geocas

After 10 days in Paris, we have two extra nights, and would like to visit small villages outside Paris. Giverny ?? Provins ??? Have been to Reims, Chartres, Versailles and
Fountainebleau. Any ideas ??

FrankS

Versailles and Fountainebleau are day trips you can do from Paris. For me one year, Id like to do a 2 day trip to Chartes instead of my normal lunch there on a return trip from Loire Valley.

FrenchMystiqueTours

Are you driving or relying on public transport? Will you have to get to an airport to catch a flight afterwards? What are your dates?

MelJ

We went to St. Germain en-Laye to visit the Dumas home and found it to be a lovely, charming town with a great museum. I would have enjoyed a day or two more there.

geocas

We are driving, spending the last night (3rd) at a hotel in CDG.

Christina

I'm not sure I understand this, why would you be driving if you are staying in Paris for 10 days? I guess that could be possible if you lived not too far away in Europe and decided to drive there for your vacation, but that obviously can't be the case if you are leaving from CDG.

But if for some reason you have a car, might as well go a little farther afield. I"d suggest Troyes.

bilboburgler

Strasbourg/Colmar
Auxerre/Chablis

Do you really want to see small village (one bar, dog, they shot the horse) or small town with something interesting going on

FrenchMystiqueTours

With a couple of days you could certainly head out to Burgundy or Normandy or down to the Loire but since you mentioned wanting to see areas outside of Paris then maybe you are trying to make the most of limited time by not driving too far.

I explore a lot of the small towns and villages within an hour or so by train from Paris. I do so on my bike but you could certainly see a lot more by car. I write reports about my explorations and you can look at a few of them to get some ideas. They've got lots of photos and descriptions of the towns and villages I visit.

Near Giverny: http://tinyurl.com/362xrle

Near Provins: http://tinyurl.com/7xa5eok

In/Around Fontainbleau: http://tinyurl.com/7ths9dj

http://tinyurl.com/c6deuw5

http://tinyurl.com/6cau3rv

Laon and Picardie:

http://tinyurl.com/3co8u28

http://tinyurl.com/7keejcg

Compiègne, Pierrefonds, Crépy-en-Valois:

http://tinyurl.com/7edejbz

Crécy-la-Chapelle, Coulommiers: http://tinyurl.com/7wnybgw

Wherever you go you should have Michelin maps with you and they should be of the scale 1:200,000 or 1:150,000. There's loads more places to explore near Paris that have charming villages than I could possibly list so my reports are just the tip of the iceberg. You can use the Michelin map to explore and find loads more places no matter what region you are in, whether near to Paris or in a region further off.

uhoh_busted

You could visit the Loire Valley.

geocas

Thank you everyone for your replies.
FMT- Been to Burgunday,Normandie and Loire. Just wanted to stay closer to Paris. It was a treat to read your reports and see your pictures !. We will certainly consider following one of your itineraries. BTW, we always use Michelin Maps, never leave home without them. Keep up your travels and your blogs.

annhig

if you are heading for Giverny, Rouen would make a good place for a night or two. There's plenty to see there as well as scope for day-tripping. AND the most beautiful silk flower shops.

KathrynJane

ChEck out this sight .It is wonderful. Www.chateauvaulx.com

RonZ

Looks nice...

http://www.chateaudevaulx.com/anglais/

ira

Hi G,

Auxerre is a very pretty town about an hour from Paris.