I worked in Paris for half a year, and it is indeed, as Hemingway said, "always a moveable feast." Yet after long stretches living amid the urban bustle, I grew weary of the endless throngs on the Champs-Élysées, packed metro carriages and the unrelenting hum of city life.
Every weekend, I would avoid popular destinations such as Versailles and Fontainebleau, which are crowded with tourists, and follow local friends to undisturbed niche cities in the suburbs. No need to travel long distances, the fastest train can take you 40 minutes. In two days, you can bid farewell to urban anxiety and embrace the French slow life immersively.

  1. Senlis｜old medieval town, 45km north of Paris

Catch a quick train from Paris Gare du Nord, less than an hour and you’re in Senlis. This medieval town is secretly hidden by the locals and has completely preserved the original appearance of the thousand-year-old city. Wandering here, you will almost never meet a tour group. The uneven cobblestone streets under your feet connect quaint wooden houses and Gothic churches. The intact ancient city walls outside the old city stand quietly. Every photo you take is a retro French blockbuster without filters.
I took a slow walk along the city wall, sat on a bench in the church square to bask in the sun, watched local elderly people walking their dogs and chatting, and felt the ease of the slow flow of time. The town is very small, and it only takes two hours to walk around it. The niche cafes on the streets are very cost-effective. Order a latte and sit in a daze, which completely relieves you of the fatigue of Paris' fast-paced life. It is suitable for travelers who want to completely relax.

  1. La Roche-Guyon｜cliff castle hidden by the Seine

As the only town in Ile-de-France selected as the most beautiful village in France, there is a secret place on the Seine River that most tourists don't know about. By car, take the A15 highway from Paris and you can reach La Roche-Guyon in about an hour. The entire town is built on a cliff. On the cliff stands a thousand-year-old castle. The castle is built along the mountain. Monet came here to paint loads back in the day, and I get why—the view’s wild.

Walking along the river path, you can see the slowly flowing Seine River on one side and the stone huts built on the mountain on the other. The wind carries the fresh smell of river water and green grass. You can also go inside the castle, explore the ancient underground passages and retro rooms, and touch the traces of history that have accumulated for hundreds of years. The small town is quiet and healing, with no noisy hawking. The sunset on the riverside is beautiful in the evening, and the evening breeze is gentle. It is the most atmospheric small riverside town around Paris, in my opinion.

  1. Moret-sur-Loing｜Walking among Impressionist paintings

Moret-sur-Loing is the resident sketching place of the Impressionist painter Sisley. It is no exaggeration to say that the entire town is a moving oil painting. It’s a 90-minute drive from Paris. It is sparsely populated and clean, perfectly interpreting the French riverside scenery of a hundred years ago. The ancient Burgundy city gate stands beside the Louvain River. The river is clear and gentle. Retro brick and stone huts are lined on both sides. Flowers cover the windowsills. Every corner is like a painting. I walked along the river bank and finally understood the gentle changes of light and shadow in the Impressionist paintings. The afternoon sun shone on the river, and the sparkling light was particularly healing. The small town is not overly commercialized. The street shops sell local handmade candies and retro cultural creations. When you are tired of shopping, you can sit on a bench by the river, watch the flowing water, and enjoy your own French slow time.

  1. Barbizon | Painter’s Village, a romantic art escape town

Barbizon is the birthplace of the famous Barbizon School. It is a small artistic town wrapped in forests, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, quiet and artistic. By car from Paris, take the Paris A6 highway, exit at Fontainebleau at Exit 37, and follow the signs for Barbizon. You can reach Barbizon in about an hour. In the past, countless painters went here to draw materials for paintings.
Today, the town still retains a strong artistic atmosphere. Niche galleries, retro painting material stores and literary cafes are dotted on both sides of the streets. Every alley contains artistic surprises. I walked along the forest paths and old city streets, and everywhere I could see painters sketching live, and the air was mixed with the faint scent of vegetation and oil paints. There are no Internet celebrity check-in points here, only pure literature and tranquility. In the evening, walk into a local bistro, taste authentic French home-cooked food, and feel the relaxed daily life of the locals. Tourists who like slow travel and want to avoid crowds will definitely fall in love with this secluded painter town.

  1. Provins｜United Nations certified medieval city

A 1.5-hour train ride from Paris, this medieval city listed as a World Cultural Heritage has well-preserved 13th-century ancient city walls, Caesar's Tower and half-timbered old houses. It is a living medieval museum. Unlike other popular ancient towns, there are almost no foreign tourists here, and most of the visitors are local Parisians traveling on weekends.
I climbed up to the ancient tower and overlooked the entire town. The scattered retro roofs stretched as far as the eye could see, and the thick ancient city walls told the story of the bustling past of the medieval market. The streets and alleys of the old city are simple and primitive, and the Internet celebrity shops have not been renovated, retaining the most original French old town style. A medieval retro market is held here every summer, allowing you to immerse yourself in the past for thousands of years. History lovers must not miss this treasure town.

  1. Chevreuse｜The forest healing town in the valley

Hidden deep inside Chevreuse Valley, this small town is surrounded by an entire virgin forest and is a favorite short-distance hiking destination for Parisians. Compared with the hustle and bustle of the ancient town, this place focuses on natural healing scenery, with fresh air and greenery, completely away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
I followed hiking trails through thick woods, stumbled across small clear streams and broken old castle ruins tucked away in trees, being around all that green just melts stress away instantly. The center of the town is small and exquisite, with retro stone houses and wild flowers on the streets. You don’t need a strict plan here. Just walking slowly, breathing fresh air, and having a picnic. Suitable for travelers who want to escape the city, get close to nature, and spend a lazy and relaxing weekend.

  1. Auvers-sur-Oise｜Van Gogh’s last spiritual home

Everyone knows Van Gogh’s paintings, but barely anyone bothers visiting this quiet town where he lived, painted and died. Every spot here’s exactly what you see in his artworks, just one hour from Paris by train. The small town is quiet and quaint. The wheat fields, churches, old streets, and Auvers Castle are all exactly the same as in the paintings.
I walked the same path that Van Gogh used to take, visited his old room and his grave in the town cemetery. Standing next to the wheat fields, at a certain moment, I felt this weird soft connection to him, finally understood that fiery lonely feeling he put into every painting. It’s super peaceful here, though the museum about Van Gogh’s life is pretty small, don’t expect massive exhibits.

  1. Chantilly｜The niche town of Cheval Blanc

When it comes to French castles, most people only think of Versailles, but Chantilly’s right next door and way nicer with way fewer people. It has a beautiful white castle, a large French-style garden and a horse racing training ground. There are few people and beautiful scenery, and there is no need to queue up to take pictures. Compared with the crowded and noisy Palace of Versailles, this castle is quiet and elegant, with pure white buildings paired with large lakes and lawns, full of fairyland.
Wearing an elegant French skirt and holding a small umbrella, I strolled through the castle garden, recreating the French palace blockbuster, and even met a leisurely pacing horse. The town itself is exquisite and small, and the local cream desserts in the street dessert shops taste great. After visiting the castle, wander around Rue du Connétable, browse handicraft shops, look at historical buildings, explore hidden alleys, and feel the true characteristics of Chantilly. If you want pretty castle views without crowds, this is your spot. Just a heads up, the château’s inside tours sell out fast on sunny Saturdays.


Paris’s beautiful, yeah, but it’s loud and crowded some times. These slow quiet weekends stuck in small French towns are my favourite memories from when I lived there. The best bits of France aren’t always the famous postcard spots. You just need to step out of the city and slow down for a while.