Whether you need to recharge your batteries in the countryside or you want to discover the wonders of French heritage, I have gathered all the cities near Paris (less than a 3-hour drive) that are worth visiting.
Hours of drive are only here as an indication, they do not take into account any traffic disruptions.
Fontainebleau
🚗 1 hour drive
Located in southeastern Paris in the Seine-et-Marne, Fontainebleau is a city known for its royal castle, in which every sovereign from the 12th to the 19th centuries has lived in. It is also the second-largest royal castle in France, after Versailles castle.
A national treasure you must not miss. Immerse yourself in another time and enjoy 130 hectares of gardens and parks (free access).
Every early June, the city hosts a history and art festival with debates, meetings and exhibitions taking place in the castle and in the city. The city is also known for equestrian sports with its racecourse and for its 15,000-hectare forest named Forêt de Bière.
The charming city filled with history of Fontainebleau is waiting for you.
Mantes-la-Jolie
🚗 1 hour drive
Situated in the Yvelines department at the west of Paris, Mantes-la-Jolie, which used to be a medieval city, has many religious buildings and remains of fortifications.
I advise you to visit Notre-Dame Collegiate, which is often considered to be a miniature of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. You can visit this Gothic-style church with or without a guide. It went through several historical events such as the French Revolution and World War II.
Mantes-la-Jolie is the ideal place to take a walk because it has many gardens and parks.
It should be your destination if you are looking for some fresh air not far from the capital and for a place to walk and visit old buildings.
Chantilly
🚗 1 hour drive
Located in the Oise department, Chantilly is famous for its castle which is closely linked to French history as the main artists of the 17th century have stayed in that place. Among them we can find La Fontaine, Molière, Racine etc.
In the castle, you can find the Condé museum which has one of the largest old art collections of France and also the second old-painting collection after the Louvre museum one.
The local culinary specialty is whipped cream, known as crème Chantilly, which would have been invented by François Vatel, one of the castle maître d’hôtels.
I advise you to pay a visit to the Atelier de la Chantilly at 48 Rue de Connétable 60500 Chantilly. This tea room is specialized in whipped cream and you can taste it on local pastries such as macaroons and meringues and even with seasonal fruits.
Equestrian sports contribute to the town’s reputation since the Jockey Club prize and Diane prize take place in its racecourse and that the Chantilly castle has its own equestrian museum called the Musée du Cheval.
Compiègne
🚗 1h15 drive
The city of Compiègne, in northeastern Paris in the Oise department, is nicknamed the imperial city-state due to its past linked to the Second French Empire.
Napoleon III stayed many times in Compiègne castle as the President and as the Emperor. He met his wife, their Empress Eugénie de Montijo there.
The imperial theatre’s architecture and acoustics are outstanding. This theatre was originally built at Napoleon III’s request to entertain his court and now hosts many concerts, musical comedies and other performances. Do check out their program (French only), something may interest you.
The city has many museums such as the memorial of deportation and internment camps, an art and archaeology museum (Antoine Vivenel museum) and a historical figurine museum in which an overview of French history is shown.
Chartres
🚗 1h15 drive
Chartres is located in the Eure-et-Loir department and has many places of worship to visit. The city was a place of pilgrimage for Palm Sundays and Whitsun.
Nowadays, the city is nicknamed the city of lights and perfume because of its annual light festival taking place in the city center.
During that evening, you can enjoy free interactive art performances, exhibitions, musical parades. Unfortunately, this festival did not take place in2021 due to covid-19.
However, until January 15 2022, you can enjoy at night 23 floodlight sites, one of which being Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral.
Discover contemporary art through a dozen of exhibitions with the Chemin des Arts, an itinerary to follow in the city center from March to December.
Reims
🚗 1h30 drive
Located in the Marne department, Reims played a part in history. Nicknamed the city of kings, many Carolingian and Capetian kings were crowned in the architectural gem Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral. Even Clovis was baptized there by Saint-Remi.
Visit the 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Palace of Tau where the French kings stayed when they came in Reims to get crowned, the old Saint-Remi abbey and the landscapes of Champagne (hills, houses and champagne cellars of the town).
The town’s car museum is the fifth largest car museum in France because of its great car collection with cars dating from the early 20th century to today. Some of the cars only exist in a couple of copies.
Orléans
🚗 1h30 drive
In the Loiret department, you can find Orléans, a city full of history due to its role in the Hundred Years’ War in which Jeanne-d’Arc participated and the fact that it was the capital during the Merovingian era. It is among the “French Towns and Lands of Art and History” thanks to its Musée des Beaux-Arts, a place to visit for painting enthusiasts.
