charming villages outside Paris?
 

We're spending the month of August in Paris, hoping there's not another heat wave! We've stayed there a few times and seen quite a bit of the city, so this time we're hoping to take some train trips ouside Paris to interesting towns within an hour or two away. We've been to Auvers and Giverny, enjoyed them both and might even go again. But we're hoping to find some small, charming villages, whose names are not familiar and that you think are real "finds" that you may have stumbled upon....any ideas would be much appreciated....Mary

how about barbizon?

These are hardly "real finds" or unfamiliar, but if you haven't been to Senlis and Chantilly, they make a nice daytrip. So does Fontainebleau. And Vaux-le-Vicomte. You could get to Rouen in about 2 hours, and that's a fascinating town. Or go the other direction to Champagne country.

I don't think there are going to be any real "hidden gems" that are accessible just by train from Paris. If it has a train station and it's near Paris, it's been stumbled on by loads of people. But that doesn't mean there arén't lots of great destinations.

Senlis. Yes.

mcmrjm:

Ah, yes- and Orleans, Tours (indeed through the the Loire Valley- villages and chateaux along the way), some a little more than an hour. A little closer to Paris- Giverny to the N-west, Chantilly to the north. All not unknown but certainly charming and interesting

Gisors.

Best wishes,

Rex

Gerberoy, especially in June when they have a Rose festival.

There are a lot of charming villages outside of Paris. My friend lives in Chatou, which is nice, but she recommends St.Germain en Laye....it's artsy and you can get there by the RER I believe. I have other recommendations, but I have to look in my notes and see the names, since it's been 3 years ago.

Chatou is famous for the Fournaise restaurant that is the subject of Renoir's painting, "The Luncheon,"
and the antique/ham festival in June.

We enjoyed the medieval walled village of Provins. They have a festval with jousting, etc. but you will have to Google the date.

One thing to consider is a small book by Annabel Simms titled "an Hour from Paris." She covers 20 towns, including several mentioned in earlier posts of this string. The transportation information is very good, and there also are at-destination maps for walking. August is one of our favorite times in Paris. Do visit Paris Plage, just for the sight of a lot of happy people! Stand under a mist machine there if the temperature is high. Very refreshing. Have a wonderful time!

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions! I have a few questions on the locations of Gisors(rex), Gerberoy(cigalechanta) and Paris Plage(Dave)...also, Dave, thank you for the name of the book. I'll look for that. Mary

mcmjm, here's the site that gives directions.
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-pierre....of_roses,_.htm

Paris Plage is an initiative of our relatively new socialist mayor. A quay of the Seine is blocked to traffic and a whole lot of sand is trucked in, and palm trees positioned. There are food booths, and chaise lounges, and the odd under the tree eatery, and the fabulous misting machines, and a whole lot of people enjoying themselves!

Dave, misting machines!!!! Had not heard of those. So great for a woman's complextion :)

Good for the soul, too!

shoot! took the T.(spelling_ not the metro:)