10 day countryside trip away from Paris in October - thoughts!

Dijon-Lyon-Basel is one of the options I explored last spring for a week's visit. ended up spending 5 days in Lyon, so it didn't work as planned. I'll be heading back that way end of September with the intentions of seeing Dijon this time.

I also spent a week out in Normandy in May. I very much enjoyed the area around St Lo, and from there to Cherbourg. That's on my list for next spring for more time.

Both of those areas would be good if you just want to stay in places less traveled by international crowds. They do get tourists, but not as many.

We like to do side trips from Paris and no longer alas drive.

We loved our 4 nights in Annecy with a side trip for the day to the Aiguille du Midi; Annecy is beautiful and there are options for hiking and biking in the area if that is your thing -- we were mostly sitting on our balcony and taking n the view of the canal and its charms.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2023/03/27/quick-trip-up-the-aiquille-du-midi-chamonix/
I would easily imagine 3 days in Lyon and a another 3 in Annecy with the Chamonix side trip. I don't know about Burgundy without a car -- our times there have been with a car and lovely. Since train travel hubs from Paris you need to find things that are on the same line more or less to avoid having to go back to Paris between legs. You might look at day trip options from Lyon and base there if there are towns and villages nearby that meet your requirements.

Anyplace with a train station is unlikely to be very rural.

Dijon and Lyon are on the same train line. There are trains to Annecy from Lyon.

What is your definition of "countryside"? Lyon is a city of half a million in a metro area of well over 2 million. Annecy is much smaller, but it's still a city of 130k. Someone recently posted about over-tourism in Annecy, so it's hardly going to feel like the countryside. Dijon is an even bigger small city. If you want to visit a small city, these seem like good choices, but they are not the countryside. It might help to know your interests.

What is your definition of "countryside"?

I agree. I used to live Lyon, and have lots of ideas about visiting there. I lived for four years in Bourgogne, and saw many places while living there.

i, too, would like to know what fstuart24 means when using the term "countryside."

Thank you for your feedback. Giving us food for consideration. We have previously been to Lyon, stayed in the old town area and spent 2 days on foot seeing everything we could. Loved that area of Lyon. OK, we want to spend minimal time in huge cities. But not adverse to seeing the center historic areas of larger towns Lyon, Annecy, Dijon, etc. I am just looking for a logical route on train lines from/return to Paris for a 10-12 day trip (Last two weeks of Oct.) Lyon is nice 2-3 hour straight shot to start the trip to that area, and then return north.

Here is some thoughts on an itinerary. Fly into CDG early. Catch a train direct to Lyon and spend a day getting over jetlag, etc. then on to Annecy and spend 2-3 days in the city center. Then move on to the Burgundy area staying possibly in Beaune for a few days touring the area in foot, bus, and bikes. It appears that there are a number of day trips to small towns and wineries from Beaune and or Dijon. Then back to Paris for two days to catch a flight home.

It appears in RS guides that this route will work well with the train system. Thanks again for any feedback or suggestions