Day trip from Paris

We will be in Paris for 2 days and 3 nights in January. We have been to Paris several times before and thought we would like to spend at least one day seeing something in the countryside outside Paris. We have been to Versailles, the Loire Valley and do not want to go to Normandy. Any suggestions for something that would be available in January? Perhaps a picturesque village? canal trip? We will not have a car so it would need to be accessible by public transport. Can anyone help please?

How about Reims, which is 45 minutes on the TGV? Tickets can be as low as €14-15 one way if purchased ahead (non-refundable, non-exchangeable PREM's ticket). It is lovely, the city very walkable and suitable for a day trip. The Reims cathedral is gorgeous. There are champagne caves that are normally open for visits but I don't know what the schedule is like in the winter so maybe you could check the relevant champagne houses for information.

[ Edit: Edited on 01-Nov-2009, at 06:42 by lil_lil ]

Rouen. Just a wonderful city overflowing with history.
Or what about Oradour-sur-Glane? On one side of the road is a modern town, and on the opposite side are the ruins the Germans left behind 70 years ago.
Very haunting.

I have had 2 more suggestions - Provins and Senlis. Would you recommend one more than the other?

How about Chartres? It's a nice town just about an hour from Paris, and there's the lovely Chartres Cathedral.

Here's an article about Chartres: http://www.parislogue.com/travel-tips/paris-day-trips-chartres.html

[ Edit: Edited on 03-Nov-2009, at 05:00 by summer910 ]

What about Mont St. Michel? And I do agree that the Chartres Cathedral is beautiful!

Mont St Michel will be going to Normany/Britanny (depending on which are you agree it falls in), which is something Jancee is not keen on doing. Plus it's not that straight forward to go to Mont St Michel without a car. There's no direct rail connections in place, and as a day trip, it takes too much time on the travelling to/fro.

Hey jancee,

What about the Palace of Versailles? It's not too far from Paris.

Though I'm not too clear on the details, if you are interested in impressionist art, particularly Monet's art, then I heard that a trip to his residence is a good day trip idea from Paris. However, I have never been, and the name of the place he lived in fails me. But I heard that you could walk the gardens, see the lillies floating in the pond that appear in many of his paintings.

Good luck!

Steph

Day trip from Paris - We will be in Paris for 2 days and 3 nights in January. We have been to Paris several times before and thought we would like to spend at least one day seeing something in the countryside outside Paris. We have been to Versailles, the Loire Valley and do not want to go to Normandy. Any suggestions for something that would be available in January? Perhaps a picturesque village? canal trip? We will not have a car so it would need to be accessible by public transport. Can anyone help please?

Quoting qwerty123

Day trip from Paris - We will be in Paris for 2 days and 3 nights in January. We have been to Paris several times before and thought we would like to spend at least one day seeing something in the countryside outside Paris. We have been to Versailles, the Loire Valley and do not want to go to Normandy. Any suggestions for something that would be available in January? Perhaps a picturesque village? canal trip? We will not have a car so it would need to be accessible by public transport. Can anyone help please?

If you would post your question in your own thread, someone will certainly be more than happy to help. Please don't hijack someone else's!