Travel by train to countryside in France

This is ambiguously phrased, but I understand you to mean that you would like to spend one day and night in rural France, and seek advice about where to do it.

The answer might depend on what you enjoy and how you hope to get about. Will you walk, bicycle, rent a car?

You might even consider making a rural day trip instead of an overnight--a scenic walk from a town with a rail station to the next station, for instance, then back to Paris that night.

Thanks Adam - that is what I meant. Merci!

Well, you need a means of locomotion to see the countryside. Otherwise you are stuck at the train station.

If you are a walker, you might take the train to Montbard (about an hour from Paris) and hike about 2-1/2 miles to the Fontenay Abbey, a 3-star Michelin destination. This walk is detailed in Fodor's Short Escapes in France, which has other walks and hikes. This would make a good day trip.

Or you might take the train to Sermizelles and walk about 5 miles to Vezelay, a stunningly beautiful world-heritage site, and sleep there. Vezeley is a stop on the ancient pilgrimage road to Santiago de Compostella. GR13 (French walking trail) goes to Vezeley. In the morning you could arrange a ride or walk to Avallon for the return train to Paris

If like to bicycle, you might take a train to Beaune, rent a bicycle, and tour the vineyards.

You could have similar experiences in other parts of France.