Autumn Day Trip: Pierrefonds Castle, Lakeside Picnic, Ancient Ruins and a Charming Village

A day of heritage and autumn colours

The first stop takes you through ancient ruins and an old chapel in a peaceful rural setting. The organizer keeps the site's name as a discovery for the day itself. Lunch follows beside the lake, before a walk up to the castle: bring your picnic and snacks.

A former spa town, Pierrefonds retains its 19th-century villas, lake and architectural heritage, dominated by the castle at the edge of Compiègne Forest. Crenellated towers, drawbridges, ramparts, double walls, watchtowers, arrow slits, machicolations and overlapping wall walks give it a striking silhouette.

Built in the 14th century for Louis d’Orléans, brother of Charles VI, the castle endured several sieges before being dismantled in the 17th century. In the 19th century, Napoleon III entrusted its reconstruction to Viollet-le-Duc. Gargoyles, walkways and galleries reflect that reinterpretation of the Middle Ages. The organizer's description also recalls its connections with films and series including Joan of Arc, The Visitors, Merlin and The Accursed Kings, and the model Michael Jackson commissioned for his ranch.

The final stop is a charming village with an abbey, a fortified gate and narrow streets. Its name is not disclosed in the programme. Stroll until sunset, then use the time set aside for an optional apéritif to keep chatting or simply unwind.

Programme for Sunday, November 1, 2026

• 8:25 AM: meet at Porte d’Orléans, Paris; the exact location is on your ticket.
• 8:30 AM: welcome and introductions.
• 8:35 AM: ticket checks and boarding.
• 9:00 AM: coach departure.
• 10:40–11:45 AM: walk among the ruins and old chapel. Meet at the coach at 11:45 AM; departure at 11:55 AM.
• 12:20–1:20 PM: lakeside picnic break of about 40–50 minutes, followed by a walk along the lake to the castle.
• 1:30–3:30 PM: visit Château de Pierrefonds, with free admission on the first Sunday of the month during the winter season. Meet at the coach at 3:40 PM; departure at 3:50 PM.
• 4:20–6:30 PM: village stroll and the option of an apéritif after sunset.
• 6:35 PM: meet at the coach; departure for Paris at 6:45 PM.
• Around 8:15–8:30 PM: arrival in Paris, depending on traffic.

Times and the order of stops may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Meeting times announced by the tour leader before each arrival take priority. Join the proposed walks and activities or explore independently, always returning to the coach on time.

Included

• Private transport for the full day: Paris, ruins, Pierrefonds, village and return to Paris.
• Dedicated driver, fuel, return tolls and parking.
• Discovery walk through the ruins and old chapel, time for a lakeside picnic, castle visit with free admission and village stroll.
• Time for a friendly apéritif; drinks are not included.
• An experienced BAFA-qualified tour leader and activity host, with over 500 events and trips accompanied according to the organizer.
• Introductions and conversations on the coach, suitable for outgoing and quieter participants alike; suggested group activities, games and language exchanges.
• Optional souvenir group photos, available a few days after the trip, and an optional WhatsApp group to keep in touch during and after the day.

Not included

• Meals and drinks: breakfast, picnic, snacks, apéritif and dinner.
• Personal expenses and any service not listed as included.
• Mandatory BUT partner membership card: €5 in cash when boarding, issued in your name, valid for six months and required on each trip. Obtain it on your first trip or renew it when it expires. The advertised welcome offer adds three months for the next 300 cards, subject to availability. Loyalty benefits are explained on your first trip. This is a BUT partner card, not an ETT card, and it is not valid with other partners.

Prices and booking

Prices shown on the supplied ticketing page, including fees: under-35 presale €40.98 and adult presale €45.99. Places are limited. Other advertised tiers are DREAMY under-35 at €60.98, DREAMY adult at €66.99 and full price at €80.98; their opening and availability are shown in the ticketing widget. No student fare is offered through this link. For the under-35 fare, present an identity document when boarding.

Before booking, also allow €5 in cash for the BUT membership card if you do not already hold a valid one. The price and sales conditions displayed in the ticketing widget when you book take precedence.

Preparing for departure

Bring your picnic, snacks, a drink in a reusable bottle or flask, your identity document, your booking confirmation on your phone or printed, and your membership card if you already hold a valid one.

A reminder email is sent the evening before departure, no later than 10:00 PM, with the meeting place, time and any final instructions. The tour leader's number is provided at the meeting point that morning. Arrive early: the coach leaves on time to respect the programme and the group.

Photo credits

Lake view: Chandler1980, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized and converted to WebP. Castle facade: Jebulon, CC0. Illustrative photographs taken in another season.