kerouac

The town of Senlis often comes up in discussions of "where can I go near CDG?" Working for an airline at CDG, I know that a number of my colleagues live in Senlis and the environs, while others prefer to live in Paris or between Paris and CDG.

Senlis made a conscious choice not to be on a direct train line when the train was invented. And when secondary train lines were built -- including one through Senlis -- they were closed in 1950.

Senlis wants to be off the map, but it is a lovely medieval town that you have already seen in numerous movies.

Anyway, I went back there last weekend and made a little report about it, just to annoy them: http://tinyurl.com/senlis

adrienne

Thanks Kerouac! I stayed in Senlis a number of years ago. I had wanted to visit it for decades because it was one of the filming locations for the quirky movie "King of Hearts" with Alan Bates. Your photos bring back memories of this sweet town.

Mara

I did a day trip here a few years back - Senlis and Chantilly....great photos! Thanks!
btw, I went to the Parc de Belleville last December after seeing your pictures - unfortunately it had snowed and it was very icy so I didn't get too far past the entrance from rue Piat....great view though!

StuDudley

We will visit Senlis 12 days from today, on our way from CDG to Compiegne. Thanks for the info on Senlis - and on Compiegne last year.

Stu Dudley

denisea

Kerouac- you are always interesting and intriguing. Well done, as usual.

greg

This is timely. I am thinking of going to Senlis from Paris this fall.

It looks like I can get SNCF tickets: Paris-Chantilly (or Creil), then bus to Senlis. Is this an SNCF or a local bus?

On return, I want to stop by at Chateau Chantilly. On Oise Mobilite site, bus #15 stops by Musee du Cheval which seems to be the closest bus stop to Chateau Chantilly. Is Oise Mobilite bus different from the bus that shows up in www.voyages-sncf.com?

kerouac

Sorry -- I really don't know about Oise Mobilité, but most of the regional transportation systems are integrated as public services, so it is quite likely that if the SNCF sells that route, it would be for that bus.

The Musée du Cheval at Chantilly is directly across from the château, since it is built in the old royal stables.

irishface

Thanks once again for a wonderful day trip! Interesting thoughts on using the side (or back) door vs. front door. In the house I grew up in, I don't remember anyone using the front door. Everyone always came in through the entry into the kitchen. It made sense, as there was a place to sit to remove boots and a place to hang coats plus it kept the house from getting chilled in winter. In summer it made sense as it kept beach sand from tracking into the house (there was a brick area and a bucket of water to wash feet.)

As always, loved your photos! Do I remember correctly that there was a major battle in the Hundred Year's War at Senlis?

FoFoBT

We've been to Senlis a few times, usually stopping there on our way home from somewhere else in France. It was a good stopping point, but it didn't resonate with us the way it does with some other visitors. (But then we weren't that bowled over by Maastricht either, and saying that is apparently a Fodorite heresy.)

kerouac

Yes, Irishface, Senlis was a major battleground during the 100 Years War.

PegS

I finally got a chance to read your account. Thank you very much!