Warning to tourists as power outage cancels Eurostar journeys
France's railway company, SNCF, attributed the chaos to a power outage near Moussy, approximately 50km north of Paris.
The incident, which began around 8am, necessitated "major repairs" and is expected to cause delays until late evening.
A Eurostar spokesperson said that passengers could "exchange their tickets free of charge or request a full refund."
Travellers were advised to postpone their journeys if possible.
Routes connecting London to Amsterdam, London to Brussels, and Brussels to Amsterdam remain unaffected by the French network issues.
The widespread disruption impacts one of Europe's busiest international rail corridors, occurring at the peak of the summer travel season.
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There's also a vibrant summer scene of village fetes, live music in bars and many restaurants open all year round, and there's direct access to Superbagnères ski resort. As for transport options, the A64 motorway, which runs from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, is nearby; Toulouse airport is a little under 90 minutes away; while Tarbes/Lourdes airport is around a 70-minute drive. It is possible to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Luchon for under €100,000 with strong holiday rental potential, says Carole Macgregor of Leggett. The agent has a furnished one-bedder with private parking priced at €99,000. Properties in the surrounding villages can be cheaper and you can find a good choice of small houses or apartments for just over €100,000, such as a three-bedroom apartment with a huge private terrace in a scenic village for €115,000. Cher, Centre-Val de Loire Packed with recreational lakes, forest walks within easy driving access, and trains to Paris or the airport at Clermont-Ferrand (an hour and 15 minutes journey), this pocket of central France is popular with Parisians seeking a country escape, along with the Dutch and Belgians, who can drive there. It's a five-hour drive from Dieppe. Consider this area if you want to escape the crowds. 'It's one of the least occupied areas of France, but ideal for the Jacques Coeur walk – a circuit of historical monuments and chateaux – as well as the Puy de Dôme for hiking, hang-gliding and skiing,' says Shelley Brackenridge of Leggett. However, it's not completely off the beaten track. ' Gîte owners do often stop by to break up journeys to other parts of France,' she adds. And your money goes far. Currently for sale is a five-bedroom house in a pretty hamlet near Le Châtelet for €119,900, and a three-bedroom cottage on the edge of the Tronçais forest for €117,720, both from Leggett. Nièvre, central-east France Look to the often-overlooked département 58 for a peaceful home in the heart of nature. 'Close to the Parc Naturel Régional du Morvan, it is possible to spend hours exploring without meeting anyone,' says Galy. 'Far from the bustling tourist trails, it offers a sincere rural lifestyle with lush landscapes, historic villages, Burgundy's famous vineyards and friendly local communities.' It's a six-hour drive down from Calais, while you can get from Clermont-Ferrand airport in two and a half hours. This part of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region is a top-three location for searches of less than €100,000 on In 2024, over 3,000 real estate transactions were recorded in Nièvre, according to the council of Notaries, with a price per transaction averaging €90,000 for a typical 95sq m property. You can get a cute one-bedroom detached cottage in Luxy for €98,000, or a three-bedroom house with a basement for €99,000 (through the agent). Orne, Normandy Easiest to reach, full of history and packed with potential for tourism businesses, Normandy is as popular as ever with British home hunters – especially with those who prefer to drive rather than fly, or to avoid the increasingly hot summers of the south. The D-Day beaches and Bayeux Tapestry attract visitors from all over the world, and away from the coast there are plenty of options for under £100,000 – with scope for B&B or gîte income. Valley of the Orne spans Calvados and Orne departments, and has affordable homes tucked away in quaint hamlets, the lakes of La Ferrière-aux-Étangs, Château de Domfront and the rugged gorges of this area known as 'Norman Switzerland'. Rita Bryan, of Leggett, picks out Chanu as a good example of a vibrant village hub with a welcoming atmosphere, where you can find a four-bedroom house for €120,000. There is no need to take on a major project, she says. 