Royaumont Abbey

No experience with the place, but its website says it is 4 kilometers (2 1/2 miles) from the train station.

The website, kindly found by Doug, does not explain how someone coming by train would cover the last 2 and 1/2 miles (5 mile round trip hike). Depending on the terrain and weather, that would be a two-hour roundtrip hike, slower if you have things you're hauling.

For some reason, I have a minor obsession determining if I can find public transport to get to the Abbey from Viarmes (where nearest train station is). So far, no luck, but it looks like a beautiful walk. Here's a link to a brochure in French. But it might give you some ideas, Vanessa.

Chantilly is also close by.

OK. Good news, bad news. I found the website for the local bus lines around Viarmes. There is a bus that goes from the train station to the Abbey. Bad news, it appears to only run mornings and evenings for commuters. Here's a link.

I profess no expertise here - I'm guessing at most of the information in French.

Thanks for the info. I was afraid of that. I'll have to brush up on my French to check out that website. I have heard a bus runs from the train station in the fall to pick up people who go to the abbey to listen to concerts. This doesn't help as we will most likley be there the first week of June.

Do they allow bikes to be taken on the train? I've never tried it. I don't know if I have a 5 mile hike in me.

Update: I actually found a tour guide webiste and one of the itineraries is to check out the abbey. It says "transfer by taxi to the famous Royaumont Abbey" so I assume one can get a taxi from the train station to at least get us there. A 2.5 mile hike back isn't so bad.

Vanessa: Go here to Google Translate click here to translate the French website into English.You mentioned you don't think you have a 5 mile hike in you, but then you're considering walking back 2.5 miles to the train station. I don't know that road but many country roads in France are quite narrow with no shoulder for safely hiking for an hour. And if the weather is bad, or you're walking back on the narrow road and it's dark--well, not good, plus 2.5 miles in relatively easy conditions is still almost an hour of walking. Just some things to consider.

This is a semi-useless reply. It looks like Kent and Doug have got you as close as possible via public transport. We've been to the abbaye a couple of times, by car, taking French relatives out to the countryside. It is a lovely setting, with the forest and canals, plus a garden of medieval plants....however, and i know that this wasn't the question, this might not be a priority if you have a limited time in Paris.