Every time I feel like going on vacation, I always go to the French countryside. You'd think such small provincial towns would be worlds away from Paris, but you'd be surprised at how many are near the city. Some are even close enough for a quick day trip! Just leave early in the morning and you'll be back before sunset! As an art lover, my favorite is naturally Giverny, which is truly as scenic as a Monet painting. I also enjoy Crécy-la-Chapelle, Saint-Mammès, Bayeux, and Médan, among many others. I'm sure you'll fall in love with them too!
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When I need to get away from all the hustle and bustle of Paris, I escape to the French Countryside. Fortunately, there are many small towns near the city, each more beautiful and charming than the next!
Bayeux
As it's 264 kilometers away from Paris's central neighborhoods, Bayeux isn't exactly “near” the capital city. At least, not as near as many of the other towns on this list. With that said, however, Bayeux is in Normandy and is only a little over a two-hour train ride or a three-hour drive away from Paris. Hence, you can easily go on a day trip here and be back in Paris before sundown. And you'll definitely want to if you want to check out the famous Normandy beaches. Apart from the fact that it's a beautiful town in and of itself, Bayeux often serves as a common starting point to explore Normandy's historic shoreline.Chevreuse
With only 41 kilometers between Paris and Chevreuse, this countryside town is much closer to the capital than Bayeux. But you wouldn't have thought it when you see the place itself! From its stone cottages to the serene canals that flow through the commune, Chevreuse evokes that storybook-like wonder that the French countryside is known for. The town looks as if it never went beyond the Middle Ages, let alone reach the 21st century. Walk along its famous Promenade des Petits Ponts to see all that fairytale-like charm that provincial France is all about.Crécy-la-Chapelle
You'll find the ever-pleasant Crécy-la-Chapelle along the tranquil Grand Morin River in France's Seine-et-Marne department. It's only a little under an hour’s drive away from Paris, and if you take the train, it'll only take about half an hour to reach it. This proximity alone makes it worth visiting when you have a free day, but there's also the town's fabulous mix of provincial charm and a touch of luxury. Crécy-la-Chapelle still has various upscale hotspots despite being a countryside town.Flagy
Also in Île-de-France's Seine-et-Marne department is Flagy, the ultimate bucolic commune only a stone's throw away from Paris. You can reach this place in only a little over an hour by car, and rest assured that every second of it will be worth it! History permeates throughout this storybook-like town, from the stately 13th-century Bellefontaine Castle to the fairly famous 12th-century Flagy Mill. Both big and small landmarks tell such fascinating stories, making for a more educational day trip to the countryside from Paris.Giverny
Giverny is synonymous with Claude Monet and vice versa. If you've ever been to the famous Musée de l'Orangerie, one of Paris's smaller museums, you've seen some of Monet's most beloved works. And though those paintings are undeniably beautiful, the real thing is much more enchanting. What real thing, you ask? Giverny, of course! Monet famously lived and painted many of his masterpieces in this countryside town located only 75.6 kilometers away from Paris. True to its fame, the place looks like a Monet painting come to life, complete with colorful blooms, lush greenery, and Impressionist Art's signature feeling of serenity.La Roche-Guyon
The Val-d'Oise department's La Roche-Guyon offers a different type of provincial romance from the Medieval towns that the French countryside is famous for. Located only 75.5 kilometers away from Paris, its stately Château de La Roche-Guyon and relatively bustling town look and feel straight out of a classic French romance novel. You can easily imagine stories like “Manon Lescaut” or “Madame Bovary” taking place here, making it a suitable honeymoon destination, too.Médan
Located only 40.1 kilometers away from Paris, Médan shares a bit of the same grandiosity as the capital city. From the stately Château de Médan to the charming Musée Dreyfus, you could almost mistake it as one of the Paris suburbs instead of a countryside town. Perhaps this is why Parisians and tourists alike love it here, apart from the fact that it's also so close to the city. Médan maintains a nice balance between its provincial charms and a tinge of Parisian opulence.Provins
With how busy it tends to get, Provins feels more like another major French city, akin to the likes of Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, or even Cannes. But make no mistake! This Medieval town, only 94.3 kilometers away from the capital city, is provincial all the way. Its sturdy stone walls and timbered homes confirm its old-world appeal, not to mention the scarcity of modern-day convenience, at least compared to Paris itself. Visiting Provins always feels like you're traveling back in time, and isn't that what going to the countryside is all about?Saint-Mammès
While Bayeux evokes Venice, Saint-Mammès gives Copenhagen! Such is the waterside appeal of this countryside town located just 61 kilometers southeast of Paris. The town lies along the confluence of the Seine and Loing rivers, which has allowed boating to be a major highlight here. Paired with such authentic Medieval charms, Saint-Mammès is nothing short of enchanting. There's truly no other French countryside town like it, be it any on this list and beyond!Vétheuil
Claude Monet is so closely associated with Paris and Giverny that history has forgotten his short stay in Vétheuil. The legendary painter rented a place in this charming commune, and, as he usually did, even painted the town too. This alone is reason enough to visit the town yourself, especially since it's only 67.3 kilometers away from Paris. It'll only take you a little over an hour's drive to get here, and even if you get carsick along the way, the trip will still be worth it. This lovely scenery, one beautiful enough to inspire one of the world's most renowned artists to paint it himself, will take your breath away!When I need to get away from all the hustle and bustle of Paris, I escape to the French Countryside. Fortunately, there are many small towns near the city, each more beautiful and charming than the next!
