If you are wondering what to visit around Paris , if you are looking for weekend ideas less than 100 km from Paris , then here is an ideal destination idea for sightseeing and getting some fresh air : A Chevreuse Barbizon Fontainebleau circuit in 1 weekend.
As the media, social networks and newspapers have constantly repeated after the lockdown, you should know that there are little tourist gems all over France and even for a weekend getaway around Paris.
The most beautiful villages in France, royal castles, forests, banks of the Marne, riverside cafes, medieval towns… There is something for everyone, even within 100 km of Paris!
Yes but where are these tourist sites? How to visit them? How to discover them for a weekend?
These are exactly the questions that came to me when I organized my little 2 day getaway myself.
So below, I'm sharing one of the most beautiful destinations near Paris, perfect for a weekend getaway or a day trip, by car or train! I've also included the most interesting sightseeing itinerary, a Google map , information about the sites, and some great tips on restaurants, hotels, and Airbnbs!
What to visit around Paris?
Want to leave Paris, to escape elsewhere, to discover beautiful landscapes, small villages, to take beautiful walks in nature ... No need to go far!
Tourism around Paris
Here are some ideas of sites, tourist attractions or interesting cities to visit around Paris: Versailles, Auvers-sur-Oise, Provins, Vaux-Le-Vicomte, Fontainebleau, Nogent sur Marne, Les guinguettes des edges de Marne, Moret-sur- Loing-et-Orvanne, Giverny, Senlis, Chantilly, Montfort l'Amaury, French Gâtinais Regional Nature Park, Courances Castle, Vincenne Castle, Vincenne Zoo, Vexin Regional Nature Park, Thoiry Zoo, Corot Ponds , Chartres, Reims, Orléans ...
The list does not stop there, it is long and very varied as much by the style of the visits as by their geographical positions around Paris.
That's why it's best to be organized and select only the most interesting sites that are close to each other so you can visit them in 2 days!
My weekend around Paris
The destinations I'm suggesting below are ideal for a romantic weekend getaway . They are the village of Chevreuse , Barbizon , and the magnificent Fontainebleau site.
I organized the weekend as a circuit . By linking the 3 tourist sites, we optimized the time to properly visit these three superb places less than 200 km from Paris.
Weekend around Paris - Tourist map
The journey from Paris to Fontainebleau via Cheveuse and Barbizon is only 120 km but takes you to distant lands and eras, yet so close to Paris…
Weekend around Paris - DAY 1
The first stop on my weekend trip is 40 km southwest of Paris in the Yvelines : Chevreuse!
City 1 hour from Paris by car - Chevreuse in the morning
With its small bridges over which you cross a small canal (the Yvette), with its pretty stone houses, its Madeleine castle , its cobbled squares and its Saint-Saturnin priory , Chevreuse has undeniable tourist appeal, but not only that!
Indeed, Chevreuse is one of the most romantic places around Paris ! It's therefore an essential stop on a tourist itinerary south of Paris, allowing you to immerse yourself in the Middle Ages and enjoy the unique charm of this medieval town!
How to go to Chevreuse from Paris?
With or without a car! Indeed, you can simply go there by train in just 40 minutes by taking the RER B to Saint Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (electric bike rental at the station).
What to do in Chevreuse?
The program for my weekend simply allows me to visit and enjoy the romantic charm of the alleys and small bridges of Chevreuse.
I highly recommend the "Little Bridges Walk, " which is signposted. Running along the banks of the Yvette, it allows you to discover the history and traditions of Chevreuse, including the remains of old tanneries, the hide-drying shed, and the Mandar wash house.
What to visit in Chevreuse and around Chevreuse?
For those who want to spend a whole weekend there, there are plenty of tourist attractions and activities to do in Chevreuse and the Chevreuse Valley :
- Go up to Madeleine castle to enjoy a superb panorama over the pretty Yvette Valley.
- Visit the masterful Dampierre castle ;
- Take a tour Little Mill of the Vaux de Cernay ;
- Visit, eat there (very good restaurant in the Abbey) and why not sleep at theAbbaye des Vaux de Cernay in the heart of the Rambouillet national forest. Only 15 minutes from Chevreuse!
And if you want to discover all the tourist attractions around Chevreuse , you can do it by bus and therefore at a lower cost (see below)!
Discover the Chevreuse Valley by bus
Indeed, you will simply need to take the Baladobus , a tourist shuttle that departs every 50 minutes from the RER B station in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse.
Thus, you can stop for hikes in the heart of the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park or visit the following tourist sites:
- Breteuil castle
- Madeleine castle
- Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay
- The Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay
- The Domaine de Dampierre
- Hotel Les Ducs
- Chapel Hotel
- Manor of Sauvegrain
- Place de Cernay ...
Where to eat in Chevreuse?
