Getting to Gerardmer
Access to GerardmerAs Gerardmer is located in a narrow forestry valley of the Vosges, with no access by train, there are only a few possibilities to reach the conference venue:
* Charle de Gaule Airport to Gare de l'Est (East Railway Station)
From the Charles de Gaulle Airport, take a RER - a train connecting the airport and Paris, which is cheaper then a taxi, unless you share the costs with someone (50-60 euros). The RER takes 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of stops, as they can be non-stop, 4-5 stops and also stopping everywhere. Getting from the terminal to the RER may take up to 30 minutes. (To get to the RER, follow the signs ‘Trains to Paris, RER’). You need to buy a ticket (8 Euros if you plan to take a metro from Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est, you need to mention that you also need a metro ticket. To save time on the way back, you can also buy a return ticket for RER as they are not limited in time) before getting to the RER train area (SNCF, Gare de l’Est).
Take the RER which goes to the GARE du NORD, get off the train there, change for Metro line 4, direction Porte d'Orleans, and follow the directions.
It is only 1 stop from the Gare de l'Est and you can also walk from one station to the other (takes 10-15 minutes with luggage). To leave the station first follow directions to Grandes Lignes and then exit through ‘modern’ glass doors (direction pl. Dunkerque), turn to the left, follow the signs). Directions are well indicated along the streets and you can always ask any policeman, they will help.
Tickets: add another 30 minutes if to be bought in the booking office, otherwise, use the special ticket machines. Before boarding the train, you need to ‘validate’ the tickets (small yellow boxes everywhere).
1. Paris to Epinal by high speed train (TGV):
- In Paris, go to the East Railway Station (Gare de l'Est). There are 2 trains daily, going from Paris to Epinal, (with a stop in Nancy), destination Remiremont. (Epinal is the second stop on the way).
- Take a direct high speed train (TGV) to Epinal; bear in mind that there are only 2 direct trains between Paris and Epinal per day.
- NB: Seats on the TGV have to be pre-booked. The price of a 2nd class ticket Paris-Epinal return varies from 80 Euros to 140 Euros, depending on the time of booking. It is cheaper and more convenient to purchase return tickets in Paris. There is no special price for a ’return’ ticket, just the ’back-to-Paris’ ticket may be cheaper due to a longer period before departure
- Participants who are going to Strassbourg on the post-conference tour can purchase return tickets for Paris to Epinal; Strassbourg to Paris.
It is possible to book train tickets on line (book each destination separately): www.raileurope.com
TGV time table:Paris (Gare de l'Est) to Epinal:
TGV 2571: Paris 12.12 - Epinal 14.27 (everyday) destination Remiremont
TGV 2573: Paris 18.12 - Epinal 20.30 (everyday) destination Remiremont
Return to Paris:
Epinal 9.31 - Paris 11.45 (Saturday & Sunday)
Epinal 16.27 - Paris 18.45 (Friday & Saturday)
Epinal 18.31 - Paris 20.45 (Sunday)
2. Paris to Epinal, changing trains in Nancy:
Paris(Est) to Nancy
08.12 - 09.48: (except Saturdays)
09.05 - 10.35: (except Sundays and holidays)
10.42 - 12.12: (only Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
14.12 - 15.43: (except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
TGV 2509: destination Nancy
14.12 - 15.43: (only Sundays and holidays)
TGV 2591: destination St. Die des Vosges
16.12 - 17.42: (Except Saturdays)
17.12 - 18.42: (except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
18.12 - 19.42: (except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
TGV 2593 destination St. Die des Vosges
19.12 - 20.42: (except Saturdays) destination Saverne
20.12 - 21.42: (only Sundays and holidays) destination St. Die des Vosges
21.12 - 22.42: (only Sundays and holidays)
Nancy to Epinal
10.06 - 11.02: (Sundays) destination Remiremont
11.19 - 12.27: (Saturdays) destination Remiremont
12.05 - 13.04: (Sat. and Sundays) destination Remiremont
12.22 - 13.28: (Saturdays) destination Epinal
13.03 - 14.02: (Saturdays) destination Epinal
14.05 - 15.02: (Saturdays and Sundays) destination Remiremont
16.05 - 17.02: (Saturdays and Sundays) destination. Remiremont
17.20 - 18.27: (Saturdays and Sundays) destination Epinal
18.05 - 19.03: (Saturdays) destination Remiremont
19.04 - 20.02: (Saturdays and Sundays) destination Remiremont
21.05 - 22.02: (Saturdays and Sundays) destination Remiremont
22.04 - 23.00: (Saturdays) destination Epinal
22.55 - 23.54: (Saturdays and Sundays) destination Epinal
* From Epinal:
In Epinal, take the shuttle bus to Gerardmer, departing from the bus station in front of the railway station (Line 29). Cost per journey: 8.30 € (payable directly to the shuttle driver on the bus).
