We are planning a few day trips around Paris this spring...and would like opinions on great places to go...Versailles is an obvious one...but we are looking for some picturesque towns/cities to get a sense of life outside of Paris...
Some of our initial thoughts are:
Rouen
Laon
Troyes
Reims
Chartres
(I really want to get to Mont St. Michel, but requires a longer time commitment)
Are there any other must see towns that are easily accessible from Paris and does anyone have any comments for the ones noted above. Any information and opinions are most appreciated.
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I don%26#39;t know Laon or Troyes. Reims is good for the cathedral and if you like champagne, otherwise the city has no particular charm i think. Rouen i love, very charming, lots of quaint houses, souvenir of joan of Arc who was burnt there, easy to walk around, don%26#39;t miss the strange bones sculpted on Aitre St MAclou. Chartres is nice, the cathedral has impressive stained glass windows.
I would also add Chantilly and Fontainebleau if you like art...
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Top of my list would be CHARTRES for the cathedral and the old quarter of the city. It%26#39;s an easy D-I-Y daytrip from Paris via direct SNCF train (70 mins) from PARIS-Gare Montparnasse, then a pleasant 10 minute stroll up the hill to the cathedrale. If at all possible, try to catch one of the tours of the cathedral, conducted by MALCOLM MILLER at 12:00 %26amp; 14:45 (2:45 PM). It%26#39;s worth the trip out to Chartres just for one of his tours. For a wonderful luncheon, try Le MOULIN de PONCEAU (a converted grain mill), 21-23 rue de la Tannerie (behind %26amp; below the cathedrale, on the banks of the old Eure at Le Pont des Minimes...surrounded by lovingly and painstakingly restored 13th, 14th %26amp; 15th centrury homes %26amp; buildings.
ROUEN is equally easy, via SNCF train from PARIS-Gare Saint Lazare. As a day-trip, we%26#39;ve rolled Monet%26#39;s Home %26amp; Garden at Giverny into this trip, by taking the early (08:17 train from Paris to VERNON station, then 15 minutes by regional bus from the Vernon station doors to the gates of Monet%26#39;s Home %26amp; Gardens at Giverny (doesn%26#39;t re-open for the season until April 1st) to arrive before the gates open at 09:30, spent a couple of hours there, then back to VERNON station by bus to catch the train onward along the same ligne (approx 45 mins) to ROUEN at approx 13:00 (1:00 PM) for lunch and %26#39;Roeun-lite%26#39;. But ROUEN is easily a day-trip all on its own.
SNCF Train Info--Schedules, Fares, etc--
www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage…
CHARTRES--
http://www.ville-chartres.fr
www.chartres-tourisme.com/index1024.php
http://www.chartres.com/
http://www.chartres-csm.org/
ROUEN-------
http://www.ville-rouen.fr
http://www.rouentourisme.com/
http://www.tcar.fr/
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Just to clarify, Monet%26#39;s gardens at Giverny reopen in April ithink, but they are always closed on Mondays
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Thanks for the advice...Rouen and Chartres sound like great places to visit. Thanks for the insite. Is the tour of Chartres by Malcolm Miller in English?
I have heard some good things about Laon and Troyes, would you recommend stopping at these locations?
Thanks again.
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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;I have heard some good things about Laon and Troyes, would you recommend stopping at these locations?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
Sorry, I%26#39;m pretty much empty on Laon or Troyes.
But for day-trips from Paris, Raphy%26#39;s suggestions of CHANTILLY and FONTAINEBLEAU are relatively easy to do from Paris as day-trips. For the Chantilly day-trip, you can also easily roll-in a stop in the olde city of SENLIS, if mood and moment strike--
CHANTILLY--
http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/
SENLIS--
http://www.ville-senlis.fr/
FONTAINEBLEAU--
http://www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr/
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We%26#39;ve visited Laon a couple of times as a detour off the autoroute - its site is absolutely impressive, with the cathedral dominating the surrounding countryside. To be honest, I felt the distant view of the whole town was the best part ... however, we were actually looking for breakfast, rather than visiting the cathedral or other sights so this may unreasonably dismissive!
I don%26#39;t know if this helps at all .....
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more great advice...thanks to all who replied...
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If you%26#39;re interested in old history - try the Bayeux tapestry - train to Caen, I think. I went a couple of years ago, and it was a very nice short day trip - I had lunch and then returned to Paris and had time to visit the Musee d%26#39;Orsay before closing time.
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If you%26#39;re interested in old history - try the Bayeux tapestry - train to Caen, I think. I went a couple of years ago, and it was a very nice short day trip - I had lunch and then returned to Paris and had time to visit the Musee d%26#39;Orsay before closing time.
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Well done, you have found a gem that most people do not visit - Troyes. It is famous for its wonderfully preserved half-timbered houses and craftmanship. The old town is shaped like a champagne cork. A wander round the old town with or without a guide is a must. Every road and street corner boasts something of note. You can get an audio tour at the tourist office.
Le Bistroquet in the heart of the old quarter is reminiscent of a Parisian brasserie and may be nice for lunch.
Laon is an old town with ramparts and ancient gateways built on a high ridge which made it a perfect defensive site. So great views and the 12th century cathedral is one of the oldest and finest Gothic churches in France.
I like both but probably Troyes wins. I hope this has filled in the gaps in your list of places.
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