Anne-Charlotte PasseraTravel back with your kids to medieval times for the day and make your day trip from Paris memorable.
Did you know that there are well over 500 medieval towns in France dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries?
Many of them are located in the Southwest of France. However, here are two medieval cities which you can visit on a day trip from Paris.
Now, I know that I mentioned three medieval cities but the third one is in a category of its own which you’ll soon find out why.
Provins
The fortified medieval town of Provins dating back to the 13th century is an open-air museum.
Provins has been part of UNESCO since 2001 due to its 58 monuments and buildings.
During the Middle Ages, Provins was used to host annually major trade fairs, bringing together merchants from Northern Europe with those from the Mediterranean side.
When to visit
The monuments within the fortified medieval city of Provins are open almost all year long except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. From April to October, they are open every day. The rest of the year, they are open on weekends, holidays and during the French holidays.
Best time for a day trip from Paris to Provins
Although you can visit Provins as an easy day trip from Paris whenever you want, there are some special times worth mentioning.
The best time to visit Provins, especially with kids is in June. A major medieval festival takes place with outdoor shows with knights and horses and so much more.
Another special event takes place at the end of August which is the harvest festival. This is the perfect time to stock up on some cheese (Brie de Provins) or sweets made from roses.
Finally, a light show takes place in the convent every weekend in June (Friday and Saturday). It portrays the daily lives of the farmers, rich men, clergy and knights during the Medieval times.
Access
The medieval town of Provins is located roughly 90km southeast of Paris.
It’s accessible by taking train P from Gare de l’Est towards Provins. There is a train that runs there hourly. A paid shuttle runs from the train station of Provins to the medieval part of town. If you prefer to go on foot, it is about a 20 minutes walk. When you exit the train station, make a left and follow the street to rue des Marais and then keep going straight.
By car, it’s about a 2-hour drive from Paris.
That is why Provins is easy to get to as part of a day trip from Paris.
What to visit in Provins
Provins was a market town for the fairs of the Champagne region during the 12th and 13th century. Dating back as early to the year 1000, it was at the crossroads of the European commerce.
The 3-storey merchants houses with gorgeous vaulted ceilings are still standing.
Entertainment
Throughout the Summer months (July and August) and on weekends in June, September and October, assist at the show the Legend of the Knights or at the aerial show of Birds of Prey. A crowd-pleaser for sure, especially if you are traveling with kids.
Medieval Banquet
Every Saturday for lunch or dinner, let your taste buds run wild on some culinary art from the Middle Ages.
The banquet is held in a hall which has a 12th century vaulted ceiling, accentuated with a live show in between the different courses of your meal
In order to participate in this special experience, it will cost you 40 euros and 20 euros. For 5 euros more, you can rent out a medieval time costume. Yes please!
The whole thing lasts about three hours.
Of course, you can also wander the streets of Provins which will take you to places such as a donjon (Tour Cesar) or a little barn
Monuments
In order to access the various monuments, you’ll have to pay. Depending on how many you’d like to visit and if you are a family (1 adult with 3 kids-good luck or 2 adults with 2 kids), it might make sense to buy the Family Pass.
Also, with the Family Pass, you can get a discount for the tourist train. This little train takes you around the town of Provins and can be a relaxing way to visit especially when you have young kids or traveling with someone elderly.
Vézelay
The medieval town of Vezelay is considered one of the most beautiful villages of France with 149 others.
It is located in Burgundy with a gorgeous basilica that dominates the region from the top of a hill.
During the 19th century, the architect Viollet-le-Duc gave back its soul to this roman jewel. He was also the one who restored the Castle of Pierrefonds.
Vezelay has been part of UNESCO since 1979. It was built on the 1920km path leading to Saint-Jacques de Compostela. My mom actually walked part of that path. Soory, just had to mention it.
French pop culture: The town of Vezelay was used as the backdrop of the movie La Grande Vadrouille.
Access
The fastest, easiest and probably the cheapest way to get to Vézelay is by car which takes about 2h20 minutes.
The Basilica
The basilica was built during the 12th century of Roman style but the interior is Gothic. This is not uncommon and can be seen across France.
It is open all year long and is FREE to visit.
Inside, you’ll find relics of Mary-Magdalena, you know, Jesus’s girlfriend.
An audio-guide is available in French to visit the village and takes about 1h30.
Off the beaten path
To add some excitement to your day trip from Paris, why not have lunch in a Michelin Star restaurant?
There are quite a few located around Vezelay. HERE is a map of where they are located.
What is a Michelin Star?
Don’t worry if you don’t know. I had forgotten all about them until Junior started talking to me about it recently. Then, we saw two of them during our recent trip to Colmar in France and Basel in Switzerland.
A little history
Michelin is a French based tire company that started publishing in the early 20th century travel guides throughout Europe to encourage drivers to hit the road and discover local attractions.
Yes, they started way before the Guide du Routard or Lonely Planet. My father had a few of those, and they came in really handy.
The guide also included food reviews focused on the quality of the food and the culinary techniques used.
Throughout the 20th and the 21st century, the Michelin guide and stars made a name for itself and are the most sought-after recognition by the world’s top chefs.
Little tip: To be able to afford to eat in one, go during lunch time and pick one that isn’t located in a big city. Of course, due to the high cost of the meal, you might want to skip this during your day trip from Paris if you are traveling with young children or picky eaters.
After the morning visit of Vézelay and a very fulfilling meal, drive for about an hour to the medieval castle of Guedelon.
Guédelon
If you are traveling with kids while in Paris, make the day trip from the city of lights to Guedelon, a medieval castle.
A not so ordinary castle
Located in the North of the Burgundy region at the heart of a quarry surrounded by forest, the workers of Guédelon have been building a medieval castle since 1997.
It’s supposed to be completed in 2025. My father took one of my nephews and Junior with him to visit it and both kids have fond memories of their visit there.
What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that they are building it using the same material, tools and techniques from Medieval times.
Of course, you don’t need kids to go and visit the place. As an adult, you can volunteer and help out with the construction. What an interesting way to spend your vacation time, don’t you think?
Access
Guedelon is located less than 200km away from Paris.
The best way to get there is by car and takes about 2 hours.
The closest train station is on the Paris-Dijon line in Joigny, located 55km from Guedelon.
It’s also only 1 hour away from Vezelay which you could combine as part of your day trip from Paris.
The site is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Otherwise, it’s open all year long from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
During the summer months, they open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Practical information
It’s cheaper to buy your tickets online where ticket costs 12 euros for an adult.
A visit to Guedelon will take a good chunk of your day, so you’ll need to plan accordingly if you’d like to visit other places around Guedelon.
Stone carving workshops are also available there. Checkout Guédelon’s Website for more detailed information.
For a more enjoyable experience, do not arrive there at lunchtime. All the workers will be on break and you won’t get a good sense of what Guedelon is all about.
Bring your own picnic or buy your lunch at the tavern before lunchtime hits.
Need more day trip ideas from Paris with kids?
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