offers trips for local events such as the Gentian Festival in Riom-ès-Montagnes. The departure station is in Riom-ès-Montagnes, in the heart of the Monts du Cantal.
