I am looking for recommendations as to what if any interesting places can be found by travelling towards the end of the RER system.
Does it take you out into the countryside?
Do any of the tourist-type tickets/passes cover these outer extremities?
I mentioned SNCF too, but as I guess this requires travelling into the city centre to then travel out again I assume it is not such a feasible proposition. Though I am willing to be corrected!
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I have only traveled to the ends of the RER A to the east - Disneyland Paris, RER D to the south east - Melun, and RER C to the west - Versailles. Outside of these areas (as well as RER B to CDG) I suspect there will be few tourist draws at the end of the various RER lines.
The Paris Visite Pass is offered in a zone 1-6 format as well as the zone 1-3 format.
Here is a list of interesting trips (mostly by train) you can make from Paris:
Giverny
Open daily except Mondays from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm from April 1st to October 31st
http://giverny.org/gardens/
__________
Vaux-le-Vicomte
Open from March 15th to November 9th from 10.00 am to 06.00 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
__________
Chantilly
http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/
__________
Fontainebleau
http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/
__________
Provins
Low Season
Open from January 2nd to March 21st and from November 3rd to December 31th 2008:
Weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekends %26amp; public holidays from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
High Season
From March 22nd to November 2nd :
Daily from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m..
General closure December 25th and January 1st
http://www.provins.net/
__________
Versailles
http://www.chateauversailles.fr/
__________
Chartres
sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cath…
http://www.mymaze.de/chartres_technisch_e.htm
http://www.chartres-tourisme.com/
__________
And for children:
Parc Asterix
http://www.parcasterix.fr/
__________
Disneyland Paris
http://www.disneylandparis.com/
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I would not recommend travelling towards the end of RER lines, as they serve the %26quot;greater Paris%26quot; areas, some of which are not extremely safe for tourists (and locals alike).
For countryside options, prefer the SNCF trains which cover a greater distance. Sarastro has listed the most interesting places. I personnaly like Fontainebleau and Chantilly very much. Just check your transportation options from the station to the castle.
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If you want to get outside Paris, I agree that the %26quot;regular train%26quot; sncf may be your best bet. For not much more than an RER ticket, you could get to Vernon and Giverny, or an hour in almost any direction should definitely get you out of town.
For lots of details about the RER and metro I have found this site useful: http://parisbytrain.com/
There is a forum which answers specific questions, but many questions are already answered there.
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I really an%26#39;t recommend using the extended RER train system for general %26#39;..sightseeing..%26#39;. The system serves the immediate %26#39;suburban%26#39; Paris and for the most part, these aren%26#39;t the most %26#39;..picturesque..%26#39; parts. There are some excpetions well out to the northwest--Saint Germain-En-Laye on the RER %26#39;A%26#39; lignes and well out to the southeast toward Melun on the RER %26#39;D%26#39; ligne.
For more %26#39;scenic%26#39; train rides as a part of a %26#39;day-trip%26#39;...then destinations like the old city of CHARTRES (70 mins via SNCF train from Gare Montparnasse) or GIVERNY (Monet%26#39;s h=Home %26amp; Gardens--45 mins to VERNON from Gare Saint Lazare) and perhaps (farther along the same train ligne beyonf VERNON/Giverny) to the city of ROUEN (45 mins)...or though a longish %26#39;day trip%26#39; take the TGV from Gare de Lyon out to the City of LYON (approx 2 hrs)...or north to the Normandy/D-Day area up near CAEN and BAYEUX from Gare Saint Lazare.
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We%26#39;ve done this on several routes and we have found a few jewels. RER-C4 to Dourdan was pleasant. Its a sleepy village with a medieval walled/moated fortification in the center. Great Sunday market. Nothing for tourists except little hint of village charm and a change of pace from Paris.
RER-B2 to Sceaux is one of our favorites. Stunning and HUGE park, pleasant village with lots of restos and bistros. Beautiful houses in the 150+ year old %26quot;suburbs%26quot; of Paris.
Those are the first two that come to mind. Of course there%26#39;s St-Germain-En-Laye...
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OOPS - «Nothing for tourists except little hint of village charm» should have read: «Nothing for tourists except a nice little hint of village charm...»
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Metromole, I have considered going to St Germain En Laye, I understand there is a good museum there, but, is the town itself interesting or is it just a satellite suburb now?
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Joan1
St-Germain-en-Laye is very nice. My %26quot;ex%26quot; mother lives there and I still enjoy seing her when in Paris!! From the RER A you can visit the castle, which holds a museum, the park is also very nice. At the end there is %26quot;promenade%26quot; that commands a nice view of Paris. Actually I am going back in June and just can%26#39;t wait. I love the atmosphere of St-Germain-en-Laye.
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joan1, St-Germain-En-Laye is as jojo said, %26quot;very nice%26quot;. It%26#39;s not Paris but it%26#39;s also not a quaint village. There%26#39;s a beautiful park, a stroll-able centre ville, and it%26#39;s slower and a bit more rural than Paris. It%26#39;s more than just a satellite suburb, probably due to the concentration of money there. I%26#39;m originally from the San Francisco bay area and I equate it to Sausalito, a wealthy but somewhat distant suburb with lots of charm and character.
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On a somewhat unrelated search I came across this thread from phread a few years ago about Sceaux:
tripadvisor.com/…3886944
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