If you would like to follow my weekend program, then after visiting the historic center of Chevreuse in the morning, I suggest we spend the afternoon and evening in Barbizon.
City 1 hour from Paris by car - Barbizon in the afternoon
After lunch, my weekend itinerary takes us to Seine-et-Marne to discover the charming village of Barbizon . From Chevreuse, it's about an hour's drive , and only slightly longer from Paris.
How to go to Barbizon?
With or without a car:
- From Paris, you can get there by train from Gare de Lyon. Take the train towards Montereau or Montargis and stop at Melun or Fontainebleau.
- From Paris, you can go there by RER D - direction and stop Melun.
- From Chevreuse by car (65 km).
What to do in Barbizon?
Nicknamed the "Village of Painters ," Barbizon captivated famous artists such as Sisley, Camille Corot, Millet, Rousseau, and Monet. It is said that the pre-Impressionist movement was born in Barbizon. If you enjoy themed tours focusing on painters, discover how to explore Normandy in the footsteps of the Impressionists!
To follow my weekend itinerary, you can stroll leisurely along the cobbled, flower-filled streets, admire the magnificent old buildings, and make your way to the very popular Auberge Ganne . There you can discover the main paintings inspired by the village of Barbizon, housed in the Musée départemental des peintres de Barbizon (Barbizon Painters' Departmental Museum ).
Indeed, the Museum is installed in 2 historical and cultural places:
- The Auberge Ganne where many painters stayed between the 1820s and the 1860s;
- Théodore Rousseau's house where the latter lived for 20 years at the end of his life.
Airbnb Barbizon
For the night in Barbizon, I recommend an Airbnb accommodation which is really a good plan! Indeed, it is located in the heart of Barbizon, quiet 10 minutes from the forest of Fontainebleau.
Everything is accessible on foot from the accommodation: Shops, restaurants, art galleries, Museum ...
Weekend around Paris - DAY 2
The second day of my weekend is in Fontainebleau , just 10 km from Barbizon, or 70 km by road if you are coming directly from Paris.
What to visit around Paris - Fontainebleau in the morning
My weekend, combining small villages, gastronomy, nature, painting and culture, takes us to the heart of the history of the kings of France: to Fontainebleau!
How to get from Paris to the Château de Fontainebleau?
With or without a car:
- 1 hour from Paris Gare de Lyon : Take the TER towards Laroche Migennes, exit at Fontainebleau Avon and at the station, take bus 21 down to Château de Fontainebleau.
- In 15 minutes from Barbizon (10 km).
What to do in Fontainebleau?
Fontainebleau is an imperial city, a magnificent forest and an imposing castle. And the first visit that is essential when you are in Fontainebleau is its Royal Castle!
Château de Fontainebleau visit in the morning
It is very early in the morning, before the tourist buses disembark, that I recommend you to visit this jewel of French heritage.
This magnificent and huge castle, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only castle that has been inhabited by all rulers from the 12th to the 19th century.
You will be able to discover, among others, the suite of François Ier, Henri IV, Louis XIII, Louis XV and even Napoleon I. Indeed, the latter also lived at the Château de Fontainebleau and restored it after the Revolution.
Picnic style gardens of Fontainebleau
For lunch, treat yourself to a regal setting in the heart of the Gardens of the Château de Fontainebleau. Weather permitting, a picnic near the Carp Pond is simply ideal!
Moreover, if you have the time, you can rent a boat there for a ride on the Etang aux Carpes.
What to visit around Paris - Forêt de Fontainebleau
To end the weekend in Fontainebleau , why not visit the town and then finish in sporty mode by going on a beautiful hike in the Fontainebleau Forest?
Quick tour of the city of Fontainebleau
In order not to waste too much time, I recommend that you visit the Imperial City of Fontainebleau simply by taking a walk.
Hike in the Fontainebleau Forest
The Fontainebleau tourist office offers several themed hikes around Fontainebleau.
The one I chose makes a 12 km loop and allows you to enjoy the most beautiful views of the Fontainebleau Forest. This is the Promenade des points de vue.
You have to go to Fontainebleau Avon station, route de la Reine Amélie to start this beautiful walking tour marked in yellow.
In 4 hours, you can admire the Croix du Calvaire, the Denecourt Tower, the Desiree Fountain, the Cassepot Esplanade, the Hippodrome de la Solle, the Cassepot quarry or the Vasque.
Where to sleep in Fontainebleau
Here is a good address if you wish to end your weekend around Paris with a night in Fontainebleau.
This is an ideal aparthotel in these Covid times as some rooms are equipped with kitchenettes. On the other hand, on the budget side, it's a good plan!
See this accommodation in Fontainebleau
Any other weekend ideas in France?
Here's my top tip for a cheap weekend in Marseille
My nice weekend around Toulouse
or other weekend ideas in France