France’s largest international airport shuttles millions of passengers from its famed runways each year. Named after a former French President, Charles de Gaulle also refers to a thriving French neighborhood, just 30 minutes northeast from central Paris by train. It’s a peaceful village – a welcome oasis of calm and green from the mad rush of frenetic Paris and not without its many charms. Charles De Gaulle airport is also known as Roissy airport for the province in which it lies, known as Ile de France. This area was once known for some of the most fertile farmlands in the country. However, these days it’s more like a northern suburb of Paris itself. It’s worth exploring (or for a brief stopover) as the area offers a huge range of activities for families, business travellers, or simply those wishing to while away a day before their next departure.