[May 2026] On the second day of our short trip to France, we went to Fontainebleau, where our friends live.
Normally, you can go directly from Lyon station in Paris, but due to station construction, we had to change trains, which made it feel like a long journey.
Generally, the train journey is nice because we get a glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary French people, but along the way, there were stations without elevators, and my husband ended up hurting his back.
I was struck by the stark contrast between the elaborately designed modern stations and the ordinary, somewhat dingy stations.
Once we arrived in Fontainebleau, our friends took us to Moret-sur-Loing, a town about 10 kilometres southeast of the city.
This town is designated as one of “France’s most beautiful detours.”
While “the most beautiful villages” are more famous, this town with a population of over 2,000, is apparently classified as a “detour” destination.
Developed since being incorporated into the French royal domain in the 11th century, it retains its medieval charm.
The town has impressive gates on its east and west sides, indicating that it was once surrounded by city walls.
Above all, the Loing River flowing through the heart of the town is wonderful.
This tributary of the Seine has many cascades and the remains of watermills, making it very photogenic.
The surrounding old houses, with their sloping roofs, have a very French and charming feel.
Unfortunately, the weather looked like it was about to rain, but it wasn’t enough to require an umbrella, so we were able to walk around.
One of the reasons this town is known is that it was a town dearly loved by the famous Impressionist painter, Sisley.
His legacy remains in various places.
Sisley apparently spent the last 20 years of his life here.
For such a small town, it boasts a remarkably magnificent church, and this church, Notre Dame Church, was frequently depicted in Sisley’s paintings.
Then there’s a tower called a donjon, which was once part of the castle.
It seems to be privately owned and now a B&B, but it was once a prison, and apparently D’Artagnan from Dumas‘s “The Three Musketeers” stayed here.
Wow, I didn’t know D’Artagnan was a real person!
In these times of global overtourism, these kinds of “detour” towns are quiet and still offer a peaceful and enjoyable experience.