Bus time table:
Epinal 14.36 - Gerardmer 15.26 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Epinal 20.40 - Gerardmer 21.30 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays)
*(corresponds with the arrival of the TGV trains mentioned above)
For the return the shuttle bus timetable is:
Gerardmer 8.30 - Epinal 9.21 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Gerardmer 15.30 - Epinal 16.17 (Fridays and Saturdays)
Gerardmer 17.30 - Epinal 18.21 (Sundays)
*(corresponds with the departure of the TGV trains mentioned above)Ligne 1 (bus destination Colmar): everyday, EXCEPT Sundays)
09.00 - 10.28
13.00 - 14.28
16.20 - 17.58
18.35 - 19.57Ligne 29
12.15 - 13.35 (only Saturdays)
12.25 - 13.40 (only Wednesdays)
14.36 - 15.26 (only Saturdays and Sundays)
20.40 - 21.30 (only Saturdays and Sundays)
In both cases the bus should arrive at a small square in front the Tourist Office, the stop is called Gerardmer Places des Deportes (for some buses it may be the second stop in Gerardmer, but this one is the closest to the hotel.)
Gerardmer to Paris
Gerardmer to Epinal:
Ligne 1 (everyday EXCEPT Sundays)
06.14 - 07.41
06.45 - 08.21
10.04 - 11.40 (this bus is arriving from Colmar (dept. 8.30)
12.50 - 14.28
16.20 - 18.10
17.49 - 19.18 (this bus is arriving from Colmar (dept. 16.15)Ligne 29
07.55 - 09.10 (only Wednesdays and Saturdays)
08.30 - 09.21 (only Saturdays and Sundays)
15.30 - 16.17 (only Fridays and Saturdays)
17.30 - 18.21 (only Sundays)
Epinal to Paris06.23 - 08.45 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, stops in Nancy)
09.31 - 11.45 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
16.27 - 18.45 (all days except Sundays, stops in Nancy)
18.31 - 20.45 (Sundays and holidays only, (stops in Nancy)Epinal to Nancy
05.00 - 05.56 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
06.00 - 06.59 (all days except Sundays and holidays)
07.00 - 07.58 (all days)
09.00 - 09.52 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
11.04 - 11.59 (all days)
15.00 - 15.57 (all days)
16.01 - 16.58 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
16.40 - 17.41 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
16.56 - 17.52 (all days)
18.00 - 18.57 (all days, but the time may be changed due to work on the lines)
19.04 - 19.57 (all days)Nancy to Paris
06.15 - 07.45 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
08.15 - 09.45 (all days)
10.28 - 12.00 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
12.15 - 13.45 (all days)
13.45 - 15.15 (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)
15.15 - 16.45 (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays)
16.15 - 17.45 (all days except Saturdays)
18.11 - 19.46 ((all days except Saturdays)
20.15 - 21.41 ((all days except Saturdays)
21.15 - 22.45 (Sundays)Strasbourg to Paris
06.15 - 08.34 (all days except Saturdays, Sundays)
06.45 - 09.04 (all days except Sundays)
07.15 - 09.34 (all days)
08.16 - 10.34 (all days, except Sundays)
09.15 - 11.34 (all days except Sundays)
10.17 - 12.34 (all days)
11.11 - 13.34 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays)
12.15 - 14.34 (all days)
14.16 - 16.34 (all days)
15.15 - 17?34 (all days)
16.15 - 18.34 (all days)
16.45 - 19.04 (Fridays, Sundays)
17.15 - 19.34 (all days except Sundays)
18.16 - 20.34 (all days)
19.15 - 21.34 (all days)
20.17 - 22.34 (all days)
21.15 - 23.34 (Sun)
The transit time between the train and bus in Epinal is short (10 min maximum); if you miss the bus, there are no other possibilities except taxis which are rather expensive (around 50 Euros for a one-way journey).
*As there is only one shuttle bus (seating 40 passengers) for each connection, additional shuttle buses will be arranged if necessary.
NB: In order to arrange for additional shuttle buses, we need you exact time of arrival in Epinal urgently.
Update on travel guidelines
- Tickets for the RER can be bought at the automats - BLUE, just in front of the entrance to the RER area.
- For those who wish to walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est: getting out of the ‘modern' exit to the street Rue Dunkerque (turn to the left) and follow Rue Dunkerque till the street ‘Rue d'Alsace’ (3-5 minutes) In fact; Rue Dunkerque comes to a stop at a wall, with 2 signs: Rue d'Alsace and Direction Gare de l'Est. (This is the first obvious sign for pedestrians indicating the direction to the Est Station, all the previous ones are for cars).
- Facing the wall with these 2 signs, turn to the right, then go straight about 300 m, until you reach a set of stairs leading down (down) about 60 steps. The entrance to the station (although not the main one) is on the left after the stairs.
- Tickets can purchased from the automats or at the ticket office (the people speak English, but it may take time).
The rest of the information is as described before.
* Participants going from the airport directly to Nancy for the
Workshop, please note:
There is a TGV train going to Lorraine TGV station directly from the airport, From there a shuttle bus is available to Nancy train station (about 30-40 minutes on the bus).
Time-table:
Charles De Gaulle Airport - Lorraine TGV
07.46 08.57
12.54 14.05
19.53 21.04
All these trains depart from Lille Europe with their final destination Strasbourg, but they all stop at the airport and in Lorraine TGV.
This may be practical for those who go to Nancy, but may be not very useful for people going to Gerardmer, unless they are ready to take another train for Epinal in Nancy (if their arrival times correspond with the previously announced time-tables).
Return:
This may also be useful for the post-conference people, as the departure is from Strasbourg.
Strasbourg - Lorraine TGV - Airport Charles De Gaulle
06.11 07.25 08.43 (except Sundays and holidays)
06.20 07.32 08.43 (Sundays)
12.06 13.26 14.37 (everyday)
19.00 20.12 21.28 (everyday)