Day trips from Paris

By car, hop aboard our magnificent 2 CVs, discovering the surroundings of the most beautiful city in the world! We take you on a journey for a day of relaxation, culture, and nature – all less than 1.5 hours from Paris!

Just like its twice-millennial capital, the Paris region is full of heritage and architectural treasures: castles, abbeys, museums, cathedrals, forests... the choice is yours!

You will take even more pleasure in discovering these historical sites because many of them share a common history with the monuments you may have visited in Paris.

If some of the outings suggested below are must-sees in tourist guides, others are more discreet but no less surprising. Whether with family, friends, or as a couple, let's go!

1/ The must-see Palace of Versailles

2/ The French Renaissance: the Château de Fontainebleau

3/ The Impressionist gardens of Claude Monet: Giverny

4/ A Gothic abbey turned into a music creation center: Royaumont

5/ The crème de la crème: the Château de Chantilly

6/ The National Museum of the Renaissance: the Château d'Écouen

7/ The one that inspired Versailles: the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

8/ A fortress and a second Sainte Chapelle in Paris? That's in Vincennes!

The quintessential French castle, the most famous, one of the largest and most beautiful... Emblematic image of the French monarchy, this castle is the subject of all fantasies. Initially a hunting lodge under Louis XIII, it became a royal residence under the reign of Louis XIV. Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI also stayed there with their court.

You will undoubtedly appreciate strolling through the galleries of the castle, the Trianon estate, its majestic parks, as well as its gardens. Designed by the king's landscaper, André Le Nôtre (who a few years earlier designed the Tuileries Garden, between the Louvre and the Champs-Elysées), the gardens of the Palace of Versailles are the epitome of so-called "French-style" gardens.

Embark on a discovery of this jewel of French heritage, lose yourself in its gardens, marvel at the splendor of the Hall of Mirrors and the apartments, take time to stroll on the park lawns, and have fun in its maze.

For more information on the tours we offer at the Palace of Versailles, contact us!

Like the Louvre Castle, the Château de Fontainebleau was built in the 12th century before becoming the residence of the kings of France who each shaped it in turn. The only castle to have been inhabited by all the sovereigns of France from the 12th to the 19th century, it is composed of 1,500 rooms where numerous pieces of furniture have been preserved.

If Versailles is associated with the figure of Louis XIV, Fontainebleau is linked with François I. At the beginning of the 16th century, the king invited prestigious Italian artists to make numerous renovations there, in the Renaissance style. To such an extent that the castle now symbolizes what is called "the French Renaissance."

You can then visit the gardens of the castle as well as the Fontainebleau forest, which inspired the painters of the Barbizon school – those who had nature as their main inspiration – in the first half of the 19th century.^. .

From the Barbizon school to the Impressionism of Claude Monet, there is only one step. In Giverny, you are in Normandy, on the lands of Claude Monet, the most famous of the Impressionist painters.

This house with its pink plaster and its gardens, which he never ceased to shape to his liking, inspired him throughout his life. In Giverny, you enter into the intimacy of the painter. You can visit his house, stroll through the water garden that he appreciated so much, and in the vegetable garden.

Situated on the banks of the Seine and the Eure, the surroundings of Claude Monet's House offer beautiful landscapes for a countryside picnic before returning to the bustling Parisian life.

Before or after your visit to Giverny, make a detour to the Musée de l'Orangerie, in the Tuileries Garden, to admire one of his most significant works, the Water Lilies of the Orangerie, painted in situ.

This former Cistercian monastery was built in the first half of the 13th century, under Louis IX, also known as Saint Louis (the one who built the Sainte-Chapelle in the Palais de la Cité). It is said that Louis IX, when he came to check the progress of the construction, lent a helping hand to the artisans.

During your visit, you will marvel at this monumental Gothic architecture. The vaulted rooms, the refectory, the cloister, the ruins, and the gardens of the abbey alone are worth a trip to Royaumont.

