Best Day Trips from Paris
Best Day Trips from Paris: Even though visiting all of Paris would take a lifetime, let alone a week, its intensity and density might make you want to flee the city. The national train network can transport you in approximately an hour to a number of inspirational locations, including palaces, artist residences, and attractive towns where you can take in some fresh air and see some sights.
Each of the villages that surround Paris has a unique history, from the exceptional town of Versailles and its palace, the former seat of Royal authority, to the serene and charming Giverny where the artist Monet lived, to Chartres and its Gothic cathedral, Fontainebleau with its château and forest, or the exceptional former palace at Vaux-le-Vicomte. No matter which way you go or where you decide to end up, you will probably be happy you did. One of the many wonderful things about Paris is how many intriguing places are just a short day’s drive away.
Versailles
Although the town is charming, you are most likely visiting the famed palace. Between 1682, when Louis XIV relocated from Paris, and the French Revolution in 1789, the imposing structure and its gardens served as the centre of royal authority. Don’t forget to see Marie-Antoinette’s lovely hamlet and the exquisite lesser Trianon buildings. It’s better to visit this incredibly popular monument after 3 p.m., and we suggest purchasing your tickets online so you can bypass the lines at the ticket booths and get right to entrance A. Taking the RER C train to Versailles Château/Rive Gauche is the simplest method to travel to Versailles from central Paris.
Giverny
Between April and November, the public is welcome to visit Claude Monet’s home and gardens in the village of Giverny, 45 miles west of Paris. In 1883, Monet moved to Giverny. He designed two gardens there: the Clos Normand flower garden in front of the house, and the custom-built Japanese-style water garden on the opposite side of the road. For more than 20 years, Monet used this water garden as inspiration for his paintings. P.S. Eight of Monet’s magnificent Water Lilies murals are permanently shown in the Orangerie Museum in Paris.
Chartres
The Unesco World Heritage-listed cathedral of the same name, a pinnacle of French Gothic art, is located in the charming French town of Chartres, 56 miles southwest of Paris and conveniently reachable by rail from the Gare Montparnasse. The magnificent stained glass windows of the cathedral were created in the 12th and 13th centuries. Don’t forget to stroll around the cobblestoned streets of the old town.
Fontainebleau
The 1,900-room château, which was primarily constructed in the luxurious Renaissance style, was home to François I’s hunting “lodge” near the town of Fontainebleau. Every succeeding King up to Louis XV also put his stamp on the structure. Visit the château, then rent a bike and take a journey around the gorgeous grounds or the nearby Barbizon forest, which gave the Barbizon School of Painting its name in the 19th century. Artists like Thomas Rousseau, Corot, and Millet travelled here to paint outside in the open air. The Gare de Lyon is where trains leave.
Vaux-le-Vicomte
This Baroque-style fortress, erected in the middle of the 17th century by Louis XIV’s financial overseer and still privately held today, is located 34 miles southeast of Paris. The architects Louis Le Vau, André le Nôtre, and painter-decorator Charles Le Brun, who later collaborated again to build the Versailles Palace for Louis XIV, were responsible for the design of the château and its formal French garden.
FAQ’s
What city is most accessible from Paris?
The closest city to Paris is Chantilly, which is well-known for its beautiful Château that has the same name. The Petit Château and the Grand Château, which together make up the Domaine de Chantilly, are the two castles that make up the Château de Chantilly, despite the fact that most people think of it as a single structure.
Is a week in Paris long enough?
Plan to stay in Paris for at least three days. You have just enough time to see the main attractions, go around a few neighbourhoods, and eat at a few restaurants. Check out our 3 Day Paris Itinerary if you have three days to spare. In only two extremely busy days, you may see all the major attractions in Paris.
