With the arrival of the warm weather and the possibility of travelling to other regions, it is time to take a breath of fresh air and treat yourself to a few rejuvenating weekends in areas and cities easily accessible by train from Paris. France has a highly developed rail network. Whether by TER or by TGV INOUI, it is very easy to escape the capital for a few days to discover the richness of the regions, in terms of heritage, gastronomy, natural environment and cultural offer. Are you looking for the sea, the countryside or the mountains? No problem, France is famous for its wide variety of landscapes and from Paris, a few hours by train is all it takes to feel a real change of scenery. And just in time, OUI.sncf allows you to travel by train at low prices this summer. What's more, until August 29th included, tickets can be exchanged and refunded up to 3 days before departure. So without further ado, here are 10 destinations accessible by train from Paris for a weekend. Discover also our Top 10 country spots accessible by train!
1- Brest and the call of Brittany
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It takes about 3h30 by TGV INOUI to reach Brest from Paris. On the spot, the weekend starts with a stroll on the port to observe the boats and to stop on the terrace of a restaurant. Although the city was heavily affected by the bombings of World War II, it has nevertheless preserved a beautiful testimony of the Brest of yesteryear, with the rue Saint-Malo. Here, the old stones and all the charm of Brittany are honored. Another superb element of heritage is the Motte-Tanguy tower, built in the 14th century. Not to be missed either, a tour of the main museums and sites of interest. The Fine Arts Museum, the Océanopolis dedicated to the oceans and the National Navy Museum are all places to wander around. If you are interested in nature, you can go to the National Botanical Conservatory of Brest and the Moulin Blanc beach. The opportunity is also too good not to embark on the north side of a boat and join the Ponant islands.
2- Beaune, a peaceful weekend in Burgundy
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Beaune is the gateway to the beautiful Burgundy countryside, only 2h30 away from Paris by train. Before venturing out into the countryside, don't miss a walk in the charming city of Beaune. You can walk around the ramparts before going to the foot of the beautiful Notre-Dame collegiate basilica. The narrow streets in the center are paved, charming and ideal for shopping in the small shops. Of course, one should not miss the place that is the pride of the region: the Hospices de Beaune, a splendid site with its glazed tiles and its gothic style with Flemish influences. As the capital of Burgundy wines, the rest of the trip takes visitors out of the city and into the surrounding countryside, notably to a wine estate for a tasting session. The great wines accompany the typical dishes of the region such as beef bourguignon or snails.
3- Annecy, a detour in the heart of the mountains
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Are you looking for mountains and long walks in the open air? Then Annecy is a destination worth considering. Direct INOUI TGV trains take travelers in 3 hours and 40 minutes from Paris to this charming little town located on the shores of the famous lake. The old town is splendid with its canals and vaulted passages. Several monuments attract the eye such as the Isle Palace, the Annecy Castle and the many churches. The Thiou canal is another must-see, with its colorful facades and walking paths. At another time, it is the superb Lake Annecy that awaits travelers to enjoy its clear waters and take a boat ride or stand up paddle. And then around the lake, you can reach in no time on foot or by bike the different mountain itineraries, simply to enjoy the sumptuous panoramas and breathe the pure air.
4- La Rochelle, the sea air of Charente-Maritime
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Several trains from Paris allow you to reach La Rochelle in just under 3 hours. In the city, you can enjoy a walk on the Old Port and observe its towers, before going to lose yourself in the streets and alleys of the old city once you pass the Porte de la Grosse Horloge. We are always pleasantly surprised by the medieval character of the place. Not far away, a visit to the Charruyer park will allow you to put yourself in the green for a few moments. The museums of La Rochelle also open their doors to better understand the history of the city, as in the Bunker of La Rochelle or to learn more about the past maritime life, as in the Maritime Museum. On the hottest days, the Minimes beach is perfect for a swim. And for those who want to, don't miss the opportunity to go to the neighboring island of Ré, to stroll between these typical villages, to ride a bike and to land on a sunny stretch of sand.
5- Chartres and its unsuspected treasures
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The city of Chartres is a perfect destination to escape for a weekend in a city of human size, which never ceases to surprise. It takes 1 hour to reach the city from Paris. Of course, we start by going to see its superb gothic cathedral, which welcomed the coronation of king Henri IV and today classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Then you can walk through the center of the city to admire the half-timbered facades or stroll along the banks of the Eure river. To stock up on good produce, head for the Chartres market, Baltard-style halls built at the end of the 19th century. Chartres is not lacking in unusual visits either, with the Maison Picassiette, a temple of mosaics that almost reminds one of the Güell Park in Barcelona, but also with the Bel Air frescoes, 4,000m2 of trompe-l'oeil! Finally, for those who wish to escape from the city for a few moments and rent a car on the spot, the proximity of the Maintenon castle and the Perche regional natural park in the vicinity are elements to be inserted in the program of a weekend that does good.
