Paris for a Week – Looking for a Day Trip Outside the City
Dec 7th, 2014, 05:39 AM
#44
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FMT is da man. An invaluable list.
Although Versailles certainly has lovely gardens, my impression one late September Saturday was hot, stuffy mob scene. "Tranquil" maybe when you get out among the roses finally. Probably much better if we'd gone earlier on a weekday.
Although Versailles certainly has lovely gardens, my impression one late September Saturday was hot, stuffy mob scene. "Tranquil" maybe when you get out among the roses finally. Probably much better if we'd gone earlier on a weekday.
Dec 15th, 2014, 12:00 PM
#45
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I am also highly considering doing a day trip to Normandy. I am a history and WWII buff. I was also thinking that it would be nice to visit the beach for a day during the Spring. Do you think that this would be too many day trips outside of Paris (including Epernay/Reims, Provins, Versailles and Giverny) for 8 full days in France? If I decided to replace one of these with Normandy, which would you recommend forgoing? How is train travel to Normandy and public transportation once we get there? Is Normandy worth visiting, outside of the war memorial? Any additional information would be much appreciated.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Dec 15th, 2014, 12:28 PM
#46
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Some people will tell you that one day trip outside of Paris for an 8 day stay is plenty but I believe that only you can decide how many days is enough to spend inside/outside of Paris. Likewise, only you can decide which day trip to drop if you do Normandy.
If you want to go to "Normandy" (which is a very large region) then I'm assuming by your post that you mean the D-Day beaches and for a one day trip you will see the most by taking one of the organized excursions that depart from Bayeux and visit the D-Day sites. You'd need to book an early morning train leaving Paris for Bayeux and returning sometime in the evening. Book tickets up to 3 months in advance for the cheapest prices and you can use www.capitainetrain.com to check schedules and prices and buy tickets. Schedules aren't available more than 3 months in advance.
I've never done a D-Day tour but finding a company is easy enough if you google "d-day tours from Bayeux". I've heard many people recommend the company called Overlord but there are plenty of others:
http://www.overlordtour.com/overlord...es_prices.html
While it would be possible to get to a few of the D-Day sites using public transport I think you would find it takes a lot of planning to figure out bus schedules and where they go and where you get on and off the bus. If you want to look into that then check this post by someone who visited D-Day sites using public transport.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...#post_21412871
If you want to learn more about public transport in Normandy then check the Lower Normandy transport website:
http://www.commentjyvais.fr/crbn_en
If you want to go to "Normandy" (which is a very large region) then I'm assuming by your post that you mean the D-Day beaches and for a one day trip you will see the most by taking one of the organized excursions that depart from Bayeux and visit the D-Day sites. You'd need to book an early morning train leaving Paris for Bayeux and returning sometime in the evening. Book tickets up to 3 months in advance for the cheapest prices and you can use www.capitainetrain.com to check schedules and prices and buy tickets. Schedules aren't available more than 3 months in advance.
I've never done a D-Day tour but finding a company is easy enough if you google "d-day tours from Bayeux". I've heard many people recommend the company called Overlord but there are plenty of others:
http://www.overlordtour.com/overlord...es_prices.html
While it would be possible to get to a few of the D-Day sites using public transport I think you would find it takes a lot of planning to figure out bus schedules and where they go and where you get on and off the bus. If you want to look into that then check this post by someone who visited D-Day sites using public transport.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...#post_21412871
If you want to learn more about public transport in Normandy then check the Lower Normandy transport website:
http://www.commentjyvais.fr/crbn_en
Dec 15th, 2014, 01:12 PM
#47
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I did a day tour of WWII sites and it was great. I only did the afternoon tour as I wanted to see the Bayeux tapestry in the morning. I think I got there by train around 10:30 and the tour met in the center around 1:00 pm or something like that. The train back to Paris was about 6 pm or a bit later.
This is the company I used http://www.normandy-sightseeing-tours.com/
They were excellent and dropped me off at the train station at the end of day.
