The most beautiful villages to discover around Paris this winter

Paris is a magnificent city, but sometimes you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle and recharge your batteries with nature and heritage. Fortunately, the Paris region is full of charming villages that are easily accessible by car or public transport. Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet, culture, gastronomy or leisure activities, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in these 5 villages, which are among the most beautiful in the Paris region.

1. Montfort-l’Amaury, the medieval village of Yvelines

Montfort-l’Amaury is a village 45 km west of Paris, on the edge of the Rambouillet forest. It is listed as one of France’s most beautiful detours, and is a “village d’art et d’histoire”. The village has retained its medieval appearance, with ramparts, towers, gates and château. It has also retained its authentic charm, with half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, fountains and churches. It is home to Saint-Pierre church, which contains the tomb of Anne de Bretagne, the mother of François I. The village is also a centre of culture, and has played host to the likes of Maurice Ravel, Jean Anouilh and Charles Aznavour.

2. Barbizon, the village of painters in Seine-et-Marne

Barbizon is a village 60 km south-east of Paris, in the heart of the Fontainebleau forest. It is famous for being the birthplace of the Barbizon School, an artistic movement that revolutionised landscape painting in the 19th century. The village attracted painters such as Théodore Rousseau, Jean-François Millet, Camille Corot and Claude Monet, who found their inspiration in the surrounding countryside. The village has a rich historical and cultural heritage, with the Musée des Peintres de Barbizon (Barbizon Painters’ Museum), which displays works and objects from the period, the Auberge Ganne, where the artists stayed, and Jean-François Millet’s studio house.

3. Auvers-sur-Oise, the Impressionist village in Val-d’Oise

Auvers-sur-Oise is a village 35 km north-west of Paris, on the banks of the River Oise. It is famous for being the place where Vincent van Gogh lived and died, painting over 70 canvases in 70 days. The village also played host to other Impressionist painters, such as Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet, who immortalised its landscapes, monuments and inhabitants. The village has a rich historical and cultural heritage, with the Château d’Auvers offering a glimpse into the world of the Impressionists, the church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, which was painted by van Gogh, and the cemetery, where van Gogh and his brother Theo are buried.

4. Provins, the medieval village of Seine-et-Marne

Provins is a village 80 km south-east of Paris, in the historic Brie region. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval urban ensemble, which bears witness to its role as a trade fair in the Middle Ages. The village has a rich historical and architectural heritage, with its ramparts, towers, gates and underground passageways. It also has a cultural and recreational heritage, with its rose garden, its museum of the Middle Ages and its medieval shows, which bring to life the history and legends of Provins.

5. Moret-sur-Loing, the romantic village of Seine-et-Marne

Moret-sur-Loing is a village 70 km south of Paris, on the banks of the River Loing. It is listed as one of France’s most beautiful detours, and is one of Seine-et-Marne’s villages of character. The village has retained its romantic feel, with half-timbered houses, bridges, wash-houses and mills. It has also retained its artistic charm, with its Gothic church, its 12th-century keep and the home of the painter Alfred Sisley, who immortalised its landscapes. The village also boasts a natural and sporting heritage, with its leisure centre offering water-based activities such as canoeing, kayaking and sailing.