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Paris Day ExcursionsParis day excursions can be taken to a number of outstanding attractions near Paris. For some, only part of a day is required. A day excursion also offers a change of pace which can be a relaxing interlude from your busy days in Paris. Seven day excursions are described briefly below with links to individual pages with details. Chantilly Chantilly is famous for the Chateau de Chantilly, a castle that was home of the Condes, cousins of the French royal family. The castle is famous Chartres Cathedral The Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France, is one of the foremost examples of Gothic architecture. The current cathedral was completed in 1220 after an earlier cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1194. Excellent guided tours are available. For more, click Chartres Cathedral. Fontainebleau The Fontainebleau Chateau is located on the site of the former 12th century royal residence of King Louis XIII. The present castle was begun in 1528 by King Francois I. The castle is built around five center courtyards and is noted for its striking horseshoe staircase and its 16th century frescos. For more, click Fountainebleau. Disneyland Paris Disneyland Paris opened in 1992 and now attracts over 12 million visitors per year, making it one of the most popular attractions in Europe. Included are two theme parks, seven resort hotels and Disney Village, a shopping and entertainment center. All of your old Disney favorites are there with a French twist. Mickey Mouse is Monsieur Mickey. For more, click Disneyland Paris. Giverny Giverny was the beloved home of Claude Monet, the father of impressionism, for the last 40 years of his life. Reproductions of many of his paintings as well as some of the Japanese prints that he avidly collected are at Giverny. The beautiful gardens that Money loved and painted have been restored. Giverny is a must-see for lovers of Monet’s art. For more, click Giverny. Normandy Normandy is best known today as the site where Americans stormed Omaha Beach in the decisive World War II invasion. The World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is one of the most visited sites in Normandy. Mont St. Michel, a majestic granite promontory in the English Channel, which is a tidal island, is home to an 8th century monastery and is a popular tourist site in Normandy. Bayeux, a small medieval town is best known for its fantastic medieval tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings and the Norman conquest of Britain by William the Conqueror in 1066. The tapestry measures 230 feet long and 20 inches wide. For more information, click Normandy. Versailles The huge and opulent Palace of Versailles was home to the French royalty and nobility from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789. Conceived by King Louis XIII, Versailles was built by King Louis XIV in order to consolidate his power as well as to live in the location and grand style he chose. Versailles has been an important site in history since the French Revolution. In Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, the German Empire was proclaimed after France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and the Treaty of Versailles, which brought an end to World War I, was signed. For more, click Versailles.
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