Train Ghent → Paris

A medieval highlight in the low countries Gorgeous, medieval Ghent lies at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers, and was for a time during the Middle Ages, one of Europe's richest cities. Considered by many the spiritual heart of Flanders, Ghent has a large university, ancient churches, canals and waterways and a famous (yet controversial) castle. The defining building of Ghent is the Gravensteen, or "Castle of the Count." Built in 1180 by count Philip of Alsace, the castle served as the seat of the Count of Flanders until they abandoned it in the 14th century. The castle was then used as a courthouse, a prison and even a torture chamber. At the end of the 19th century, the downtrodden castle was scheduled to be demolished before the city of Ghent, in 1885, bought it and started a renovation project. The walls and dungeon were restored to their original condition, and the structure is still partly surrounded by the moat. Despite arguments that the castle lacks authenticity, travelers come in droves. Learn more about Ghent

An effortlessly chic moveable feast Effortlessly chic. An effusion of culture, couture and cuisine. A place whose name alone conjures up images of whirlwind romances and infamous scribes: This is Paris. Whether you’re arriving to or departing from Paris by train, you’ll get to travel through one of the seven train stations currently in use. Paris’ train stations are spectacular buildings, which have been immortalized by generations of artists such as famed French painter and impressionist pioneer Claude Monet. Gare De Lyon, built for the World Exposition of 1900 is a classic study in architecture for that time period. But don’t be fooled by the façade. Inside you’ll find the high-speed TGV terminal that whisks travelers throughout France at record speeds. Walk with your head toward the sky, under its massive glass roof or have dinner in the legendary Train Bleu restaurant. This is a unique traveler experience - inside a train station. However, the real excitement is where the train can take you. With France’s dense railway network, you can reach most French – and European – cities within a few hours. On the world-class Eurostar, get to London in just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Or board the Thalys train for a quick getaway to Brussels in just 90 minutes or Amsterdam in just over 3 hours. The record-breaking TGV can whisk you to Geneva (3h20) or Zurich (4h30) via its TGV Lyria service, or Frankfurt (4h), via the recently inaugurated TGV East line. Learn more about Paris