YOu don't need public transportation in Normandy for that. You take the train to/from Paris to Bayeux and it's a small town so you can easily walk from the station to the center where the tapestry is and the tours meet.
This is the company I used http://www.normandy-sightseeing-tours.com/
They were excellent and dropped me off at the train station at the end of day.
YOu don't need public transportation in Normandy for that. You take the train to/from Paris to Bayeux and it's a small town so you can easily walk from the station to the center where the tapestry is and the tours meet.
Dec 25th, 2014, 04:13 AM
#48
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We are interesting in visiting the Dom Perignon vineyard. Do they organize tours during the Spring? How is public transportation getting there from Paris?
Thanks and Happy Holidays Everyone!
Thanks and Happy Holidays Everyone!
Dec 25th, 2014, 06:30 AM
#49
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I don't know where the vineyards are for Dom Perignon but their base/location is in the village of Hautvillers, which is about 4km to 5km from Epernay. So you'd take a train from Paris to Epernay and then a cab ride from there. I have no idea what kinds of tours they offer (though I doubt they'll bring you into a vineyard) but you can check out their website and/or e-mail them for more info:
http://www.domperignon.com/image/hautvillers/
That area is in the Marne River Valley and you see loads and loads of vineyards everywhere all along the slopes leading down to the river. Most vineyards will be on the northern banks of the river, since they face south, with other vineyards in the valley floor.
http://www.domperignon.com/image/hautvillers/
That area is in the Marne River Valley and you see loads and loads of vineyards everywhere all along the slopes leading down to the river. Most vineyards will be on the northern banks of the river, since they face south, with other vineyards in the valley floor.
Dec 27th, 2014, 01:26 PM
#51
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Last question no - I suppose hypothethetically you could be in practice absolutely no - you'd have to return to Paris and take a different train line to Bayeux - the line to Vernon (for Giverny) goes onto Rouen and though there are some cross country rail and buses it would take so so long to get to Bayeux that way that it is just not possible.
If driving yes by public transports no.
If driving yes by public transports no.
Dec 27th, 2014, 01:58 PM
#52
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Is it typical for vineyards to provide tours and actual access to the vineyards in the Marne River Valley? What are the best places to purchase local champagne while in that area? This includes champagne to drink there and some bottles to bring back home.
Dec 28th, 2014, 10:55 AM
#53
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I would like do a day trip to one of the medieval towns from Paris. I am deciding between Provins and Rouen. I am interested in the historical aspects of Rouen but how does it compare to Provins? Also, is there any way to combine Rouen and the D Day beaches as a day trip using public transportation?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Dec 28th, 2014, 12:40 PM
#54
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The overwhelming majority of champagne producers will offer tasting but not do tours of the vineyards. There are a few vineyards and/or tour companies you can google that will give you the whole experience of tasting and a vineyard tour. You might even find them on the Epernay tourist office website. Some of the world's best producers are found in Epernay so you'll have no trouble finding a good bottle there. Check out this website for more champagne info:
http://www.champagnediscovery.com/
You can not combine Rouen with D-Day sites if using public transport. D-Day is a long day trip from Paris unto itself if using public transport.
Other than the fact that both have medieval elements Provins and Rouen can't be compared. Rouen is a largish city (population about 111,000) and Provins (population about 12,000) is a medium sized town. Provins is all about the medieval experience whereas only the central part of Rouen offers medieval aspects but being a city there are a variety of other things you can do in Rouen. Have you checked the tourist office websites for these places?
http://www.champagnediscovery.com/
You can not combine Rouen with D-Day sites if using public transport. D-Day is a long day trip from Paris unto itself if using public transport.
Other than the fact that both have medieval elements Provins and Rouen can't be compared. Rouen is a largish city (population about 111,000) and Provins (population about 12,000) is a medium sized town. Provins is all about the medieval experience whereas only the central part of Rouen offers medieval aspects but being a city there are a variety of other things you can do in Rouen. Have you checked the tourist office websites for these places?
