Thought an outing to Longchamp would be fun! The website is in French (go figure) but from what I can make out, Sundays in April have racing, and it's free- correct?

How about getting there- can you use a regular metro ticket? Any other helpful tips?

Longchamp does have racing some days in April - but you wold need to check the calendar to see about your specific dates:

http://www.france-galop.com/Calendar...7573ab0.0.html

It isn't free - but it is only 4 eurosfor a general admission - which will be minute compared to the cost of wagers, food, etc. I believe you can get near there by Metro - but not sure exactly how. It's in the Bois on the far west of Paris - perhaps a 15 minute walk -but do check that.

We have only gone twice - for the Arc - which is a whole different thing - and we took cabs to and fro so I don't know transit details.

thanks, ny. here's the website I found:
http://www.dimanchesaugalop.com/hippodrome-de-longchamp

As I said, it's in French but I guess I can make out some of the information- I'll ask at my hotel how to get there, etc. Assume this would be a fun outing?

topping!

nvl325:

First of all, here's the French racing calendar for 2012. Yes, there's plenty of racing at Longchamp in April, as you can see:

http://www.france-galop.com/fileadmi...er_FG_2012.pdf

I've been to Longchamp for the races several times on Sundays, and I'm going again on May 13. There's a free bus service from the Porte d'Auteil metro stop in Paris that begins around noon. It's called a navette. You'll see a group of people lining up for it not too far from the metro exit. The races begin around 1:30. France Galop, the French racing authority, has been offering free admission to the Longchamp races on Sunday for some years now. Admission itself is not expensive otherwise if you go on a weekday. I don't know if you speak French. but you can always find a mutuel clerk who understands English and can take your bets. The infield at Longchamp is open; you get to it from an underground tunnel on the track apron, and many people picnic in the infield, where there are additional betting windows.

There's also racing at Chantilly during April. I've gone to the races there in the afternoon after visiting the chateau/art museum and the adjacent equine museum. That's a worthwhile day's journey as well.

thanks, wanderful, for the info on the navette. I think we'll be getting a navigo weekly pass for the metro- do you think it can be used to the Porte d'Auteil stop? Well, I guess I could look at the ratp site and figure it out! (It would be the "local" card, not the one that included the outlying areas.)

Regarding Chantilly- can you easily walk to the chateau, and then the racetrack, from the train station? Also, which train is best? Wanted to go there anyway, so doing both sounds great!

nvl325:

I don't know about the navigo weekly pass issue. I would think the Porte d'Auteuil metro stop would be considered "local."

As for the Paris train to Chantilly, you leave from Gare du Nord and get off at Chantillly-Gouvieux (on the Creil line). Trains leave hourly on weekdays, with fewer on weekends; the trip takes about a half hour. You could walk to the chateau from the train station, but it's not recommended. There's a taxi stand right outside the train station; you might have to wait a few minutes for a taxi to show up, but they come by regularly; The fare was around eight or nine euros. (Rick Steves mentions a free shuttle bus from the train station to the chateau, but says it only goes four times a day: I've never taken it but he says you can get info on it via mobile at 06 42 05 46 79) The race course, which is within walking distance of the chateau, is closer to the train station, and the two times I went there, I walked back to the train station. I just felt like it, though some might prefer a taxi or the shuttle bus, if it's available.

thanks so much for the helpful info!

A couple questions:

When making wagers at Longchamp, are the tellers able to understand English?

Also - is a tourist able to get around, with essentially zero French knowledge?

Thanks!

JAT_Traveler:

I've been to Longchamp several times (and hope to go again next month), and, yes, you'll be able to find a mutuel clerk who'll take your bets in English. In fact, the bettors behind you in line will prefer that you get on with it in English; you'd otherwise take longer making your wager in a struggling attempt to speak some French and that won't be appreciated by those waiting behind you. As a rule, I simply make win bets rather than more complicated, potentially time-consuming exotic wagers. I go to Longchamp for the horses and ambiance, not to make money.

A tourist can get around in Paris without speaking French, but it's appreciated if you make some attempt by using some common phrases, thank yous, salutations, and so forth.

Hi Wanderful - Great - Much thanks for the quick response and tips!

hi does anyone know if longchamps racecousre is open october 2013 for the arc race

Yes, Longchamp will host the Arc in October of 2013, as it always does. The Arc will be on the first Sunday of October.

thanks wanderful i heard while i was there last year it was geting a upgrade so would have to close for 1 year and move to chantilly (i think its that ) great if its open thanks

lanzotie:

I hadn't heard about an upgrade at Longchamp and a possible transfer of the Arc to Chantilly for 2013. Interesting news. I've been to Chantilly for the races, and it's a lovely setting, so if you should have to go there for the 2013 Arc, it'll still be enjoyable, and an easy commute from Paris to Chantilly. (As a matter of fact, I'll be at Longchamp in less than two weeks, on May 13.)

hi wanderful while your thr ask them about the arc and let me know thanks