France
The golden glow of a French autumn
The train from Paris carries you to the Palace of Versailles, and suddenly you understand why Louis XIV wanted it here: the light falls perfectly. Autumn makes France mild and peaceful: no traffic jams, no pushing. This is the moment to go.
7 September 2026 · Wayloha editorial · 4 sources
The stop in Versailles
The RER C train departs from the centre of Paris every hour and brings you to the foot of the palace. For the first time you see the entire structure, and it is overwhelming: not because it is large, but because it stands there so ostentatiously on display.
The State Apartments fill with your footsteps. You walk where Louis XIV walked, from 1682 to 1789, when this was the political heartbeat of all of France. The Hall of Mirrors is one of the most famous rooms in the palace. But when you stand there, it mostly feels empty and vast, and you understand why power loves to see itself in mirrors.
A palace where you feel that history is not over, but just sitting there waiting.France
The morning in the Louvre
Paris in October feels like a city where you are finally allowed to wander around. The Louvre is full of artworks whose names you know from school, but the Mona Lisa, Leonardo's girl with that little smile, is the only thing everyone looks at. She hangs behind glass, surrounded by dozens of other visitors, and you think: this cannot be everything.
But it isn't. You can walk for hours without seeing the same artwork twice. Artists and writers have looked at these walls for inspiration for centuries. Tap water in Paris is safe and available everywhere, so make sure to look after yourself.
A day in Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris attracts many visitors and is not far from the capital. It is completely different from Versailles: colourful, loud, and full of whistling children. But the wonder is just as real.
October is the time when you do not spend the whole day standing in line. The autumn sun shines between the attractions. It shows how different France can be: one day you walk through the serious halls of power, the next you rush through a castle from a fairy tale. Both places say something about what people dream of.
The roads to the Loire Valley and beyond
Those who have had enough of Paris seek out the country roads. The Loire Valley is full of Renaissance castles, built by kings who did not want to have everything in one place. The surrounding countryside is carefully maintained, with fields that reach to the horizon.
October is harvest month. The local markets are full of cheeses, apples and wine: every region has its own flavour. Normandy and other coastal towns offer different experiences with the sea and the landscape. You can take buses from village to village. The tap water is safe here too. This is the moment you understand why so many writers and artists retreated here: not for the fame, but for the silence and the good food.
