Where should I travel in France?

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I’m flying to France with my husband this summer and we have about 5 days unscheduled before getting to Paris for 5 days.

If you were me, what are some “don’t miss” sights outside Paris? I was thinking Lisieux because I love St Terese. Was also thinking Mont St Michel but I wouldn’t want to drive right by lesser known places that my fellow Catholics would consider “must see” places.

Does anyone have any thoughts?
 
Lourdes, for one, if it’s not too far.

And the Grand Chartreuse Carthusian monastery north of Grenoble. I don’t believe lay persons can visit the actual monastery except for maybe once a year during St. Bruno’s feast day, but I could be wrong. Just being near the Grand Chartreuse would be wonderful.
 
I’ve been to France to visit the various shrines.

Lisieux is a good choice, although I didn’t make it, you’re not far from the beaches of Normandy where the allied forces made their landing during WWII. I believe there is a museum there. At Lisieux, you can visit the home of St Theresa and the convent where she lived.

You can also visit Nevers, where the incorrupt body of St Bernadette is. You can attend Mass in the chapel where she is.

Of course Lourdes, but you’ll have to fly from Parish to either Tarbes or Pau airports and then get ground transportation to Lourdes.

Paris itself has the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, were St Catherine Laboure’s incorrupt body lies.

Of course, don’t miss visiting the Louvre, which will take an entire day or two.

Five days in Paris is what I wish I would’ve had. So much to see there.

Jim
 
You MUST. Go to Monet’s Garden, and have a Coffee at the coffee shop there,
Plus in Paris you Must go to Galleria Lafayette ,go to the top of the building and relax looking at the view,
Plus in Paris you MUST. See sacre Coeur , basilica in Paris ,
It’s a bit of a Trek going up the steps,but once there , you will agree you’d do it again in a heartbeat ,
There are a couple more which escape me right now

you also Must see the Louve , plus do a a River Cruise,
 
In Paris, be sure to visit Sacre Coeur on Montmartre. The church also serves as a perpetual Eucharistic adoration chapel, and if you’re lucky you’ll get to see it while the Benedictine nuns are singing. It was absolutely beautiful.

You can easily see nearly all of the Louvre in a day, like we did. It’s just difficult to absorb so much art. Also, we skipped most of the paintings aside from the Mona Lisa, since we had already seen so many in Italy. One thing I wouldn’t miss is the Winged Nike of Samothrace. That and the sculpture gardens/courtyards. Those were amazing.

On the Ile de la Cite, be sure to visit Sainte-Chapelle. If you take the metro to the Ile de la Cite stop, you should see these big gates with golden decorations, I believe the rest of the building is the Paris courthouse. There are signs pointing how to get to the chapel. There’s a small admission fee, but it’s definitely worth it. Sainte-Chapelle is a tiny chapel that is nearly all stained glass and it is beautiful.

Sacre Coeur and the Louvre and Sainte-Chapelle were some of my favorite parts of Paris. Also worth seeing is the Pompidou Center, the modern art museum. Seeing the Eiffel Tower at night is a must of course. Notre Dame is not to be missed. The crucifix is actually really unique, as the church is dedicated to Our Lady, hence the name. Instead of a traditional crucifix, there is an empty cross with a statue of the Pieta beneath it. I got to go to daily mass there, which was pretty awesome.

Otherwise, don’t be afraid to just walk around the nicer parts of the city near Notre Dame. There are a bunch of awesome things you’ll find just walking around. Also, facing the front of Sacre Coeur, a bit to the left of the side entrance and the convent are some side streets that go back to some adorable little piazzas with restaurants and pastry shops and a ton of street artists.

I wanted to see Mont St. Michel so badly while we were in France, but I didn’t get time to go. I’ll just have to go back I guess. I heard from one of my friends that went that the Catacombs in Paris were a really cool experience. Make sure you eat at least one macaron while you’re there. Best pastry ever.

Watch out for the gypsies around Sacre Coeur. One man grabbed my wrist and tried to forcibly tie a friendship bracelet to me. Don’t shake hands with the people trying to sell things. Don’t buy metro tickets from people trying to sell them at the station. Just use the automated kiosks. Above all else, enjoy it! It was a really fun place. I went there and to Barcelona on spring break during my study abroad semester in Italy, and actually just got back to the US May 4.

One place that might be cool to visit if you get the time is Rennes in Brittany. It’s not too far from Mont St. Michel. Brittany is a beautiful region.
 
I lived in Paris for almost three years and could give suggestions for the city itself, but unless I’m misunderstanding the OP the question is about things to do **near **Paris and not in Paris itself. Please correct me if I’m wrong :o

Lourdes is on the other side of the country, but still a doable trip if you’re willing to make the effort. It’s worth it. Flying is fastest, about an hour and 15 minutes from the Orly airport (south of Paris) to Tarbes (15 miles from Lourdes) or Pau (36 miles from Lourdes but the flight will probably be cheaper). There is also the high-speed train (TGV) from Gare Montparnasse in Paris. The trip takes about six hours but is much less of a hassle and will drop you directly in Lourdes.

