The expansion of railways transformed French tourism from an elite pursuit to a middle-class possibility.
Connecting the Nation
The French railway network, radiating from Paris like spokes on a wheel, made previously remote destinations accessible:
- Paris to Lyon (1849): Connected the capital to the south
- Paris to Bordeaux (1853): Opened wine country to visitors
- PLM Line (Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée): Made the Riviera accessible year-round
The Birth of the Package Tour
Thomas Cook's first organized tour to Paris for the 1855 Universal Exhibition marked the beginning of mass tourism. French entrepreneurs quickly adopted this model, creating packages for domestic travelers to visit shrines, spas, and seaside resorts.
Seaside Resort Development
The railway age saw the creation of purpose-built resorts:
- Deauville (1860s): Created as a fashionable beach resort accessible from Paris
- Biarritz: Transformed from fishing village to imperial resort under Napoleon III
- Arcachon: Developed as a winter health resort, later becoming a summer destination