Beyond Paris: day trips and standout outings

The avenue de Champagne in Épernay is often described as "the richest street in the world": beneath its 4 kilometres of golden cobblestones sleep more than 200 million bottles in the cellars of Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger and Mercier. The guided tours of Moët & Chandon descend into 28 kilometres of chalk galleries carved out since the 18th century and end with a proper tasting. The town itself remains pleasantly down-to-earth, with its brasseries and growers who welcome visitors at their estates.

Why go: To understand how Champagne is made, straight from the great houses, a very different experience from simply ordering a glass at a bar.

Good to know: From Gare de l'Est, direct trains reach Épernay in 1h13 to 1h15 (TER Grand Est, around 7 direct services per day). Book your cellar tour online several days in advance, especially in summer and at weekends.

A jewel of the Renaissance, Chambord was commissioned by François I from 1519, likely inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, then a guest at court. The architecture is spectacular: the famous double-helix staircase, where two people ascend simultaneously without ever crossing paths, remains a stroke of genius. The 5,440-hectare estate (the largest enclosed park in Europe) invites you to extend your visit well beyond the château itself.

Why go: One of the most impressive day trips from Paris.

Good to know: Plan transport and tickets in advance; day trips are popular.

The Vieux Bassin of Honfleur (its six- and seven-storey houses clad in slate, mirrored in the water) is one of the most photographed scenes in Normandy, and for good reason: this is where Boudin painted his skies and introduced the young Monet to the outdoors. The church of Sainte-Catherine, built by ships' carpenters in the 15th century entirely in oak, is the largest wooden church in France. All around it, the lanes of the Sainte-Catherine quarter are lined with galleries, studios and fish restaurants. The town has kept its human scale despite its fame.

Why go: For the intact Norman setting of the Vieux Bassin, the unique wooden church and the Impressionist heritage that shows at every turn.

Good to know: From Gare Saint-Lazare (7 minutes from the hotel), take a direct train to Trouville-Deauville (~2h10), then Bus Verts line 20 to Honfleur (~25 minutes, roughly every 2 hours). Total journey time: around 2h45. Check bus times on busverts.fr before you leave.

Deauville was conjured from nothing in the 1860s by the Duke of Morny, Napoleon III's half-brother, with the aim of turning the English Channel into a southern sea. Les Planches (the 643-metre wooden boardwalk along the beach, with its changing huts named after film festival stars) perfectly encapsulate what this resort has always been: a carefully staged setting for bourgeois leisure. The Belle-Époque casino, the two racecourses, the Norman half-timbered hotels and the rue Eugène Colas (designer boutiques) complete a cohesive scene. The sea and sandy beach, meanwhile, are entirely unpretentious.

Why go: For the Norman beach, the singular atmosphere of a seaside resort suspended in time, and the American film festival if you happen to be there in September.

Good to know: Gare Saint-Lazare is just 7 minutes from the hotel, and direct trains to Trouville-Deauville run regularly, with a journey time of 2h10 to 2h15 (Intercités Normandie). Plan for a full day.