Free walking tours in Plailly and what to see

Must-sees

Plailly is a village in the Oise, north of Paris, surrounded by fields and the Ermenonville forest. What brings almost every visitor is Parc Astérix, which lies within the municipality: a big theme park devoted to the comic book characters, with areas themed on Gaul, the Roman Empire and ancient Greece, roller coasters, water rides and shows for all ages.

Beyond the park, the area deserves a short break. In Ermenonville you can stroll the Jean-Jacques Rousseau park, an 18th-century landscape garden, and close by is Chaalis Abbey, with its Cistercian ruins and museum. Senlis keeps a medieval centre with a Gothic cathedral, and Chantilly, a short drive away, has its château with the Musée Condé and the Great Stables.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Plailly: it is a small village and its big attraction is the park. What you can book on Civitatis are tickets for Parc Astérix, handy for skipping the ticket office queue. For guided tours, people usually head to Senlis or Chantilly, where the monuments offer their own visits.

How long to spend

Parc Astérix needs a whole day, from opening to closing, especially in high season with children. If you want to repeat rides or see all the shows, two days let you do it without rushing. Add half a day or a day for Senlis, Chantilly or Chaalis Abbey, all less than half an hour away by car.

Where to stay

The most practical option for the park is to stay in its own themed hotels or in Plailly and the neighbouring villages, which have chambres d’hôtes and country cottages. If you want more choice, Senlis and Chantilly have charming hotels, and the Roissy airport area, about fifteen minutes away, has lots of chain hotels.