While most people won’t immediately associate the french countryside with city life, there are indeed some very interesting towns and small places on a day visit. Some are closer than you might think.
Close to home
Bourbon-Lancy (Bourgogne) is 5 km from Les Gerolles. It has a medieval core and thus attracts tourists. Every summer there is an open air international portrait exhibition throughout the town. It owes its richness and parks with exotic trees to the thermal spa town in the 19th century. see Wellness
http://www.bourbon-lancy.com/celto-espaces-bien-etre_fr_02_15.html
Moulins, 25 km from Gerolles lesson. Really nice French (shop) city, beautiful cathedral, several historic sites (round trip), museums and theater. Here is also the Gare where you arrive by train from Paris.
Interesting Roman and Medieval sites:
Burgundy: Vézelay, Avalon, Autun (cathedral), Dijon, Beaune, Lyon.
Auvergne: Clermont-Ferrand: student city, cathedral, architecture, shops.
A little further away
Tours and Blois with its famous big Loire Castles: Chambord, Cheverny (“Molensloot” Tintin, permanent exhibition), Chenonceaux, Amboise.
Paris: it is also possible to go to Paris by train! As an indication, with the train from 9.30 am, you’ll be in the heart of Paris at 11.50 am. Take the 19.00 pm train back to Moulins and you’ll be in Les Gerolles at 22.00 (30 minutes drive from Moulins). If desired I’ll bring you to and pick you up from the station. If you want a little more time, a night in Paris is to consider. TIP: If you order tickets over the internet well in advance it is much cheaper than the day before! The difference can reach up to 50%. The cheapest standard tickets are € 43 for a return Moulins, Paris.
Use the link: http://www.tgv-europe.nl/nl/treinticket, and choose departure Moulins-sur-Allier