Fête de Goussainville
Annual town festival in summer with open-air concerts, an artisan market, family activities and village festivities in the Vieux Pays old town.
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Goussainville
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ℹ️Practical info — Goussainville
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Visit the Vieux-Pays (old village) during daylight hours to safely explore the abandoned structures and the 16th-century church.
- The area is very close to Charles de Gaulle airport; expect frequent and loud airplane noise.
- Be respectful in the old village, as a few residents still live there despite the abandoned appearance.
- Use the RER D line to reach Goussainville from central Paris quickly.
- Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Chantilly or Roissy if you have a car.
🍽 Food
🍽
French Bakery Staples
Local boulangeries in the modern town center offer excellent fresh baguettes and croissants.
🍽
Airport Area Brasseries
Near the Roissy side, you can find traditional French brasseries serving hearty plat du jour.
🍽
North African Street Food
Look for small eateries near the train station offering merguez frites and couscous.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Weekly Market
The local open-air market is great for fresh produce, cheeses, and regional meats.
🛍
Local Artisanal Shops
Browse the modern downtown area for small independent shops selling French pantry essentials.
🧘
Ruined Church of Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul
Sit by the remnants of this historic church in Vieux-Pays for an eerie but peaceful historical atmosphere.
🧘
Parc de la Mairie
A well-kept municipal park in the modern city, well-suited for a quiet afternoon stroll.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
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Goussainville, located in the Val-d'Oise department, is one of the most uniquely fascinating destinations in the Île-de-France region, primarily known for its atmospheric "Vieux-Pays" (Old Country). In the early 1970s, the construction and subsequent expansion of the nearby Charles de Gaulle Airport placed the historic village directly under a major flight path. Due to extreme noise pollution, a significant portion of the population relocated, leaving behind a semi-abandoned ghost town that has since become a magnet for urban explorers, photographers, and history buffs. Walking through the Vieux-Pays feels like stepping into a time capsule, where shuttered 19th-century bourgeois houses and overgrown streets contrast starkly with the roaring jets above. At the heart of this surreal setting stands the magnificent Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul, a beautifully preserved Renaissance-style church that continues to hold services. Beyond the ghost town, the modern center of Goussainville is a bustling, diverse suburban community with animated local markets and excellent rail connections to Paris, offering a stark and compelling contrast to its frozen-in-time predecessor.
- Location: Île-de-France, France
- Top sights: Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Church · Parc du Château · Goussainville Town Hall
- Nearby: Gonesse (5 km)
- Population: ~31.301
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 4 |
| Rain mm | 54 | 50 | 52 | 39 | 64 | 60 | 55 | 59 | 42 | 57 | 61 | 69 |
Geography
Facts
- Total area: 11.52 square kilometers.
- Church construction: Completed in the 1560s.
- Distance to central Paris: 20 kilometers.
- Elevation range: 54 to 109 meters.
- Population density: Approx. 2,717 inhabitants/km².
- Public transport: 2 stations on the RER D line.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Goussainville (5)
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'Vieux Pays' of Goussainville?
A partially abandoned district that was nearly deserted due to noise after the construction of CDG airport.
Can you visit the abandoned houses?
You can walk through the streets of the old village, but most houses are locked and in a state of disrepair.
How close is Charles de Gaulle Airport?
The runways are only about 5 km away, which is why planes fly at low altitudes over the town.
Which historical building is still intact?
The 16th-century Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Church, a listed historical monument in the middle of the old village.
How do you get there by train?
By RER D (Goussainville stop), about 25-30 minutes from Gare du Nord in Paris.
Goussainville: where is it located?
Goussainville is located in Île-de-France, France.
Goussainville: what is there to see?
Highlights include Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Church, Parc du Château, Goussainville Town Hall.
Goussainville: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Goussainville: why is it worth visiting?
Goussainville, located in the Val-d'Oise department, is one of the most uniquely fascinating destinations in the Île-de-France region, primarily known for its atmospheric "Vieux-Pays" (Old Country).
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