Many rail travellers just dash through France. The fast TGV trains gobble up the miles to be sure, but high-speed lines often defy the warp and weft of the landscape. Yet even on high-speed lines, there are some magic moments. I love the fleeting glimpses of Champagne vineyards between Paris and Strasbourg. On the high-speed line from Paris to Lyon, now over 40 years old, there are dramatic views of the Morvan massif as the railway climbs to almost 500 metres above sea level to skirt the striking granite landscapes of a region well off the regular tourist trails.