If you choose to do this, however, allow at least one full day in Lourdes. I was there at the end of April/beginning of May for three, and it wasn’t long enough in my opinion. My pastor won’t go if he can’t be there for at least a week. YMMV.

Closer to Paris, there is the aforementioned Lisieux, Nevers, Vézelay Abbey, and any number of cathedrals: Chartres, Reims, Laon, Amiens (tallest complete cathedral in France, surpassed only by the incomplete one in Beauvais), Rouen…

Mont St-Michel is a good choice, as is Saint-Malo (fantastic walled city in Brittany; the cathedral is lovely but I wouldn’t go there just for that). Be aware that both locations will be absolutely overrun with tourists in July and August. Saint-Malo has a summer population of 200,000+; the rest of the year it’s 45,000.

I’m in a hurry right now (Mass in an hour, still haven’t showered 😊) but if I think of anything else I’ll let you know.
 
Consider visiting the Alsace region and it capital city Strasbourg.
 
Alsace is a lovely place, and easier to get to since the opening of the high-speed train line from Paris, the LGV Est. While this line doesn’t yet reach Strasbourg, it does go to Nancy and Metz, making the overall trip to Strasbourg shorter. I’m told the Strasbourg Cathedral is a must, plus old-town Strasbourg is worth an extended visit according to The Husband (I have not been to Strasbourg myself, but I’ve driven through Alsace on my way to Switzerland [long story]).

Other places that came to mind, though they are farther afield, are Ars and Paray-le-Monial. The former is the the shrine of St. John-Marie Vianney, which is celebrating the bicentennial of his ordination this year. I have never been there but I know several people who have (mostly priests) and I’d go in a heartbeat given the opportunity.

The latter is the shrine of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Devotees to the Sacred Heart of Jesus flock there. The striking basilica was built as a small-scale version of the now-defunct Cluny Abbey, the ruins of which lie about a hundred miles east of Paray-le-Monial.

Ars and Paray-le-Monial are not terribly far apart (about 70 miles) but you will need a car to see them both in the same day.
StGerardMajella said:
And the Grand Chartreuse Carthusian monastery north of Grenoble. I don’t believe lay persons can visit the actual monastery except for maybe once a year during St. Bruno’s feast day, but I could be wrong. Just being near the Grand Chartreuse would be wonderful.
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Grande Chartreuse is closed to the public at all times. It is not even possible to drive up to the monastery, as the surrounding roads are closed to motorized traffic. Should the OP wish to make the trip anyway, there is a related museum about a mile and a quarter away. Take bus line 7000 from Grenoble and get off at the La Correrie stop. The trip between Grenoble and the museum takes roughly an hour and 5-10 minutes each way. Getting to Grenoble in the first place is a whole other issue.
 
Since UpUpandAway lives in France, I will leave suggestions to her.
JimR-OCDS said:
… you’re not far from the beaches of Normandy where the allied forces made their landing during WWII. I believe there is a museum there.
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However, I do know about Normandy. No museum that I know of, unless they built one in the last 29 years. It’s been awhile for me.

To really do Normandy justice, you need a car. Then, you can visit the beachheads, other points of conflict, and culminate at the Memorial.

Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beachheads—Juno landing was delayed by choppy seas, and they sustained more casualties than planned.

Pointe du Hoc is a 98 foot sheer cliff. The Rangers scaled the cliff with grappling hooks, ropes, and ladders, only to find the big guns had been moved 600 feet to the south. Guns were destroyed. The Rangers became isolated, many captured and killed, till help arrived on Day 2. If you have any questions about why they call this generation, The Greatest Generation, all questions will end here.
 
Yes Mt. St. Michael and Lourdes

La Grande Chartreuse!
Rocamadour
Carcasonne
(mis-spelled)

So much really…we drove all around France.

Was my wife and I’s favorite pilgrimage.
 
Bookcat said:
Carcasonne
(mis-spelled)
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Not by much—Carcassonne 🙂 They have an awesome citadel there. Big cultural festival lasting nearly the entire month of July. Huge, impressive fireworks display on Bastille Day (July 14th). OTOH, like Lourdes it’s on the other side of the country from Paris and thus requires some effort to get to. At least the airport is only like a mile and a quarter from the city.
 
One last note (at least for now ;)), this time regarding Paris itself: if you have the opportunity, be sure to visit Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in the 5th arrondissement. It houses what remains of the relics* of St. Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, and is the only church in the city that retains its rood screen, which is magnificent.

*these relics were mostly destroyed by fire during the French Revolution
 
UpUpAndAway said:
One last note (at least for now ;)), this time regarding Paris itself: if you have the opportunity, be sure to visit Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in the 5th arrondissement. It houses what remains of the relics* of St. Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, and is the only church in the city that retains its rood screen, which is magnificent.

*these relics were mostly destroyed by fire during the French Revolution
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Thanks for the suggestion. We will be in Paris in October and are staying only a couple of blocks from Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. It is now on our to-see list.

Peace

Tim
 
Orogeny said:
Thanks for the suggestion. We will be in Paris in October and are staying only a couple of blocks from Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. It is now on our to-see list.

Peace

Tim
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You’re welcome 🙂 Hope you find it worth the time.
 
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