The Plaça Reial in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona (photo © Valentin Armianu / dreamstime.com).

17th edition: To the Pyrenees (Route 18)

By train from Paris to Barcelona

Route introduction

The route we follow here from Paris to Barcelona is a more traditional approach to the Pyrenees and northern Spain, one much favoured by travellers of yesteryear. Prior to the French Revolution this was the route royale from the capital to south-west France. With the coming of the motor car, the old royal road morphed into Route Nationale 20, the principal road artery from the French capital to Spain. The rail journey described here criss-crosses that highway more than a dozen times.

Countries covered
France Spain

MAP Double click on the map (or double tap on mobile) to zoom in. You can connect onto other routes in places shown in red. Change to a layer showing a more familiar road map view by clicking on the menu at the top right of the map. Get back to the original view by clicking on the house icon shown in the top left menu on the map.

Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide

Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail is the perfect guide. The book describes 50 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and the British Isles. Find out more about the guidebook below.

The 18th edition of the definitive guide to exploring Europe by rail will be published on 24 October 2024. With tips on ticketing, fares and accommodation, Europe by Rail has become the definitive guide to exploring Europe by train. Read here the book's word of welcome.
Europe by Rail contains all that's necessary to plan your rail journey through Europe: 50 route descriptions, a country gazetteer, rail connections, information on Eurail and Interrail passes and more.
The 18th edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide will be published on 24 October 2024. Here, we list a few places which have regularly stocked the 17th edition.