Île-de-France
World-famous heritage, riverside towns, forests and easy access to paris.
Discover the Essonne
Discover Essonne: world-famous heritage, riverside towns, forests and easy access to Paris, with independently owned holiday homes that make a comfortable base for exploring.
Essonne brings together world-famous heritage, riverside towns, forests and easy access to Paris. Build a stay around Évry-Courcouronnes, Étampes and the smaller places in between, leaving time for markets, local food and unhurried day trips.
Independent holiday rentals
Browse independent holiday rentals, cottages, gîtes and other places to stay in the Essonne, then contact owners and managers directly. Holiday House France does not add a guest booking fee.
We are building a collection of independently owned holiday homes across France.
Explore the whole department
Essonne changes character as you travel across it. These four starting points make it easier to plan days out without reducing the department to a single headline attraction.
Historic centre & local highlights
Use Évry-Courcouronnes as a starting point for exploring this part of Essonne, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Évry-Courcouronnes · Étampes · Dourdan · Milly-la-Forêt
A rewarding base for day trips
Use Étampes as a starting point for exploring this part of Essonne, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Évry-Courcouronnes · Étampes · Dourdan · Milly-la-Forêt
Character, scenery & local life
Use Dourdan as a starting point for exploring this part of Essonne, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Évry-Courcouronnes · Étampes · Dourdan · Milly-la-Forêt
Quieter corners & wider landscapes
Use Milly-la-Forêt as a starting point for exploring this part of Essonne, combining local heritage, everyday French life and the landscapes that give the department its character.
Évry-Courcouronnes · Étampes · Dourdan · Milly-la-Forêt
Towns & villages
From Évry-Courcouronnes to Milly-la-Forêt, these are useful anchors for discovering the history, scenery and everyday character of Essonne.
A natural starting point for discovering Essonne, with local heritage, places to eat and useful connections into the surrounding area.
One of the department’s best-known stops, rewarding for its setting, history and the chance to explore at a slower pace.
A characterful place to add to a day out, offering another side of Essonne beyond its principal town.
A useful base for reaching the wider countryside and discovering smaller communities nearby.
Make a holiday of it
Essonne rewards days built around its best-known sights as well as smaller discoveries. From Évry-Courcouronnes to Étampes, heritage and landscape sit comfortably alongside markets, cafés and local life.
The wider department opens up beyond the main towns, with scenic routes, walks and relaxed day trips around Dourdan and Milly-la-Forêt. It is well suited to visitors who like to mix sightseeing with time outdoors.
Weekly markets, regional produce and independent restaurants are an easy way to get under the skin of Essonne. Leave room in the itinerary for an unplanned lunch, a village market or a local speciality.
Travel & getting around
Essonne can be reached through the wider road and rail network of Île-de-France. The most convenient arrival point will depend on where in the department you are staying.
A car is often the easiest way to combine towns, villages and countryside, particularly for holiday homes outside the larger centres.
Plan day trips geographically rather than by distance alone: local roads can be part of the experience, and allowing time for markets, viewpoints and spontaneous stops makes for a more relaxed holiday.
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