Daytrips from Paris
 

I am looking for recommended day trips from Paris, preferably by bus or train, not including Versailles which I have already seen and Giverny which is already on my list. I plan to go to Paris for a month next May and will surely want to get out of the city once in a while. <BR>Kay<BR>

Kay:<BR><BR>Auvers-sur-Oise is one of my favorites, and it's an easy daytrip from Paris on the train. Besides the Van Gogh-related sites, the ch&acirc;teau there has a really extraordinary exhibit about the rise of the Impressionist movement, all done with holograms and fascinating little films and performances. <BR>St-Germain-en-Laye is another good one, as are Fontainebleau, Chantilly and Senlis, Compi&egrave;gne, and Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Rueil-Malmaison for the Josephine house; Asnieres for the Dog and Cat Cemetery; Ste Genevieve des Bois for the Russian cemetery (Max Gorky and Nureyev are buried here; the grave of Nureyev is extraordinary); Jouy-en-Josas for the Toile Museum; Poissy for the Villa Savoye (le Corbusier house); Millet-la-Foret (near Fontainebleau) for the Cyclops and the Chapelle Saint-Blaise (decorated by Jean Cocteau, and he's buried there).

hi<BR><BR>London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Lyon, Avignon, Nimes, Montpellier,<BR><BR>Peter<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com/<BR>

How about Chartres, Fontainbleu, Vaux-le-Vicomte, the Normandy Day Beaches, Chantille, and the Loire. For more Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

May sound like a silly waste of time, but we took the train out to Euro Disney for a day a few years back during a two week stay in Paris and had a ball!

There is an all day canal cruise from Parc de la Villette with a bus trip back<BR>that my kids took in june . They loved it!

Without a doubt, Chartres. Somewhere on this forum someone mentioned the name of the gentleman who gives the marvelous tours at around noon (I think). Malcom something? Anyway, do a search. The cathedral is wonderful, the old city is interesting, and that gentleman is great. J. p.s. I think there is also a museum of stained glass, if that is of interest to you.

I would suggest you buy the book "Day Trips in France" by Earl Steinbicker if you are going to be there that long. Well worth the modest price (it's paper) with details, maps, transportation directions, etc of many trips from Paris, all of the usual (most of those mentioned above) and a few most people don't go on which are interesting for a change (eg, that's how I went to Moret-sur-Loing which I liked very much).

Reims is a nice day trip, accessible by train too. A day trip to London is do-able but with a whole month there I'd schedule a couple of days for that one or at least a weekend. I also recommend Chartres highly. Fountainbleu is well worth the visit, and the Loire Valley chateaux are magnificant. You could also do a day trip to Lyon or up to Brugge. Lots and lots of options! You are lucky you will have a whole month, you won't have to rush from place to place.

You definitely have to go to Chartres. I've wanted to go ever since I read Henry James "Mont St. Michel & Chartres" in college. I've been twice-- it's not a disappointment.... If you like history and are not afraid of a big book, take a look at Henry James' book before you go...even if you don't read the book it's breathtakingly beautiful and spiritual...

Our favorite trip so far has been to the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. I have a day trip file that I would be happy to send along.

I'd highly recommend Giverny, especially if you're a big Monet fan, although the surrounding area is also delightful.

Topping for Kathy ([email protected])

Chartres is really wonderful. The guide's name is (was?) Malcolm Miller--he had been there for 25 years when I was there ten years ago, so I'm not sure he is still in business. <BR><BR>Mont St. Michel and Chartres was written by Henry Adams (as in "The Education of..."), not Henry James.

Thanks Alice. Obviously Charters is highly recommended so that is something we will consider. <BR><BR>I would also be interested in seeing the Normandy Day Beaches If they are accessable by train. <BR><BR>The all day canal cruise also sounds interesting. If anyone has more details on this it would be greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Kathy<BR>

You can go to Bayeux, or some similar place, and then take buses to the Normandy beaches. I had a wonderful time there, but it is a long day. The tapestry is also there, a fine thing. And some wonderful places to eat fish.

Hey Fred, since you hold yourself out to be an "expert" on Paris and environs, which you're not, you might want to note the correct spelling of Fontainebleau. Got it? Good for you!<BR><BR>When you charge people for information you ought to attend to the details.<BR><BR>

I spent a month in May 2001 in Paris and the day trip I enjoyed the most was to Rouen. There's a lot to see (used Steinbicker's walking tour) and only about 45 minutes each way on the train. If you'd like to read my trip report for that month or just the Rouen part please e-mail me directly. I would be happy to share. I do wish I'd made it Malmaison - next time!