6- Chambéry, a stopover in Savoie
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After a direct journey of less than 3 hours on the INOUI TGV from the capital, visitors can spend a pleasant time in the city of Chambéry, which is steeped in history. The weekend can start with a stroll leading to the Place Saint-Léger, entirely pedestrian and sublime with its colourful facades. You should then take the adjacent narrow streets, full of medieval architectural treasures. We particularly like the rue Juiverie around which there are many traboules as well as the rue Croix d'Or, where old private mansions are located. From the inevitable Elephants' Fountain, you can go to the Savoisien Museum or take a guided tour of Chambéry's railway rotunda, which is Eiffel style and the largest rotunda ever built in France. For nature walks, you can go to the Nivolet cross to enjoy a superb panorama of the Chambéry basin. Other options include a hike in the Bauges massif and a walk on the shores of Lake Bourget.
7- Marseille, the oldest city in France
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The inhabitants of Paris have the immense advantage of being only 3 hours by TGV from the beautiful city of Marseille. You'll barely have time to realise that you're strolling along the Vieux-Port before sitting on a terrace for a drink. In Marseille, we like to venture into these different districts to taste their unique atmosphere: let's mention the Cours Julien and its beautiful urban paintings or the Panier and its flowery and typical Provencal streets. The cultural offer is dense, and one can enjoy strolling to the MUCEM as much as going to the Friche la Belle de Mai to contemplate some exhibitions and relax on the roof terrace. Around the city, nature is idyllic, and it will only take a few minutes by bus to enter the Calanques National Park and discover the most beautiful shades of blue of the Mediterranean Sea. Sormiou or Sugiton, such are the names of its jewels of the Big Blue.
8- Bourges, a getaway in the Centre-Val de Loire
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Bourges is a charming city with a long history that can be reached in about 2 hours by train from Paris. It has many monuments that are the pride of the city, such as the Saint-Etienne cathedral, in Gothic style, the Jacques Coeur palace, from the 15th century, and its nearly 400 buildings that cover its medieval center. The Bourbonneaux street and the Gordien square are places to go to enjoy the shops and restaurants. You can order a "pâté berrichon" or a "galette aux pommes de terre". It is also important to know that as Bourges is located in a humid climate zone, swamps are always present in the city. They cover 135 hectares and can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by boat. Outside the city of Bourges, the countryside of the Berry region offers peaceful places such as the gardens of Apremont-sur-Allier and the vineyards of the Sancerrois region, where you can enjoy the delicious white wine.
9- Grenoble, stop in the capital of the Dauphiné
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Grenoble is a city with a thousand facets, located in an exceptional environment, between the Vercors, Chartreuse and Taillefer massifs. After 3 hours of direct TGV from Paris, you will quickly find yourself in the middle of the Place Grenette, always very lively with its stores and cafés. Notre-Dame de Grenoble cathedral, Saint-Hugues church, Lion fountain and Saint-Laurent footbridge spanning the Isère river are some of the city's must-sees. As well as a stroll to the museum of the Resistance and Deportation of Isère and to the museum of Grenoble, which has an impressive collection of Western paintings. The Paul Mistral park is the green lung of the city, and how can you miss the Grenoble Bastille cable car that takes you to the Fort. Beautiful 360° views on the city and its surroundings guaranteed! There are also superb hikes to do in the middle of nature around Grenoble, like the one that takes place from Saint-Pierre d'Entremont to the cirque of Saint-Même. On the program, a superb natural site shaped by water and glaciers.
10- Nice, a trip on the French Riviera
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With the reopening of the Paris-Nice night train, all you have to do is peacefully fall asleep to wake up facing the beautiful Mediterranean. What a pleasure to start by walking in the Old Nice, contemplating the colorful facades with louvered shutters to end up at Cours Saleya and its famous flower market. Later on, you can go to the Cimiez district to see the arena, before taking the high ground and dominating the old town from the castle hill. Another monument is a must to see to take great pictures, it is the Russian Orthodox cathedral of Nice, simply the most important religious building of the Orthodox cult outside Russia. Matisse museum, Marc Chagall national museum, the great painters are also honored in Nice. And then, of course, there is the sea, present at every moment. You can appreciate its gradation of blues from the Promenade des Anglais, from which you don't hesitate to go down for a swim under the beautiful June sun. The walkers appreciate the Sentier du Littoral and its panoramas which never cease to fascinate, and are ideal for beautiful pictures.
