Is it possible to take a train from Paris to either of the above, then travel between them, and return to Paris in one day WITHOUT a car? I believe there is a bus system between the two cities but do the connections make it possible to see both in one day? Many thanks.
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IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2087 posts
Is certainly doable, from Gare du Nord in Paris to Compiègne is with a direct train not so difficult. The best option to my opinion is taking the bus to Pierrefonds for the final leg. For planning and buying train tickets you can use: https://en.oui.sncf/en/ and Rome2rio for bus routes. https://www.rome2rio.com/fr/s/Compiègne/Château-de-Pierrefonds
Nevertheless it’s worth considering a rental car. The area around Pierrefonds is nice with a bunch of cute villages and worth exploring if you ask me. Just have a look with Google Streetview in Vic-sur-Aisne around the château for instance, maybe a bit too far away but I liked to discover La Ferté Milon and the ruins there some years ago. Must be possible to put together an attractive itinerary.