An overnight trip in either direction.

Overnight Trips (possibly by train)
Arles
This is a typical small city in Provence. Lots of left over Roman influence, Colosseum, theatre and plenty of medieval French churches and stuff. The architecture is different from Languedoc Roulssion. The climate is milder and the agriculture more generous and easy. Keep your eyes open for lavender and sunflower fields on the way in and out. People in Provence have always had an easy and good life, it is a place to live of the beauty and fat of the land unless you live in Marseilles or Toulon (tough port cities). I recommend just walking around and exploring.
I stayed at Hotel Acacias
2 Rue de la Cavalerie
04673788
http://www.hotel-acacias.com/
If you are lucky you can maybe get a room with a view of the amphitheatre.
While you are in Provence you may want to try Ratatouille, Daube (braised beef stew), Aioli (garlic laden oil/butter) and some famous wines like Chateau Neuf de Pape, Gigondas, Coti-Roti, Cotes du Rhone or Vaqueyras.
Carcassone
This is mediaeval walled castle city. Very impressive at night and fun to hike around. There are plenty of overdone shops for the tourists, that’s unavoidable but where else can you go and find such a perfectly maintained medieval castle city on such a scale. It is good to eat Cassoulet which is a sort of bean and sausage stew that is famous in the region. It goes very well with Fitou wine, as does sanglier (wild boar) if it appears on your menus. Enjoy the sights in the old town but do your business in the lower ‘’new’‘ town. The ‘’new’‘ part serves locals at local prices. There is a highly recommended generous and inexpensive restaurant on the outskirts of the city called ‘Chateau de Cavennac’. For directions check www.chateau-de-cavennac.fr.