A car-free weekend in the countryside near Paris
The journal
Les Maisons de Giroudet, in Écrosnes, are 15 minutes by car from Rambouillet and Épernon stations, which are themselves linked to Paris-Montparnasse in roughly 30 to 45 minutes. A train, a pre-booked taxi, and the weekend begins with no traffic jams and no parking space to hunt for.
Why leave the car behind
Travelling without a car means your mind sets off sooner. No ring road on a Friday evening, no eyes glued to the satnav. You read, you talk, you watch the suburbs give way to fields.
And once you arrive, you need nothing else. The whole weekend fits inside an 18th-century farmstead, between a garden, a sauna and the plain stretching as far as the eye can see.
Friday: the evening train
You leave the office and head for Paris-Montparnasse. A TER on the Paris–Chartres line drops you at Rambouillet in just over half an hour, or at Épernon in three quarters of an hour.
Outside the station, the taxi you booked in advance is waiting. Fifteen minutes of little roads, and the farm appears in the dark. No need to tell us your time: the key box is waiting for you, and you can arrive at any hour from 5 pm.
The beds are made. All that’s left is to unpack the dinner you brought from Paris and listen to the silence.
Saturday: the countryside on foot
In the morning, birdsong replaces the alarm clock. Coffee is taken on the terrace, facing the meadows where the horses from the stables opposite graze.
Then it’s time to lace up your walking shoes. The “Vers Giroudet” loop, 3.7 km from Écrosnes, follows the Ocre stream and returns through the fields. An hour’s gentle walk, barely more.
In the afternoon, you do nothing at all, and that’s the whole point. A book in the garden, a nap, a game of pétanque.
Late in the day, guests of Maison Raphaël and Villa Marceau head up to the sauna under the eaves, open all year round. From May to the end of September, the indoor pool, its water unheated, extends the relaxation. To go further, a massage in your gîte can be booked as an extra.
In the evening, the sun sets over the plain. You light the fire pit, or the barbecue, and dine outdoors for as long as the season allows.
Sunday: no rush
A lie-in, a breakfast that goes on and on, one last walk along the meadows. Check-out is at 11 am. The taxi, booked for your departure time, takes you back to the station, and Paris welcomes you home in the early afternoon, rested.
And for cyclists
The Paris–Chartres TER carries non-folded bikes free of charge. Enough to turn the weekend into a two-wheeled getaway: from Épernon station, the Véloscénie reaches Maintenon in 17 km of quiet little roads, then Chartres in 20 km more.
Which house for a car-free weekend
- For two or four: Maison Raphaël. Two suites, each with its own bathroom, and the wellness area just a few steps away.
- As a family of six: Maison Auguste. A large kitchen for cooking together, a private garden and a barbecue.
- For ten: Villa Marceau. Both houses together, for a group of friends sharing the taxis.
For a special occasion
A birthday, a proposal, or simply the wish to spend time together? The “Cocon à deux” offer at Maison Raphaël brings together two nights, a one-hour full-body massage for each of you, champagne and rose petals on the bed. Its price is shown on the website according to your dates.
In practice
Train times, taxi tips, a packing list: it’s all gathered on our “Coming without a car” page. Booking direct on our website costs 14% less than on Airbnb or Booking, and cancellation is free up to 5 days before arrival.