Provins,Troyes,Reims,Rouen,Tours or Dijon?

[goldenmama]

Hello everyone-

I've researched all of the places that had been suggested in the "Day Trips from Paris by Train" thread, and I have narrowed down my choices. I am still having a hard time deciding between a few places and I need some help!

Ideally, I want to see some nice countryside en route. I would like to be able to wander a nice medieval town that is not too large, and is walkable from the train station.

Does any one have any pros/cons for Provins, Troyes, Reims, Rouen, Tours, or Dijon?

Provins has me especially stumped, because some people love it while others think its too touristy. Any opinions on the place??

I should mention that my husband and 15 and 11 year old children are my traveling party

Thanks!

[Jody]

We planned on Provins on our last trip but had trouble finding a suitable train. There were very few leaving in the morning going to Provins. You might want to check the sncf site and see if the trains fit into your schedule.

Dijon is very interesting and there will be lots to interest young children. You can pick up a brochure at the tourist office then follow the Owl trail that leads to all the various sites and landmarks. There are little brass plaques set into the sidewalk to guide you.

Here' s a link to some Dijon pictures.

tinyurl.com/5aa29c

[goldenmama]

Thanks, Demaris. Great pictures!...That is a great suggestion to check the train schedules-- it might help me further narrow down my choices.

[GitteK]

I don't know about the town of Reims, but the cathedral is the most stunning church building I've ever seen. It is ENORMOUS - both in size and in visual impact. (Notre Dame is nothing in comparison).

And as I told you in the message, I think the Laidbacks may have an opinion on Provins.

Parisvision offer excursions to the towns close to Paris:
en.parisvision.com/29-other-themes.htm
Cityrama has this trip to Bourgogne, with a UNESCO World Heritage village included:
www.pariscityrama.com/en/french_provinces/burgundy/en_bo1.htm

And I did see that you wrote "train trips" - but bus tours are still a comfortable, lazy alternative, but more expensive, of course.

[gracejoan]

I found Provins "old town" to be lovely. I did not take the train, though. I had French friends take me there.

The Paris Vision tours are good IF you take the mini vans. They pick you up and drop you off. Hold a maximum of 7 - 8 people. Personally, I would not take a large bus tour anyplace.

Enjoy.........

Joan

[geordy]

I've been meaning to get to Provins and Tours but it has not been convenient thus far. Have been to the others and enjoyed all.

Your kids would not be able to enjoy one of the main reasons for going to Reims and Dijon..the tastings! One tour of a Champagne cave would probably interest them though. (I did 5 over three days!)

Rouen has all the Joan of Arc history and is a lovely town. Troyes has the Cathedral, other noteworthy churches, and museums. What I liked best were the pastel half timber style crooked old buildings! It looked kind of like a stage set for Giselle or Coppelia but is a living/working town!

[annettecinca]

If you go to Tours, you will need to take a taxi from the train station into town--a 5-10 minute drive to old town (further than you'd want to walk), and from there the cathedral and "newer" end of town is walkable.

[cigalechanta]

We love Rouen:
Rouen
A thriving industrial and commercial center and the third largest port in France, Rouen is steeped in history. Both William the Conqueror and Joan of Arc died in the town Victor Hugo called "the city of a hundred spires". Rouen is home to many museums as well as the Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame, immortalized by French Impressionist Claude Monet.
We dined at one of the many cafés that face the gros Horloge, a huge clock where the figures are upside down, I''m told by a Norman because the maker wasn't fully paid.

[MaisonMetz]

Goldenmama -

I've been to all of these locations, most several times, and don't think you could go wrong with any of them. They are all worth visiting. If this time you are specifically looking for a day trip to a medieval location that is not too large, you'd probably want to choose Provins, the smallest, or Troyes. The other locations are all larger with populations well over 100,000.

That's not to say you couldn't confine your visit to a central area in the other places, so I'd pick whichever calls to you the most and save the others for future trips.

Jo

[Anne]

Goldenmama, Provins will definetly be the most fun for your kids .

[goldenmama]

:)Thanks so much for all of the great input!

I definitely think I'm leaning towards Provins, touristy or not. The photos I've seen of the ramparts keep swaying me that direction. Plus, its closer than Dijon.

Now I have to decide whether I want to give up a return trip to Versailles for a trip to Fountainableau!