3 original ideas for nature excursions 1 hour from Paris

Head for Giverny, a charming village 80 kilometres from Paris on the borders of the Île-de-France and Normandy regions, where Claude Monet lived from 1883 to 1926. During the course of the day, you can visit the pink rendered house, restored as it was when the artist was alive, Monet's studio and the magnificent gardens with their famous water lilies, weeping willows and lushly coloured flowerbeds that inspired the painter.

But that's not all! If you fancy extending your excursion, the Musée des Impressionnismes is just a 3-minute walk away. This is dedicated to exhibiting and highlighting the Impressionist movement through exhibitions of paintings, drawings and photographs, revealing an approach to art from the end of the 19th century to the present day.

Where to eat in Giverny?

🍴 Les Nymphéas

And if you're hungry, you can have lunch at the Les Nymphéas restaurant, which is also nearby, more precisely opposite the painter's house. Housed in an old farmhouse from the same period, the restaurant has a flower-filled terrace, a large dining room decorated in period style and a patio opening onto an old farmyard. Here you can sample specialities based on Claude Monet's recipes, ideal for continuing your visit with a gourmet break. The Les Nymphéas restaurant is open from 1 April 2023 to 31 October 2023, from 9am to 6pm.

Versailles... its château, the Hall of Mirrors, its French gardens and Louis XIV. While Versailles and its famous château are a must-see for visitors not far from the capital, few Parisians are aware that you can get there just as easily by public transport as on foot. You can reach the Sun King's estate in just over 3? hours by walking along forest paths and admiring the banks of several ponds. You will also have the opportunity to cross wooded areas until you can make out the majestic château. The more adventurous can even continue on their way and walk all the way back to Paris.

Where to eat in Versailles?

🍴 Chapeau

Enjoy a well-deserved break at one of Versailles' oldest restaurants, Chapeau. With its typical Versailles charm, Chapeau offers refined traditional home-cooked cuisine and a selection of seafood, all in a pleasant, well-kept setting.

Just 1 hour's drive from Paris, the Vallée de Chevreuse is the ideal place to go hiking and discover the rural landscapes of the Yvelines. Stroll along the banks of the River Yvette, before passing through woodland, then wandering along small country roads before finally reaching the Château de la Madeleine, which offers uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside. A breath of fresh air that's good for you, as you enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, far from the noise of the city. There are several possible walking routes, ranging from 9.2 kilometres to 28.1 kilometres for the bravest. Don't forget your picnic!

Where to sleep?