During the weekend, it is possible to spend the night there! The rooms with views of the cloister or the gardens will leave you with an unforgettable memory. On Saturday evening and Sunday, it is also possible to dine there. The excellent restaurant of Royaumont is located in one of the most beautiful vaulted rooms of the abbey.

Becoming a place of artistic creation during the 20th century, Royaumont offers every Sunday, in its magical spaces, a cultural program dedicated to music and dance.

Once you arrive at Royaumont, you are not far from the Château de Chantilly.

A marvel of French heritage, this princely residence had an exceptional destiny. Its last owner, the Duke of Aumale, son of the last King of the French, Louis-Philippe, was known as one of the greatest collectors of his time. It was he who offered the Château de Chantilly to the Institut de France in 1886, in a sumptuous state, as it had passed through the centuries.

By visiting it, you will dive into the heart of French history and be able to admire the masterpieces that the Duke of Aumale stored there. The painting galleries, the grand apartments, the private apartments, and the book cabinet remain as they were arranged by the prince.

Its immense park also offers many attractions. Gardening enthusiasts will appreciate the different styles of gardens; French (designed by Le Nôtre), English, or Anglo-Chinese. As a family, you can observe the kangaroos and participate in fun treasure hunts.

Located on the other side of the Chantilly forest, just 20 km north of Paris, the Château d'Ecouen, built in 1538, is the masterpiece of the architect Jean Bullant (the same one who built the Château de Chantilly). The two castles actually belonged to the same man, one of the most powerful of his time, close to King François I, Anne de Montmorency. An aesthete whose figure is often associated with the Renaissance.

In 1977, the castle, which had become the National Museum of the Renaissance, opened its doors to the public. The architecture, painted decorations, decorative arts, furniture, artworks, and collection - most of which comes from the Cluny Museum in Paris - testify to French art and taste in the 16th century.

The park and the immense surrounding forest also offer beautiful shaded walks, peaceful and far from the Parisian hustle and bustle, in a unique natural setting on the outskirts of Paris.

It is the work of three of the most illustrious artists of the early 17th century - Louis Le Vau (architect), Charles Le Brun (painter), and André Le Nôtre (landscape architect) - brought together by Nicolas Fouquet, the Superintendent of Finances under Louis XIV, to create his residence. These are indeed the same three artists that Louis XIV would bring together a few years later to build the Palace of Versailles... modeled after Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Much less visited than its younger brother in Versailles, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is nonetheless sublime. Far from the crowds of tourists, you can fully enjoy its spaces, collections, and apartments... which testify to the French art of living in the 17th century. Its terraced French gardens, its fountains, its architecture... everything here will remind you of Versailles.

A trip that we highly recommend, especially since the owners regularly organize themed days: dress up in the Grand Siècle style, come admire the sumptuous Christmas decorations, or even visit the castle by candlelight at night.

This time, you could even go there during your tour in a 2 CV with Parisi Tour or by metro, as the Château de Vincennes has become closer with the urban development of Paris.

Built from the 14th century onwards, this fortress is a witness to medieval architecture. It served to protect the capital or the sovereigns in retreat during the Parisian revolutions. It was transformed into a prison from the 16th to the 19th century, and then into a military barracks by Napoleon I.

In the estate of the castle, you can admire a replica of the Sainte-Chapelle of Paris (the one ordered by Louis IX), built starting from 1379. Indeed, like eight other Sainte-Chapelles in France, that of Vincennes was built on the model of the original one, located on the Île de la Cité, which housed the Holy Relics of Christ.

After your visit, you can enjoy the Bois de Vincennes which, along with the Bois de Boulogne, constitutes one of the lungs of the capital. We love to stroll there on weekends, with family or friends, for a jog, a picnic, a boat ride on the lake, or simply to breathe in tranquility.

For some of these destinations, we organize tours in 2 CV cars. Accompanied by a guide, you will be taken to your destination aboard our vintage and convertible cars.

If you want to learn more about these outings, contact the Parisi Tour team!