We would like to take a day trip during our Paris stay. We would like to take the train to some sort of countryside. Ideally, the destination would be walkable from the train station. Wineries/some sort of wine country would be wonderful. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
|||
The closest wine producing location would be Epernay, information available here:
http://www.epernay.fr/
I personally should find the following destinations very suitable as a day trip from Paris:
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/
http://giverny.org/gardens/
http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/
http://www.provins.net/
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/
http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/
…wikipedia.org/wiki/…A2teau_de_Pierrefonds
|||
Chartres cathedral is very close to the train station and a wonderful experience. If you can get a guided tour from Malcolm Miller all the better. He teaches you how to read the glass windows and the carvings. Then wander into the medieval town below which is very pretty with some unusual buildings and churches.
Giverny is not on the train line and you would have to go to the nearest town, Vernon from memory, and get a bus or taxi. It can be VERY VERY full of tourists but the gardens are still a delight. There are also some American gardens in the town that are beautifully planted and maintained. The whole town closes on a Monday so don%26#39;t go that day.
|||
In September we took the TGV, the very fast train, to Reims for the day. Reims is famous for its cathedral which was where many of the French kings were crowned in the past. Reims is also famous for its champagne which is produced in the district.
|||
I second (or third is it?) the suggestion for Chartres. It%26#39;s only about a 1 hour train ride, and the town itself is quite beautiful. I also had the tour of the Cathedral with Malcolm Miller (many years ago mind you) and it was excellent.
|||
when i was visiting paris last summer, i made a day trip to giverny...french impressionist painter monet%26#39;s birthplace....was an awesome experience.
a train ride of under 2 hours from st lazare stn in paris brought me to vernon...from where a bus service (available right outside the stn) took me to giverny within minutes.
the gardens and lake are unimaginably beautiful...and one can enjoy tranquility even amidst the crowds.....the foundation has one a wonderful job of preserving monet%26#39;s house....worth a visit!!!
|||
this is great information. How do you contact Malcolm Miller?
Thanks
|||
If Malcolm is guiding that day, and he is an independent guide, he will be at the Cathedral gift shop just prior to the tour times
…about.com/od/chartresfrance/a/chartres.htm
also
Malcolm Miller
26, Rue des Ecuyers
28000 CHARTRES
Tel : 02 37 28 15 58 (+ 33 2 37 28 15 58)
Fax : 02 37 28 33 03 (+ 33 2 37 28 33 03)
Email : millerchartres@aol.com
|||
great and thanks for this information. will contact mr. Miller
|||
I have a wonderful book entitled %26quot;An Hour From Paris%26quot; by Annabel Simms which details all the wonderful places you can visit on the Ile de France within an hour%26#39;s train ride from Paris. I plan to see several of them on my next visit to Paris in September.
|||
Hi gnat, here are 2 suggestions not directly involving wine but nice all the same:
1) Normandy.
We did a whirlwind day trip to Normandy from Paris in Sept.
Caught the 7:12am from St Lazare station which was a very pleasant trip and then took a wonderful half-day tour of some of the D-Day beaches with Victory Tours. Had a late lunch (with wine) and then went to the Bayeux Tapestry museum, which was great!
Caught the 5:30pm-ish train back to Paris and were back to our apartment by 8:30pm. A full-on but memorable day.
2) Versailles
You can do it in half a day, but a full day is much more relaxed as it%26#39;s a large place with many parts to see. Spending the afternoon sitting by the boating lake eating a Violet icecream is just lovely!
Hope these are helpful.
Regards,
Karen
No comments:
Post a Comment