Contents
Map showing journey times from Paris
Map of the Ile de France
Rail map of the Ile de France
Preface
Preface to the Fourth Edition
The Ile de France: past and present
How to use this guide
Gare du Nord
1. Montmorency Jean-Jacques Rousseau's house/museum, market, Renaissance church
2. Ecouen Chateau-museum of the Renaissance, woodland walk
3. Chantilly Chateau-museum, horse-racing, canal walk
4. Auvers-sur-Oise Vincent Van Gogh and the Impressionists, village and river walk
5. Royaumont St Louis, Cistercian abbey, concerts, country walk
6. Luzarches Erik Satie, country walk
7. Senlis The first French kings, cathedral, rampart walk
Gare de l'Est
8. Crecy-la-Chapelle Corot, Gothic church, moats, river walk
9. La Ferte-Milon Racine, La Fontaine, Leonardo da Vinci, ruined castle, canal walk, boat trip
10. Provins Medieval tournaments, ramparts
Gare de Lyon
11. Moret-sur-Loing Alfred Sisley and the Impressionists, river walk to port of Saint Mammes
Gare de Montparnasse
12. Rambouillet Chateau, park : Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, De Gaulle
13. Montfort-l'Amaury Simon de Montfort, Maurice Ravel, Victor Hugo, country walk
Gare St Lazare
14. Poissy St Louis, Monet, Le Corbusier, Emile Zola's house-museum, river walk
15. Conflans-Sainte Honorine River port, boat museum, island restaurant accessed by speedboat, island and river walk
St Michel-Notre Dame RER
16. Sceaux Chateau, park : Colbert, Le Notre, walk to Chateaubriand's house and garden
Chatelet-Les Halles RER
17. Champigny-sur-Marne Traditional French music/dancing by the river, Abbey ruins at St Maur, island, river bus to Joinville
18. The islands of Creteil Victor Hugo, island walk
19. Champs-sur-Marne Menier chocolate factory, river walk, Madame de Pompadour's chateau and park
20. Saint Germain-en-Laye Le Notre, Debussy, Maurice Denis' house-museum, chateau
On the Tourist Trail Versailles, Giverny, Fontainebleau
Getting around the Ile de France:
The cultural context getting into the local rhythm, the pleasures of provincial life, the love of numbers, the French attitude to information
Practical details public transport, maps, useful sources of information, books, bookshops
Best days to visit markets, museums and chateaux, other attractions
Glossary
Train traveller's glossary
Chronology of French rulers
Acknowledgements
Picture credits
Index
