Sunlit beige stone building in Paris with ornate black wrought-iron balconies and window boxes casting long shadows against a pale neighboring wall

Patisseries and heritage roams

From a day of Personal Shopping and perfect sweet treats to forest bathing, estate rambles and paddles on a private lake. Let your family weekend unfold through the some of the loveliest hotspots in Île-de-France.

Day one

Stay: Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay
If Estelle Manor had a French counterpart, it would probably look just like this. The former Cistercian abbey, once owned by the Rothschilds, is the smartest weekend escape from Paris. Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, 78720 Cernay-la-Ville

Head to: La Vallée Village
All the best of the French fashion canon sits alongside major international labels, so book a Personal Styling appointment to shape any visit into a tightly-considered wardrobe refresh. La Vallée Village, 77700 Serris

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Man in blue polo holding a camera and woman in sunglasses leaning on ornate black balcony railing in La Vallee Village under a sunny sky, pale building behind them

Shop: Lacoste
The house, founded by tennis champion René Lacoste, still revolves around the crocodile-emblazoned polo shirt first introduced in the 1930s. And the look hasn’t dated – easy sportswear and tennis whites are still the order of the day. Lacoste, La Vallée Village

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Shop: Kids around
A multi-brand playground for younger wardrobes, gathering labels, including Chloé, KENZO Kids, Lanvin and Marc Jacobs Kids, under one roof. Lots of logo sweats and scaled-down designer staples. Kids around, La Vallée Village

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Les Chasses dishes up old school French classics – foie gras, chicken supreme, poached pears – in the glamorous space that was once the Rothschilds’ hunting lodge.

Shop: Repetto
The Parisian atelier was founded in 1947 and still provides ballet shoes for the Opéra National de Paris. Soft leather flats remain the house signature, but equally lovely are the Mary Janes, loafers and boots. Repetto, La Vallée Village

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Lunch: Pret A Manger
Always a reliable pitstop for the midday reset, Pret delivers all the classic freshly-made baguettes, wraps and salads, plus organic coffee and a moreish rum-flavoured canelé. Pret A Manger, La Vallée Village

Woman in a gingham dress smiling as she holds a vintage camera to her eye at a café table in La Vallee Village with pastries and a notebook nearby.

Shop: The North Face
Technical outerwear born in the climbing culture of 1960s San Francisco has now become the teenage uniform. Serious insulation that works as well on expeditions as it does on city streets. The North Face, La Vallée Village

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Shop: Bonpoint
Timeless childrenswear in traditional shapes that still feel entirely modern. The smocked Liberty-print dresses are the kind of heirloom pieces destined to be handed down. Bonpoint, La Vallée Village

EXPLORE THE BOUTIQUE

Round rustic loaves of crusty bread with scored swirl patterns stacked on wooden bakery shelves, one loaf partly sliced in front.

Shop: Amorino
Known for its signature rose-shaped scoops of gelato, each petal can be layered with any flavour you choose, from pistachio to mango sorbet, salted caramel to intense chocolate. Amorino, La Vallée Village

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Dinner: Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay
Les Chasses dishes up old school French classics – foie gras, chicken supreme, poached pears – in the glamorous space that was once the Rothschilds’ hunting lodge. Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, 78720 Cernay-la-Ville

BOOK A TABLE

Overhead black-and-white shot of hands sharing plates of escargot, cheeses, bread and scallop shells on a white tablecloth

Day two

Estate roaming: Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay
The grounds of Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay are like a pleasure garden, filled with things to explore. Early morning is the time to visit La Petite Ferme, when the donkeys, goats and hens begin to stir and the air carries the scent of hay and dewy earth. Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, 78720 Cernay-la-Ville

Fairytale visit: Château de Breteuil
The seventeenth-century château celebrates the fairy tales of Charles Perrault – author of Little Red Riding Hood and close friend of the first Marquis de Breteuil – with afternoon storytelling sessions that bring the fables back to life. Château de Breteuil, 78460 Choisel

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Afternoons unfold around the private lake, where you can row or pedal across still waters and watch the resident wildlife...

Pâtisserie pick up: Le Jardin Sucré
Sister to their 17ème boutique, young pastry chefs Mélanie and Arnaud Mathez are famed for a particularly pretty pistachio and orange blossom tart, as well as chocolate éclairs and macarons. Le Jardin Sucré, 78720 Cernay-la-Ville

Garden ramble: Domaine de Courson
The Romantic gardens of eighteenth-century Château de Courson are exactly that, with paths winding through spring camellias and magnolia, summer roses and a blaze of oak, maple and beech reflected in the lake in autumn. Domaine de Courson, 91680 Courson-Monteloup

Low-angle view of tall fluted Corinthian columns in Paris with ornate capitals and a coffered entablature, warm stone against a clear blue sky

Lunch: Le Barn
Lunch on the terrace at Le Barn is a deep retreat into the Chevreuse countryside. Meadows roll towards the forest while the kitchen whips up generous crowd pleasers – blanquette de veau, poule au pot and rotisserie chicken. Le Barn, 78830 Bonnelles

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Green scalloped patio umbrellas beneath tall sunlit trees in Paris, layered canopies and dappled light.

Forest bathing: Espace Rambouillet
Within the vast Forêt de Rambouillet, established as a royal hunting ground in the eighteenth century, woodland trails pass through tall oaks and pines. Deer and birds of prey can often be glimpsed among the trees. Espace Rambouillet, 78120 Sonchamp

Lake time: Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay
Afternoons unfold around the private lake, where you can row or pedal across still waters and watch the resident wildlife, with the Abbey as a charming historic backdrop. Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, 78720 Cernay-la-Ville