I'll be taking a drive between Paris and Rouen next Spring. Stopping in La Roche-Guyon, and possibly Giverny. Any other worthwhile stops en route? Very interested in history, and anything else old and French. I'll make the drive the day after I arrive in France, and probably only stay a day or two in Rouen before returning to finish my vacation in Paris. FWIW, it is my 8th or 9th trip to Paris.
Posted by
the Middle Coast
292 posts
Possibly Les Andelys - the Château Gaillard is there, built under the orders of Richard the Lionheart. Vernon, just near Giverny, is also fine for a wander, and has at least one fairly iconic building.
Posted by
Berkeley CA
1320 posts
I spent a wonderful afternoon in Auvers sur Oise, the village where Van Gogh lived for the last two months before his death, in October. It's quite an attractive small town with the sights associated with Van Gogh and his paintings easy to find.
It's not over-run by tourists and if you are interested in Van Gogh's life and work I can recommend it.
Posted by
Irving
3133 posts
Auvers-sur-Oise and Vernon.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2064 posts
After visiting Auvers-sur-Oise you can drive to the A15 just south of Pontoise. Follow direction Rouen and exit to Quiry-en-Vexin (a bit of a puzzle how to get there) or Magny-en-Vexin. From the first you can drive through lovely countryside to Maudétour-en-Vexin and Vétheuil, further along the Seine to La Roche-Guyon and Giverny. Or from Magny-en-Vexin to Ambleville, Omerville following the D171 to La Roche-Guyon. Public Domaine de Villarceaux is stunning and the entrance was free when I visited it a few years ago, however I heard about plans to privatize it.
You can find all these lovely places in the Vexin Region west of Paris, one of Frances natural parcs. Strict building regulations protects and preserve the character of these places and so worth a visit. Signposting for some villages is not always perfect, a well detailed map and/or GPS is to recommend.
As Amy already says Château Gaillard and Andelys, from the first a nice view over the Seine Valley. Going inside the château does not ad much to the experience to my opinion, just walking around is enough. Further on the way to Rouen Lyons-la-Forêt is certainly worth the detour.