My husband and I will be in Paris on the Ile de la Cite for 2 weeks in April for my 75th birthday. We have been to Paris several times and will of course go back to Louvre,etc but have seen most of other big sites. We would like to find small town to visit for a day. We will be going to vaux le Vicomte and Fountainebleau one day. I thought it might be fun to go no further than one of the outer arrondissements to discover good restaurant and interesting people and sites??? Any suggestions, any small,interesting towns??
Posted by
Los Angeles
1191 posts
How about Chartres?
Posted by
Chicago
8569 posts
If you do Chartres, you want to stay overnight for the illuminations. It is well worth it. If you do be sure to do dinner at Moulin de Ponceau.
There are lots of interesting small towns near Paris. Annabel Simms book 'An Hour from Paris' lists many lesser known ones which are easy to visit by train.
Some that we have enjoyed are Auvers sur Oise where Van Gogh spent his last weeks and is buried. Crecy la Chapelle which has wash houses and canals and is a fun place to stroll. Senlis which is a lovely medieval town not far from Chantilly. (you can get a train ticket which include the bus from Chantilly station to Senlis). Giverny and Monet's house and gardens are spectacular in April and an easy train from Paris. You take a shuttle bus to the gardens.
FWIW. never visit a small town on a Monday which is the day they shut down.
A lesser known spots on the Paris metro is Basilica St. Denis which contains the tombs of the kings of France
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1352 posts
lynn,
I recommend St. Denis Basilica also to see the place where so may French kings (and queens) are entombed. Along the same vein, the cathedral in Reims a good day trip from Paris) is where nearly every king of France was crowned. These two places make good bookends for a Paris stay. If you haven't been to Reims before, go and enjoy some excellent champagnes!
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2303 posts
You might enjoy visiting the 13th arrondissement if you haven't before - Butte-aux-Cailles. We stayed for a week there one year and found interesting restaurants, bakeries and so forth.
Posted by
OP
beaufort, sc, usa
33 posts
Thank you for your replies!! If we go to Giverny to see Monet's house and garden do we need reservations? is there a good place lunch? We both love gardens and this would be perfect for us.Can it be done in one day? We are staying on Ile de la Cite, and I hear the TI is not a good place to get info. these days??
Posted by
35 posts
We’ve gone to Giverny each of past 2 years. Getting a ticket in advance saves time avoiding the line. It’s easy to get to from where your staying, a metro ride to train station, train to Giverny, then take the “little train” to gardens. Couple smaller cafes outside of gardens to grab a bite. One near the cemetery. Sorry don’t remember names. My wife and I are more of the stop, look, decide, sit and eat type.
Posted by
Chicago
8569 posts
Last time we were at Giverny -- Oct 31 of last year their last day of the year -- we grabbed lunch after the visit at the cafe of the Van Gogh Museum. We didn't bother with the museum itself. It was fine. There are other cafes in the village where we have eaten before but I can't recall the name. Nothing special, but fine.
Giverny in April is wonderful and it is an easy day trip. Get tickets ahead which let's you use the group entrance which had no lines for us when we tried it. They also have a nice gift shop. I like photo place mats and got several of Van Gogh's Japanese prints which we enjoy at home.
Posted by
OP
beaufort, sc, usa
33 posts
Thank you so much for the very helpful info!! Giverny sounds like the perfect place for a day trip...especially in April. Do we need reservations for the trains also?