This was a really great day, and apparently virtually unknown to people who live outside of France!…read more The trip is especially delightful if you go on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, as you will hit the street market in St. Jean (on Tuesday) or in Anduze (on Thursday), the latter of which is pretty massive. It's a fabulous ride through the French countryside, and the steam engine is a good show all in itself. Ride about half-way back in the train if you want the best pictures of the locomotive on the curves. (The train is so long in August, that the end is too far back!) The train was PACKED with French families, all of whom seemed to be having a wonderful day - especially when the train entered the tunnel and all the kids would holler. We had lunch at a Brasserie in St. Jean du Gard, which was just perfect for the two hour layover there. Just happened upon this attraction, and at 15 euros per adult (5 euros for kids, I think - 3 euros for your dog!) it's way more reasonable than a comparable excursion in the US. If you like steam train rides, this is a winner!

This is one beautifully preserved castle. It's impressive from the outside, but once you go explore…read morethe interior, you get a really good picture of how life must have been like back when it was a king's castle. The gardens are really beautiful and they use a few of the rooms near the entrance as gallery space. My friends and I must have spent a good 2-3 hours here going into all the chambers and climbing up to the top, which is a must. You get a breathtaking view of the town and river--make sure you hang on to your phones and cameras, it's a long way down. It was also fascinating to learn that after its life as a king's castle it became a prison for a time, and there are a ton of amazing carved graffiti from various prisoners over the years. Even if you're not a history buff you have to be amazed by the architecture and sheer scale of the place. Definitely worth a visit. STEPH JUDGEMENT: Absolutely stunning castle that whisks you away to true medieval times.