'You can find many super little villages with flourishing restaurants, such as at Saint-Jean-des-Bois and Tinchebray-Bocage.' In the latter, a two-bedroom modern home costs €101,500. Or, if you do fancy a project, there's a four-bedroom detached house for €109,800. Northwest Charente With some of the charm of the Dordogne (rolling countryside, stone houses, sunflowers and vineyards) but lower prices, the Charente is nearly as popular these days. Life here is peaceful and authentic, says Peter Top from Leggett. 'You're surrounded by beautiful villages like Verteuil-sur-Charente or Nanteuil-en-Vallée, weekly markets, and gentle river landscapes and forests for cycling, walking and kayaking. 'There's also a strong community of international buyers, so you're never completely isolated,' he adds. Poitiers and Angoulême are closest TGV hubs (with links to Paris and Bordeaux), and airports like Poitiers, Limoges, and La Rochelle are all within reach. From the Channel ports, it's around six to seven hours' drive. Find stone farmhouses, barns with land, or small village houses to update. Currently for sale is a three-bedroom stone house fixer-upper for €75,000, or a two-bedroom house in Nanteuil-en-Vallée for €86,000 from Lot-et-Garonne For charming barns, stunning views and charming bastides, look to the Lot-et-Garonne, and especially around Villeneuve-sur-Lot. Straddling the River Lot, near Agen, the town of Villeneuve-sur-Lot is well known for its beautiful bastide (and its plums), and offers a weekly market, arcaded shops as well as boating and fishing. The nearby village of Pujols is officially listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. It is an appealing destination for property buyers not wishing to sacrifice amenities and culture, says Galy. Only 4pc of homes sold in 2024 were second homes, so it's ideal for relocation – and it's halfway between the big cities and airports of Toulouse and Bordeaux. 'For around €100,000 you will need to do at least some refreshing,' he adds. Typical of this is a five-bedroom 1960s townhouse at €99,900. In Pujols, there's a four-bedroom detached house with wraparound balcony for £108,435 (possibly negotiable) through South Deux-Sèvres Between the Loire Valley and the Atlantic coast, Deux-Sèvres is one of France's best-kept secrets for UK buyers. With verdant valleys, woodland and characterful towns, it offers the kind of lifestyle many dream of. Easy access to airports such as Poitiers, La Rochelle and Nantes, as well as good road and rail links, make it a practical choice for second home owners or those looking to relocate. The Atlantic coast is just over an hour away, and larger towns like Niort and Parthenay offer more amenities, says Nicola Hancock of Leggett. 'A major draw for families is the internationally acclaimed Puy du Fou historical theme park – one of France's top attractions.' Sophie Stokes of Beaux Villages says you can find three to five-bedroom properties with outbuildings for around €115,000 in towns such as Bressuire, Chef-Boutonne, Sauzé-Vaussais, Melle, Brioux-sur-Boutonne and Celles-sur- Belle, or the peaceful village of Boussais. The agent is currently selling a lovely two-bedroom house near Sauzé-Vaussais for €109,000, while Leggett has a pretty three-bedroom house in Pamplie a bit over budget at €129,000. West Aude Don't assume that all of the south within easy reach of the Med is out of budget – look to pockets of the Aude in the Occitanie, suggests Daniela Harris. 'You can still find value-for-money gems that are not too close to the coast, with more variable climates rather than purely Mediterranean,' she says. She suggests Quillan, or anywhere around Limoux, Fanjeaux and Chalabre, where local investment into the communes will no doubt bear fruit, and there is hiking, cycling and wineries to hand. 'These locations still experience a mild climate and are not as hot as, say, the coast in summer, [they are] less crowded and have great swimming haunts nearby if you are wanting a beach but not the crowds.' Compromise on a garden to save money – go for a roof terraces or a small courtyard instead. You can also find apartments in nearby Carcassonne for that budget, one of the most under-valued cities in France. In the scenic village of Azille there's a three-bedroom property for €110,000 (through Savills), or a three-bedroom townhouse in Quillan for €71,000 (through
