One Of Europe's Secret Retreats Is A Picturesque Spa Hotel For A Perfectly Serene Day Trip From Paris

France is certainly packed with wonderful places full of natural beauty, but when you're visiting the city of Paris, you're probably going to be stuck in long lines at the Louvre, trying to avoid tourist traps near the Eiffel Tower, and generally trying to keep up with the pace of the busy city. If you want to get a little rest and relaxation in France, you might consider taking a day trip outside the city to view the charming French countryside. And while spending a night in Versailles is surely a luxurious getaway, another option is a day or weekend spent inside a 12th-century monastery that has been transformed into a luxury spa: the Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay.

The Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay is a magnificent estate in Cernay-la-ville, France, about an hour away from central Paris and about 30 minutes from Versailles. While renting a car and driving to the hotel is the simplest and fastest way to arrive, you can also get there by train from Gare Montparnasse to either Gare de Rambouillet or Gare de Saint-Rémy-Lès-Chevreuse. The hotel can also arrange for transfers from the train if needed. When you do arrive, you're greeted with stunning medieval French architecture with plenty of gorgeous archways and stone masonry. The Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay was once a Cistercian abbey, formerly serving as a home to the monks in the order with many different owners over the years. It was reopened as a hotel and spa in 2023.

The abbey is not only a feast for the eyes. It's also home to four sophisticated restaurants and bars. Les Chasses typifies the rich country life of French nobility, with plenty of dark wood, a beautiful fireplace, and classic French cuisine. But if you truly want to feel like medieval royalty, you'll have at least one meal at the Le Refectoire des Moines (The Monk's Refectory), which truly showcases the abbey's Gothic architecture. Plenty of travelers have remarked on how the abbey resembles the great halls of Hogwarts because of its distinct style. There is also another hunting lodge-style eatery and a modern trattoria serving Italian dishes.

The hotel offers over 100 rooms and suites for guests across the entire estate, including the abbey and other stone structures across the grounds. The spa, of course, also has a full menu of luxurious treatments to help you unwind and relax while you're enjoying being outside of the city. All weekend bookings have a minimum two-night stay.

In addition to lavish rooms, excellent food, and relaxing spa treatments, guests can also get their fill of fun activities (including plenty of activities for children). When the weather is warm, guests can book paddle or row boats, go swimming in the pool, and ride bicycles around the estate. They can also go shopping in the town, enjoy karaoke, play in the game room, and watch a movie in the 49-seat theater. Animal lovers can also visit the various critters who live on the estate, including donkeys, goats, rabbits, alpacas, and more. Or, sporty guests can enjoy tennis, yoga, croquet, petanque, or fishing. If you're embarking on a trip to France soon and making a stop in Paris, be sure to avoid the common (and expensive) mistakes that many tourists make on the Paris Metro.