5 charming villages near Paris to escape to this autumn

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The Editor

If the call of the city streets is starting to wear you down and your nose is craving something other than the metro (or tear gas), it's time to venture elsewhere. Good news: just a stone's throw from the capital, certain villages seem to have made it their mission to be as charming as they are peaceful. Old stone cottages dressed in ivy, lazy rivers, cobblestone streets and castles perched on their hills… And in autumn, when the forests turn russet and terraces give way to cozy fireside inns, it's even better.

Less than an hour from Paris, these villages are pockets of fresh air where it's wonderful to get lost. The kind of place where you arrive stressed and leave with rosy cheeks and a light heart. And honestly, we could all use that right now, couldn't we?

1. Gerberoy (Oise)

In Gerberoy, there's an unwritten rule: here, a house without roses is like a café without a croissant – unthinkable. Every alley, every garden, every corner seems to have been designed with beauty in mind. It's no accident that Henri Le Sidaner, an Impressionist painter, fell head over heels for it and left an indelible artistic mark. As you wander through the cobblestone streets, among half-timbered houses and walls covered in flowers, you feel like you're stepping into a painting. And honestly, you won't want to leave.

2. Barbizon (Seine-et-Marne)

Barbizon is a bit like a frozen scene from an old romantic movie. Cobblestone streets, art galleries, little stone houses tucked away behind rose hedges… No wonder the pre-Impressionist painters made their home here long before tourists ever ventured in. Between an exhibition, a stroll through the forest, and a break at the Auberge Ganne—where artists slept and drank (often more than they painted)—you quickly find yourself wrapped in a gentle nostalgia.

3. Chevreuse Valley (Yvelines)

Chevreuse is one of those magical places where you plan to pop in for an hour and end up staying all day. Everything's there: a river winding its way between stone houses, charming little bridges to cross with a spring in your step, lush greenery that makes you feel like you've stepped straight into a fairytale. The cherry on top? Climbing up to Madeleine Castle and gazing out over the valley, bathed in light and surrounded by nature.

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Une publication partagée par Maria (@edadirac)

4. Moret-sur-Loing (Seine-et-Marne) 

Picture a village where every reflection on the water looks like it was painted by an Impressionist. Welcome to Moret-sur-Loing. Sisley set up his easel here, and honestly, you can see why. The old facades lined with hollyhocks, the stone bridges spanning the river, the smell of fresh bread wafting from the corner bakery…

5. La Roche-Guyon (Val-d'Oise)

Nestled at the edge of the Vexin region, La Roche-Guyon has that special something that makes all the difference: a castle straight out of a novel, charming little streets, and most importantly, an absolutely stunning garden. Here, vegetables rub shoulders with flowers, and you'll happily wander through pathways lined with wild grasses and intoxicating scents. If you're a fan of truly spectacular views, climb up to the keep: the view over the Seine and its white cliffs is absolutely breathtaking.