7 Day Trips from Paris, Episode 386

On this episode of the podcast, Jennifer Gruenke tells us about her 7 day trips from Paris on public transportation. She went to Rambouillet, Auvers-sur-Oise, Fontainebleau, Saint-Cloud, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Provins, and Versailles all in the same week!

Which one was her favorite? Click play to hear all about it!

Episode Page | Guest Notes | Transcript

Table of Contents for this Episode

• [00:00:40] A conversation with Jennifer Gruenke about her 7 day trips from Paris
• [00:02:45] Rambouillet, Auvers-sur-Oise, Fontainebleau, Saint-Cloud, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Provins, and Versailles
• [00:03:49] Getting a week-long Navigo Pass
• [00:04:35] Taking a different day trip from Paris every day
• [00:05:32] Day trip to Rambouillet
• [00:10:51] Chateau gardens are often free
• [00:11:20] Versailles gardens on fountain days
• [00:13:48] More people willing to speak French with visitors outside of Paris
• [00:14:24] Rambouillet gets a 7/10 from Jennifer
• [00:15:09] Auvers-sur-Oise, the town where Van Gogh lived at the end of his life
• [00:15:41] Finding Van Gogh Podcast
• [00:15:54] Go to the Orsay Museum then go to Auvers-sur-Oise
• [00:17:10] Lookout for things to be closed on Mondays or Tuesdays
• [00:18:06] Van Gogh plus in Auvers-sur-Oise
• [00:19:26] Fontainebleau
• [00:20:47] Are these all easy to get to once you get off the train?
• [00:22:41] Domaine National de Saint Cloud
• [00:24:29] Virtual Reality at Saint Cloud
• [00:29:49] Saint Germain en Laye
• [00:32:58] Provins
• [00:38:13] Bring ID in exchange for audio guide
• [00:39:15] Bring cash and toilet paper to Provins
• [00:42:45] Versailles gardens only: enter at Allée des Matelots
• [00:44:54] The RER to Versailles is often really crowded!
• [00:48:31] Ranking these 7 day trips from Paris
• [00:50:41] Seeing French Chateaux without going to the Loire Valley
• [00:51:29] Lyon and other cities are not far from Paris on the TGV
• [00:54:31] Thank you patrons and donors
• [00:58:53] Travel Tip: Can you ask for a doggy bag in France?
• [01:00:19] This week in French news
• [01:01:35] Annie’s personal update
• [01:02:42] Use the search button on Join Us because there are a lot of episodes!
• [01:03:12] Share the podcast with a fellow Francophile
• [01:04:11] Next week on the podcast an episode about the Cathars and their strange theology