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Paris Ile de France Villas

Paris Ile de France Villas

Paris-Ile-de-France Tourist Information Guide touches on the highlights of this region surrounding Paris to help you plan your ideal Parisian holiday and find your perfect gite in Ile-de-France. See the manicured gardens at Versailles, once a hunting lodge and try rock climbing in Fontainebleau. Find hidden treasures at the market in Saint-Ouen-Le Marche aux Puces or take a boat ride on the Seine to Seine-Saint-Denis to see the Stade de France. Much more awaits...

Holiday in Paris-Isle-of-France

Chateaux in Ile de France

Chateaux in Ile de France

Visits to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower may be the norm, and Paris can keep the most ardent tourist occupied for a lifetime. But outside those city limits are masterpieces not to be ignored.

Versailles was originally a hunting lodge – difficult to believe when you take the tour of the palace and then move on to the formal gardens, complete with marble fountains and a Grand Canal, its design inspired by Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Fontainebleau is an elegant Renaissance chateau with ornate furnishings. The surrounding forest still offers numerous opportunities for hunting, walking, cycling and its rocks are a favourite with rock climbers. The village has eateries and bars worthy of a visit.

Viewing Chantilly from on high, perfectly reflected in its moat, is an exhilarating experience – one which is available in a hot air balloon tethered there. At ground level, it is no less dramatic. The chateau houses an interesting museum, the gardens are magnificent, and the stables are built for royalty (complete with an equine museum). If you are in the mood for a walk, the huge forest is an ideal destination.

Attractions of Ile-de-France

Attractions of Ile-de-France

Euro Disneyland is open year round and features all the famous Disney characters plus some new attractions especially produced to blend with its European home. The park is easily accessible by road and rail.

The Flea Market at Saint-Ouen - Le Marche aux Puces is the largest antiques market in the world and an experience for the experienced and beginners alike.

Le Bourget - The Air and Space Museum has one of the most extensive collections of flying machines in the world.

Seine-Saint-Denis, northeast of Paris, is home to the Stade de France. Guided visits will recount France's world cup win in 1998. An excellent way to visit this area on a canal boat which takes you along the Seine river and the Ourcq canal.

The Quai de Polangis at Joinville-le-Pont is where you will find Chez Gegene, an original guingette, where the poor would come to drink cheap wine. Today, you can drink better wine, and you can also hire canoes and paddle boats here.

Ile de France Restaurants

Ile de France Restaurants

In and around Paris, whatever the season, there is something to delight young and old. Ile-de-France is the combination of culture, history, and nature. On route for Versailles, you enter the prettiest countryside in Ile-de-France : the Vallée de Chevreuse. Picturesque villages abound.

With such classic architecture, and the French tradition for fine food, it is no surprise to find fine restaurants in magnificent settings. Stone-vaulted kitchens, open-hearth fireplaces, 14th. century houses or farms, bedecked in flowers may be the settings for a delicious meal.

But remember that France abounds with thousands of cafes and bistros, and it is always a good sign if the locals are eating in an establishment. A trusty guide to eating well and within a budget is the Michelin Guide which ranks restaurants by quality and price.

For a change of pace, visit the local market to buy fresh bread, pates, cold cuts and fruit. A picnic is a wonderful way to enjoy this classic setting.

Your gite in Ile-de-France will be in reach of Paris, the gardens at Versailles, deep forests, and stunning chateaux. One may not expect it, but rock climbing in Fontainebleau is a hugely popular activity. The flea market at Saint-Ouen-Le Marche aux Puces is the largest in the world and a trip to Seine-Saint-Denis is worth it to see the Stade de France where in 1998 France won the World Cup. A great way to avoid the crowded streets is to take a boat ride on the Seine River. We hope you liked reading the Paris-Ile-de-France Tourist Information Guide.