6 Enchanting Day Trips from Paris (Can’t Miss)

Provins: A Trip Into Medieval France

Location: Provins, southeast of Paris - 1.5 hours by train.
Suggested visit time: 4-5 hours.

This UNESCO-listed town offers well-preserved walls, medieval towers, and underground tunnels. Visit the Tithe Barn Museum to learn about medieval trade. You can also catch a falconry show for a unique experience.

The town hosts medieval festivals that draw larger crowds, but it’s quieter on weekdays. A fascinating dive into France’s medieval past.

Vaux-le-Vicomte: Versailles’ Inspiration

Location: Maincy, southeast of Paris - 1 hour and 15 minutes by car.
Suggested visit time: 4-5 hours.

Vaux-le-Vicomte is a baroque masterpiece, and the château that inspired Versailles. Its perfectly symmetrical gardens were designed by André Le Nôtre. The lavish rooms illustrate the height of 17th-century French opulence.

If you can, catch an evening candlelit tour for a magical atmosphere. Located in Maincy, it’s less crowded than Versailles but just as impressive.