France holiday travelling by train

[bluepolo123]

Hi

Im looking to go to France in August, travelling by Eurostar to Paris & then a further train ride (ideally no longer than 2 hrs) to a pretty town with accommodation with an outdoor pool.I know there are lots of options if you go to the South coast but I’m not looking to travel that far. I don’t mind a bit of a taxi journey from a station to accommodation but we wouldn’t have a car (don’t drive) so it can’t be too isolated.

TIA for any suggestions!

I would avoid Paris and change at Lille. You can get a direct train from there to Strasbourg, or down past Lyon into Provence - Valence /Avignon / Aix en Provence. Avignon is 4 hours direct from Lille.

Marine de Loire hotel is right on the banks of the Loire in a small town Montsoreau. The town has everything you need and the hotel has bikes to hire if you fancy exploring or cycling along the river. We cycled to Saumur (a bigger town with the nearest train station) a couple of times.

Or Strasbourg / Colmar also possible direct. That train stops at Champagne Ardennes TGV so makes Reims, Troyes etc accessible.

Thank you-all very helpful!