Paris: Enjoy the last Sunday of the holidays without blowing your budget!
With just over a month to go until Christmas, you may have started to think about restricting your spending in November and December in order to better spoil your loved ones on D-Day. Fortunately, in Paris and the nearby suburbs (Vincennes and Rambouillet), a number of places and events welcome you for free on the first Sunday of each month. Some take place throughout the year, others only out of tourist season.
So WanderWorld has selected 5 ideas for free family outings in and around Paris.
La Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame de Paris
Located right next to the Palais de Justice in Paris on the Ile de la Cité, La Sainte-Chapelle is a jewel of Gothic art. It was built in the 12th century on the orders of King St. Louis to house the crown of thorns of Christ, now preserved in Notre Dame. Marvel at the 600-square-metre high-end chapel of stained glass windows, many of which are original.
If you then walk to Notre Dame, don’t forget to look up to admire the beautiful astronomical clock!
The majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is a few hundred metres away and welcomes you throughout the year. Don’t be discouraged by the long tail that will probably criss-cross the forecourt. Since the entry is free, the queue progresses very quickly. The tours of Notre Dame are free of charge only on the first Sundays of each month from November to March. On the other hand, we recommend that you book your time slot so you don’t risk missing out on this opportunity!
Admiring Paris in the company of gargoyles … An idea for a free outing in Paris that will appeal to young and old.
From November to March, the Palace of Versailles also opens its doors for free the first Sundays of each month. It is therefore a wonderful opportunity to introduce your children to this place full of history and marvel at it The ice gallery, the Hall of the Rite and the many royal apartments. The Palace of Versailles is one of the remarkable points of visit of our LOVE Paris notebook, so run there!The Palace of Versailles
Museums: more Like Orsay, Louvre or Pompidou?
Many museums are involved in this cultural operation. Of course, one naturally thinks of the inescapable museums of Orsay, the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou, all offered in LOVE Paris.
Be careful, however, not to be surprised by long queues. You may need to be patient, especially at the Louvre Museum, which is still particularly popular with tourists. Moreover, the most famous museum in France only practices this free during the low tourist season (November to March), as does the Rodin Museum for example.
The list of Parisian museums offering free admission on Sundays is long; all the info here https://www.parisinfo.com.
Vincennes: “Vincennes en Anciennes” and parc Floral de Paris
If you already know Paris well intramural, why not head to Vincennes (RER A and Metro Line 1)? Every first Sunday of the month (morning) the gathering of the largest multi-brand club in France is held. You can admire shiny two-horse, 4L and other cars of yesteryear perfectly maintained by lovers of beautiful cars. They are joined from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by lovers of vintage motorcycles (all cylinders until 1985). Don’t hesitate to continue your visit to Vincennes with a walk in the woods or at the Parc Floral in Paris. Admission is free from November1 to April 30. The slides, the acrobatic courses, the seven ping-pong tables, the beautiful play areas will delight young and old. The Astral Theatre (http://www.theatreastral.com)offers shows for children as young as 3 years old at a price of 8 euros.
Finally, be aware that the Château de Vincennes also opens its doors free of charge on the first Sundays of each month. And that from November to March. Certainly less impressive than Versailles, but just as authentic, the Château de Vincennes is worth a visit. A great idea for a free family outing for All Saints’ Day 🙂
Rambouillet Castle
Yes, another castle in our list of activities! Put on your boots and on your way to Rambouillet! Did you know that this royal residence in the heart of the forest became the official residence of the Presidents of the Republic in 1883? The interior is full of beautiful antique furniture and tapestries that are worth a visit. Then linger in the French gardens and the park. The Queen’s Dairy and the lovely Shells Chaumière will delight your children.
Close the All Saints’ holiday with your family and share a special moment with your children before the resumption on Monday. And don’t panic if you haven’t had time to do everything you want. See you next month, Sunday, December 3rd!
Don’t forget to get our
Paris children’s travel diary
to make your visits to Paris more fun!
We wish you a great family visit. Don’t hesitate to tell us what you liked best…