Can anyone suggest a nice area that can be traveled to by train from Paris where a car is not needed to see the town? I don't mean a daytrip (we're already doing Versailles again and a few others), but someplace to actually visit and stay for a few days. I've read many posts on the French countryside, south of France, etc. but most of the posters seemed to have had a car. Is there an area where we can see a different side of France for a few days even without a car?

We stayed in Avignon in April without a car and enjoyed it very much. Just click on my name and my trip report should come up at the side.

My question wasn't exactly the same, but you might find some of the replies helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34424767

Hi

Dijon and Beaune have gotten nice reviews.

Strasbourg, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Rouen, Nantes, Angers....all are interesting places you could visit without a car...so are Geneva and Brussels.

I second many of the recommendations above. If you want to go on the coast then La Rochelle is beautiful. If you want Southern France weather then head for Montpellier. If you want Tudor style buildings and history then it's Dijon. Frankly, you could do no wrong with any of them.

In the Loire Valley, Angers, Amboise, Blois are all easily reachable by train, and you can visit several chateaus that are within walking distance of train station in this area. Chenonceau is also good.

Thanks everyone! Even though I seem to spend most of my day on this board (oops, sorry boss), I'm still always amazed how quickly you can get replies. I will definitely look into all the cities mentioned.

......Troyes is a terrific town only
an hour something out of Paris.
Wonderful medieval towncentre - lots
of ambience plus a large fashion mall
if so interested (we weren't)!

Annecy -- 3-4 hours from Paris by train. Lakeside town in the Alps with stunning scenery and beautiful medieval canals. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

Some of mine are repeats, but I've enjoyed Troyes, Strasbourg, Lyon, Blois and Angers.

I've visited both Strasbourg and Annecy via train. Both were easy to do and see with no car. Strasbourg is a bigger city and thus had a bit more to do. But Annecy is very beautiful and a totally different experience from Paris.

Hi

think about Montpellier ?

3hrs by TGV
Tram system
Lively cafe society
Many museums & galleries
Better weather
Cheaper than Paris
6 km to the Med
Medieval city centre
Magnificent new city by Bofil

Of course, I may be a little biaised !

Peter
The Languedoc Page

I'll second Blois as a base for the Loire, Annecy at the foot of the French alps, and add tiny Dambach-la-ville in Alsace, and Dinan in Brittany (You can get to the mont from there.) J.

Chamonix was perfect for me - Mont Blanc in the foreground. A funicular to the highest point in Europe - perfect alp town and an easy non-car ride from Paris. Outstanding scenery and an incredible hiking trail.

Steve
USA

topping to collect more ideas

I would recommend taking a train to Vernon/Giverny to see Monet's charming country home where he painted the famous water lilies and other paintings. Also, I really liked Chartres for its famous cathedral. Tours, in the valley of the Loire River, is a nice base to explore the neighboring chateaux. All areas mentioned above are very easily accessible from Paris via train and worth extended visits. If you care to travel further south, visit Orange and St. Remy-de-Provence and as well as some of the other off-the-beaten path Provence towns. You can reach these towns by taking the TGV Mediteranee from Paris down to Avignon, then taking local trains out of Avignon to those places. I have stayed in all these places and have never rented a car ever. Train travel works best for me and the schedules are always frequent and convenient. Local buses between the smaller towns work quite well too.......

I found Montpellier to be a charming student town. Lots of shops and history. If you go there, hop a train and go to Sete. It is a lovely fishing village on the Mediterranean and only 30 minutes by train.

I would recommend taking a train to Avignon and spend a week on a barge which will not require any driving, packing & unpacking etc... and still enables you to explore the countryside.

Visit www.francecruises.com that will give you a good idea of what it is about...

ttt