1. They say that Comté is France’s favorite cheese, but Brie is Paris’. While Brie isn’t actually made within the city of Paris, it’s a super quick drive out to the region where this unctuous, creamy cheese comes from. Several farms in the region allow you to visit and buy cheese right on the premises… but not all of them let you get to know the cows. Ferme de Saint-Thibault is open to visitors most days of the week, and the cows and calves are super friendly. And adorable.
2. The nearby Fromagerie Ganot is a must-visit. This farm is one of the oldest Brie producers in the region, run by the brother-sister Ganot team. Their cheeses are also insanely good, including the Brie noir, a dried Brie that has a texture more similar to Parmesan than the super creamy cheese people are used to. A lot of affineurs take their Brie Noir too far for my tastes, but the one here is absolutely perfect.
3. There are two sorts of AOC Brie made in the region: Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun. These cheeses are named, not for the cities where they are made, but rather from the city where the closest market was located. Melun may be closer to Paris, but Brie de Meaux is the better known cheese of the two, and the city of Meaux is definitely worth a visit. This little courtyard is a beautiful place for a picnic (maybe some cheese you picked up at one of the farms that morning?)
4. When we visited, the flowers were just coming into bloom. I’m always astounded at how many secret little spots like this you can find in a relatively small city like Meaux.
5. The Cathedral of Meaux is gorgeous as well, with stunning stained glass windows. It’s located in the historical city center, so you can’t miss it.