France Tours: Paris Day Trips
Chartres Cathedral, Château de Compìegne, Palace of Versailles
Hop on a tour bus or train to the homes of the Sun King and Napoleon III, the spires of Cathédrale Notre Dame & the spot where Germany surrendered in World War I.
There are enough sights within the city of Paris, France to keep visitors busy for weeks, but sometimes it’s tempting to hop on a tour bus or train and see some of the attractions within the surrounding area.
France tours: Paris day trips – Cathédrale Notre Dame de Chartres
One of the greatest cathedrals in the world, let alone France, Chartres cathedral dates back to the 13th century, and is notable for its two spires, one of which is Romanesque, the other gothic. English language tours of the Cathédrale Notre Dame are available, whilst highlights of this fine ecclesiastical building include the portals (such as the Portail Royal to the west) and the Clocher Vieux (or Old Bell Tower to the south). SNCF trains run regularly to Chartres from Gare Montparnasse in Paris, the journey time being 70 minutes.
France tours: Paris day trips – Château de Compìegne
Often known as the Palais National, this magnificent château was once the favoured home of French royalty and emperors. It reached its height in the 19th century under Napoleon III, who organised massive week-long parties (or soirees) amongst France’s great and good at the imperial residence. Tours include the Grands Appartements (Imperial Apartments), Musée du Second Empire (Museum of the Second Empire), Musée de l’Ipératrice (Museum of the Empress) and Musée de la Voiture (Museum of the Car).
Arguably more impressive, however, are the gardens and forest surrounding it, Le Petit Parc and Le Grand Parc. The 4.5km long Allée des Beaux Monts is particularly spectacular.
Compìegne is sometimes known as France’s historic city, and for good reason. Compìegne is where Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) was captured by the Burgundians in 1430, and a railway clearing near the city was where Germany surrendered in 1918 to end World War I. In World War II, Adolf Hitler ensured that the same clearing and carriage was used for France’s surrender to Germany in 1940. The Clarière de l’Armistice is home to a small museum, with a replica of the carriage, and is visited by the French president in every year ending in an 8, the next being 2008. It is also home to a big Remembrance Day service on November 11th each year.
Compìegne is 40 – 80 minutes away from Gare du Nord in Paris, depending on the speed of the train service.
France tours: Paris day trips – The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles (or Château de Compìegne) was home to the French court for more than a century, and acted as the country’s political capital. Built during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, the house and gardens complex is now one of France’s most popular tourist attractions. The Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) is probably the best-known attraction within the palace, but visitors could easily spend two or three days trying to take everything in. 70 trains a day make the short journey from Paris Gare St-Lazare to Versailles-Chantiers.
France tours: Paris day trips – other great tourist attractions
There are plenty of other great tourist attractions that make for great daytrips from Paris. The most obvious of these is the Disneyland Resort, but it’s also worth checking out the Château de Fontainebleau and the surrounding forest. The Chantilly Forest is also beautiful and is full of walking and riding trails – Chantilly is a very horsey city, full of stud farms and stables.
