1

Go with him to Asnieres-sur-Seine, its so nice there.

2

Forget to say read this before going: http://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Asnieres-sur-Seine&qpvt=Asnieres-sur-Seine&FORM=EWRE

3

Several forum members are contributors to this website and some of the best photo essays are from them.
This is the one for Paris:
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=paris
[much more in Paris that you could have dreamed of including quiet places, etc).
This is for France:
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=france
Look for posts by kerouac2 and french-mystique....

I'm most familiar with the south of France, so can't think of anyplace that offers all you wrote of; I will say in the north my favorite place is Chartres.
If I were to go to India I would want to visit famous temples and so might your friend enjoy visiting the cathedral in Chartres. I greatly prefer it to Notre Dame de Paris---and there is a canal that runs through the city and stained glass workshops and other quiet places...I'm not sure about any festivities.

If your friend in Hindu (I know India has many religions but Hinduism is the one I know the most about) you might consider a celebration at the Vedanta Center n Gretz...not that far from Paris:
http://www.centre-vedantique.fr/index.php?view=details&id=1254%3AF%C3%AAte+de+Krishna+-+Musique+&Danse=&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=108&lang=en
Main website:
http://www.centre-vedantique.fr/
If you look at the place on google maps you'll see there's parkland around the buildings.
I know the Vedanta Center here in Los Angeles and it is open to everyone. I sometimes go to afternoon vespers.
If your friend is not Hindu I hope I haven't offended you by mentioning this.

I hope you find something that your friend can really enjoy.
Best wishes

4

sfgirl42 has given you some great reference. Here is one that is not that far from Paris: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=france&action=display&thread=5491&page=1

You also might consider a day or two in Angers. You can take the TGV from Montparnasse to Angers in less than two hours. If just a day trip take the last train back to Paris in the evening. Here are some pictures of my trip to Angers and most is within walking distance of the train station in Angers. http://travel.webshots.com/album/97574274rPCmjg

5

day/overnight trips out of paris by public transport is a question we answer relatively frequently, but have you done:

• chateau versailles
• chateau fontainbleau
• chateau vaux le vicomte
• chateau chantilly
• chartres
• dieppe
• deauville (and on to honfleur if you can)
• provins
• reims (champagne)
• senlis

6

and here are some links to some useful old threads:

Ten Days in Paris - Day Trips
Day Trips from Paris by Train
Paris Day Trips

7

french_mistique, that is a very complete list and I am sure will be useful for others in the future.

8

Is Versailles a " must see"? I'm worried that it will be very crowded if we go there in the first week of September. Would it be more worthwhile to go somewhere else instead? I like the idea of Chantilly, or Chartres, but I'm not sure which one will be more enjoyable.

9

Versailles is right up there as a sight to see in France. It is a good example of a royal chateau and for a while was home to the royal court. There are many others as well, just not so famous.

It is always crowded but if you do the gardens first and leave the chateau until later in the afternoon you can avoid some of the crowds.

French_mystique's list is awesome. There is also more information on some of these at www.beyond-paris.com with instructions on how to get to each by public transport if that is of use to you.

10

Thanks so much. Yes, that list is awesome. With regards to public transport, I have a metro pass for zones 1-5 for our stay in Paris, are Versailles, Chantilly etc in these zones, or do I buy a seperate ticket?

11

You will need to buy a separte ticket for Versailles. Take the RER C line to Versailles, the chateau. Make sure you get on the correct line, there are two trains for Versailles.

Sorry I can't help you with Chantilly.

12

To figure out where the zones are and whether or not your zone 1-5 ticket covers a destination you should look at the official website www.ratp.fr. They also have an interactive map:

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Your pass will cover Versailles (in zone 4) but not Chantilly.

Refer to my above post about the various websites to check train schedules and prices. Your zone 1-5 pass will cover such places as Provins, Crécy-la-Chapelle, Moret-sur-Loing, Fontainebleau and others.