Ahh, Paris – the City of Love. But also… crowds, pickpockets, and high prices. If you want to escape the city life and discover hidden gems beyond Paris that no one else is talking about, keep reading on!
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7 Hidden Gems Less Than 2 Hours Outside of Paris
1. The Gardens of Viels-Maisons
The Gardens of Viels-Maisons are a family-owned group of themed gardens spread over three hectares and overlooked by a 11th-century Romanesque church.
Madame de La Doucette, the owner, received us with warmth and explained the story of the various gardens (created by her mother). You can have picnics or tea here, and even try telling the time at the garden’s very own sundial (I tested it and it’s very accurate!).
You can visit the gardens from May to September by request over phone or email and entry costs 6 Euros per person.
How to get there
You can reach the Gardens directly from Paris by car in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take a train from Paris to Château Thierry (55 minutes) and, from there, it’s a 25-minute drive to the Gardens. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
2. The Vineyards of Champagne Météyer
The Champagne region is world-famous, and I would argue Vallée de la Marne is one of the best places to spend a weekend away from Paris!
For a postcard-perfect experience, I highly recommend visiting Champagne Météyer – a 5th-generation Champagne grower family offering tastings and guided tours on their cellar and vineyard.
Anna Météyer drives a Citroen Dyane, which has become a symbol of their brand, and I cannot imagine a more chic way to visit a Champagne vineyard!
How to get there
You can reach Champagne Météyer’s cellar directly from Paris by car in 2-2.5 hours.
Alternatively, you can take a train from Paris to Château Thierry (55 minutes) and, from there, it’s a 30-minute drive to Champagne Météyer. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
3. Château de Condé
Château de Condé is a private estate listed as a historic monument along the Champagne route, inhabited all year round. Imagine living in a place like this – wow!
You can visit the estate between April and November (click to check opening dates) to admire the Chateau’s Renaissance architecture and wander through the 17th and 18th century interiors. Entry costs 12 Euros per adult and 10 Euros for children and under-25s.
The interior in itself shouldn’t take longer than an hour to visit, but I particularly liked how quiet the estate was in the mid-afternoon. We sat in the gardens and took in the majestic painting-like view of the Château with nothing but the sound of birds.
How to get there
You can reach Château de Condé directly from Paris by car in about 2 hours.
Alternatively, you can take a train from Paris to Château Thierry (55 minutes) and, from there, it’s a 20-minute drive to Château de Condé. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
4. Château de Fère-en-Tardenois
What if I told you that you could feel like a prince or princess for a day by staying at a château for less than the price of an average 4-star hotel in Paris?
Château de Fère dates back to the 13th century with ties to royalty throughout the centuries. In 1863, one of the wings of the original castle was restored into a modern château, and then turned into a hotel in 1956.
A true hidden gem in my eyes, and the perfect weekend escape from Paris for a special occasion or celebration!
How to get there
You can reach Château de Fère directly from Paris by car in about 2 hours.
Alternatively, you can take a train from Paris to Château Thierry (55 minutes) and, from there, it’s a 30-minute drive to Château de Fère. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
5. The Underground Tunnels of Laon
Laon is a unique medieval town guarding one of the most impressive hidden gems you can visit from Paris.
What if I told you that the town sits completely on top of an underground labyrinth of tunnels and galleries? Millions of years ago, Laon was under water, but with time and the development of the town, even the stones for building the Cathedral were sourced from the underground.
You can book guided tours to the Laon underground tunnels at various times for 9 Euros per adult and reduced prices for children and seniors. The visits last about 1 hour and are suitable for children, with audioguides in various languages.
How to get there
You can reach Laon directly by train from Paris Gare du Nord in 1 hour and 35 minutes. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
Alternatively, you can reach Laon by car from Paris in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
6. The Familistère de Guise
The Familistère de Guise is a unique and fascinating place to visit for those interested in sociology. In fact, the ‘social palace’ was one of the world’s longest social experiments of all time.
Jean-Baptiste André Godin was not only the famous manufacturer of the revolutionary cast-iron Godin stoves, but also a social reformer and a life-long believer in worker’s rights. He created the Familistère de Guise in 1859 as a voluntary, self-contained housing complex for his factory workers.
Considered a ‘workers’ paradise’ ahead of its time, the Familistère was essentially a small town within a town, including schools for the workers’ children, shops, a laundry room, and a pool. The experiment lasted over 100 years and, at its height, housed over 1,700 people.
You can visit the Familistère de Guise and take a look at various apartment layouts and living conditions over the decades.
How to get there
The fastest way to reach the Familistère de Guise from Paris is by taking a direct train to Saint-Quentin (1 hour and 35 minutes) and, from there, driving 40-minutes. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
Alternatively, you can reach the Familistère de Guise by car from Paris in about 3 hours.
7. Discover the Art Déco of Saint-Quentin
Saint-Quentin is a hidden gem for architecture lovers, so don’t miss visiting on a day trip from Paris!
After being occupied by the German army and suffering severe destruction during WWI, the city of Saint-Quentin was reconstructed during the 1920s. This, along with the 1925’s International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris, led to an Art Déco boom in the city’s architecture.
You can find Art Déco along streets such as in Rue de la Sous-Préfecture, and in buildings like the Town Hall and the Buffet de la Gare by the Saint-Quentin train station.
How to get there
Saint-Quentin can be reached by direct train from Paris Gare du Nord in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Book your train tickets easily with Omio.
Alternatively, you can reach Saint-Quentin by car from Paris in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Last thoughts
I hope this post is useful next time you’re looking for ideas for a day trip or a weekend away from Paris. The region of Aisne has plenty of underrated places to visit, and you might stumble across more gems worth visiting.
Feel free to write any questions you may have in the comments – I’ll do my best to help!
*This review was possible as part of a press trip with Aisne Tourisme. However, I was not requested or obliged to write this guide. As always, all opinions are entirely my own and without bias.
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