You can visit Jeanne-d’Arc’s house, where she lived when she freed the town. This house became a museum gathering a great amount of documentation about the Hundred Years’ War. You should also pay a visit to the Martroi square if you want to see a statue of Jeanne d’Arc on a horseback.
Go for a walk along the largest river of France, the Loire river, and enjoy the fauna, flora and castles. Stroll in the streets of the old town to discover the architectural wonders and many parks and gardens.
Rouen
🚗 1h50 drive
Located in the Seine-Maritime department, Rouen has a great cultural heritage and is the city with “a hundred church towers”. You will fall under its spell with its timber-framed houses and its Gros-Horloge, an astronomical clock on the arch of a Gothic building.
I advise you to have a look at the Vieux-Marché square and the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in Rouen.
If you want to relax, spend some time in the Square Vedrel or the Jardin des Plantes. Do not forget to try out the town’s specialty: the mirlitons. They are small tarts made with eggs, almond powder, sugar, vanilla and lemon zest.
Amiens
🚗 2h drive
Situated in the Somme department, Amiens, nicknamed “the northern little Venice”, is known for its canals and hortillonnages which are just like floating gardens.
Hortillonnages are really unique and you should not miss that if you come to Amiens. Guided tours on small boats are organized by charities. If you want to know more about the ancient marshes, you should visit the Hortillonnages museum.
Discover the city’s zoo, which has more than 120 species. You can even have a personal guide to show you the zoo around (this requires an additional fee) on your own or with your family.
Do not miss the beffroi, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, that used to be a prison in the Middle Ages and from which you can watch over the town. Visits are only possible with a guide and there are commentaries in French, English, German and Italian.
Troyes
🚗 2h drive
Located in the Aube department, Troyes is known for its textile industry. It used to be its main trading area.
Stroll through the streets to admire the traditional half-timbered houses and enjoy the specialties of the region: andouillette, Chaource cheese and Troyes prunes.
Discover the heart of Troyes, a giant heart made of metal and whose color turns red at nightfall. A symbolic place for couples.
Take a walk in the vast regional park of the Orient Forest which offers a diversified fauna and flora. Low-cost activities with a guide are on offer to experience new things: admire the cranes on the seawall in the early evening or listen to the hoarse cries of the buck at nightfall.
Le Mans
🚗 2h15 drive
Located in the Sarthe department, Le Mans has a religious and historical heritage, which will please history lovers.
Travel back in time with a walk through the Plantagenet City, a charming place full of cobblestone streets and timber-framed houses. The city also has a Roman wall, which is the best-preserved wall from the entire ancient Roman Empire (along with those of Rome and Byzantium).
Le Mans also has a 500-hectare natural area, the Arche de la Nature, where you can cycle or walk. For children, there are many activities in different houses to help them discover nature: the water house, the forest house and the meadow house. It is possible to hire canoes for a more original walk.
Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme
🚗 2h30 drive
Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme is a small village in the Somme department, overlooking the Bay of the Somme.
Visit its sailors’ quarter, the “Courtgain”, where the colorful houses typical of fishermen are beautifully decorated. A perfect walk for lovers.
If you walk around this neighborhood, you will have a splendid view of the whole village and the bay.
The Guillaume towers – the remains of the ramparts and the medieval city – are witnesses of the village’s historical past.
It is also the perfect place to fill your energy: follow a guided tour of the Bay of the Somme and go fishing and discover the seals, the Ault cliffs and the rocks. It is also possible to rent bicycles and canoes to go along or on the Somme river.
Deauville
🚗 2h30 drive
Deauville is a town in Normandy known worldwide for its casino, racecourse, large hotels and luxury shops. Many festivals take place in this town such as the American Film Festival as well as numerous horse races.
This prestigious city is also, and above all, a seaside resort and an appealing marina. The city seems to be no more than a place of leisure and relaxation.
I advise you to go and see the beach and check out Les Planches, bathing cabins where the names of famous actors are written on the boards surrounding them, in reference to the American Film Festival.
Lille
🚗 2h30 drive or 1 hour by train
Located in the North of France, Lille, nicknamed the “Capital of Flanders”, is a charming city with diverse architectures: Haussmannian, Gothic and even contemporary for its most recent buildings.
It is known for its Grand’Place and its annual street market which welcomes two or three million visitors. Go visit the courtyard of the Vieille Bourse, which is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city with its Flemish Renaissance style, where second-hand booksellers gather.
It is unimaginable to visit Lille without going to the Old Lille district, with its cobbled streets and its houses with varied architecture as well as its prestigious –or not– shops.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
