The most obvious choice for an excursion outside Paris is Versailles. Take RER Line C5 from the Invalides Station and then exit at the end of the line at the Versailles Rive-Gauche Station. The chateau is about a ten minute walk from the station. The quotation about Versailles that I remember most came from a guide several years ago: "Louis XIV built it; Louis XV enjoyed it; and Louis XVI died because of it." The most famous room in the building is probably the Hall of Mirrors.

We really enjoy the Gardens, the Trianons, and the Hameau more than we do the chateau itself. The Trianons were homes for the mistresses of the king and the Hameau was the fake peasant village constructed for Marie Antoinette. She could dress up like a peasant and tend the sheep---but she insisted that they be perfumed first. If the little tourist train is running, be sure to take it to these sights. The visit to the Hameau can be a tiring walk.

Although a train trip to visit Chenonceau requires a little planning in the beginning and a pretty long walk to see the chateau itself, it's certainly worth the trouble. The village provides the students with a look at small town life in France; there are some nice, inexpensive places to have lunch; and the chateau itself remains our favorite in the Loire Valley. Prepare yourself ahead of time: the stories of the ladies who owned Chenonceau make for fascinating reading.