These are 10 unpublished trips around an hour from Paris by train. The text follows a similar format to An Hour From Paris and includes two colour photos and a hand-drawn colour map. The layout has been designed so that you can easily print out just the walk, the practical details and the map if you so wish and read the rest on your phone.
Available as separate PDFs exclusively from this website at 3€ each, or the full set at 13€.
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Free sample: Trip no. 3, Coulommiers, updated January 2023
Ile de France map showing the 10 new destinations
Ile de France train map showing stations for the 10 new trips
French footpath signs explained
GARE DU NORD
1. Auvers sur Oise
2 km walk from Méry sur Oise to Auvers church, visit to Van Gogh’s grave and 1½ km country walk to the Auberge Ravoux where he spent his last days before his suicide. Lively covered market, restaurant. Return from Auvers sur Oise or optional 2½ km country and riverside walk via Dr Gachet’s house to Chaponval station or 3½ km riverside walk to Meriel sur Oise.
39 minutes
2. Nesles la Vallée
9 km circular walk through Van Gogh countryside to old village with 12C church, café, returning via Neolithic burial cave hidden in woodland. Option of shorter 6½ km walk to cave, bypassing the village.
55 minutes
GARE DE L’EST
3. Coulommiers
Medieval market town with canals, market, good restaurants, Coulommiers cheese. Optional 4½ km detour to the Templars’ well-preserved 12C hilltop ‘Commanderie’, returning via country walk and park.
62 minutes
GARE DE LYON
4. Samoreau
3 km riverside walk to bucolic swimming spot on the River Seine facing the forest of Fontainebleau with quiet riverside snack bar and optional visit to the poet Mallarmé’s house-museum and garden. Optional 2 km continuation of riverside walk to Héricy station and optional 2 km detour through Héricy village, café, 11C church.
49 minutes
5. Grez sur Loing
12 km country and river walk from village of Bourron with 11C church, café, to village of Grez sur Loing, where Corot, Robert Louis Stevenson, Delius and Strindberg stayed, with 12C bridge, church and ruined tower, restaurant, then country canalside walk to Nemours station.
57 minutes
6. Nemours
Picturesque town on River Loing with 11C church, 12C castle-museum, restaurants. Optional 4½ km detour to award-winning Musée de la Préhistoire set in woodland with optional spectacular hilltop return route.
64 minutes
7. Château-Landon
8½ km canal/country walk from Souppes, lively market town on River Loing, restaurants, to ancient hilltop stronghold of Château-Landon, birthplace of the Plantagenets and a medieval pilgrimage site. 11C Abbey, 12C church. Return by bus via Fontainebleau to station at Melun.
74 minutes
GARE DE MONTPARNASSE
8. Maintenon
Old market town on the River Eure. Visit to 13-17C Château de Maintenon, home of Mme de Maintenon, with majestic ruined arches of Louis XIV’s abandoned aqueduct crossing its park. Optional 5½ km detour to Neolithic dolmens, returning via country and river walk.
50 minutes
ST MICHEL-NOTRE DAME/CHATELET LES HALLES
9. Petit Jouy
3 km country walk via the Musée de la Toile de Jouy, the 18C textile factory founded by Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, to Jouy en Josas. Café-restaurant with garden, Oberkampf’s house/workshop, unusual 12C Madonna in 13C church. Return from Jouy en Josas station or optional 2 km riverside and country walk back to Petit Jouy station.
48 minutes
ST MICHEL-NOTRE DAME/GARE D’AUSTERLITZ
10. Dourdan
Visit to 12C castle with view from Donjon of medieval church and market place and optional 1 km walk along the little River Orge. Optional 5 km detour to waterlily ponds in nearby forest.
70 minutes or less
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