I am interested in finding out if anyone has gone by rail to any nearby towns of interest. I would be interested in going to a place that is either related to the art world, history, or just a regular "typical" town. I think about a
10 hour day would work.
Versailles is on the list already.
Reims is a possibility. Cathedral there is very historic. There is also a museum where the signing of the papers to end WWII took place. You could probably work in a visit to one of the champagne houses as well.
Dijon, Rouen
Check out the books: "An Hour From Paris" by Annabel Simms and "Paris To The Past" by Ina Caro. Both are excellent for ideas of day trips by train from Paris. I found both in my local library and then ended up buying the Ina Caro book to take with me on my trip.
There's also Giverny if you're a Monet fan or Auvers sur Oise if a Van Gogh fan.
In addition, you might visit Château de Fontainebleau, or the town of Moret Sur Loing which is not very far from Fontainebleau and about 1 hour from Paris by train. Also the fortified medieval town of Provins is worthwhile and is 1.5 hours from Paris. We visited each of these on our last trip, spent a leisurely day in each, and it was a lot less than 10 hours. Versailles, of course, can take as many hours as you are able to keep on your feet!
I second 'An Hour from Paris'. She focuses on less known towns e.g. not CHartes, or Reims or Rouen or Giverny or Auvers sur Oise, all of which are great daytrips from Paris. Some we have gone to mentioned in her book include Rambouillet and the Presidential Palace/chateau there, Senlis, Moret sur Loing, Crecy la Chapelle, Seaux, Ecouen, Conflans Ste. Honorine as well as the guinguettes on the Marne and the Seine. You can see a few of our more recent choices here: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/day-trips-from-paris/
These are all very easy to do and take an hour or less; if you have a Navigo Decouverte travel is covered to any place in the Ile de France including all of these places. Another one to add to your list is St. Denis basilica located on the Paris metro just over the city borders. Oldest gothic church in Europe and the site of the tombs of the Kings of France. Their bodies were trashed during the revolution and may or may not be returned to a mass grave here, but the tombs are magnificent.
Note that small towns with a largely tourist economy tend to shut down tight on Mondays so don't pick that as your day to visit.
Wow! Thanks for all the great ideas! I learned a lot here the last time I travel to Europe too.
You'll enjoy Versailles and it's easy via rail. Do that trip first and then decide on your other day trip.
I'd second Provins and Senlis as places not on the standard lists but really worthwhile. Also Chantilly for its chateau.
