This full day excursion from Paris takes you
to the two magnificent châteaux of Vaux le
Vicomte and Fontainebleau, both located
around one hour from Paris.
Set off from central Paris at 9:15 am. Your
first stop will be Vaux the Vicomte, the
château that inspired King Louis XIV to
build Versailles. A masterpiece of mid-17th
Century classical architecture, the château
and its grounds were created by three
talented artists working for Nicolas
Fouquet, a rich, high-ranking French
official and Louis XIV's superintendent of
finances. These three artists were the
painter and decorator Charles Le Brun, the
architect Louis Le Vau, and the landscape
gardener André Le Nôtre. Your audio guide
will show you Nicolas Fouquet's private
apartments, the state rooms, and the
château's great kitchens and vaulted
cellars. Then enjoy some free time strolling
through the stunning French-style formal
gardens in the 86 acre grounds, home to
sculpted bushes, lakes, and beautiful multi-coloured
flower beds. Why not take the opportunity to
eat lunch on the lawns or in the Vaux le
Vicomte restaurant?
We will leave Vaux le Vicomte at 1:30 pm for
the second part of our tour in the heart of
the forest of Fontainebleau. Journey time
between the two châteaux is approximately 45
minutes.
Fontainebleau is the only royal and imperial
château to have been continuously inhabited
for seven centuries. Dating back as far as
the 12th Century, it was one of the
residences of the rulers of France from the
reigns of Francis I to Napoleon III.
Mediaeval, Renaissance and classical in
style, several kings have left their mark on
the château's history and construction.
During your audio guide visit, explore the
richly furnished château, its unique
collections, and key pieces such as the
throne of Napoleon I and the famous
horseshoe-shaped staircase. You will also
visit the château's spacious private
apartments, which enjoyed all the comforts
of the age. After the tour, explore the huge
grounds surrounding the château, as well as
its three picturesque gardens.
Departure from Fontainebleau is scheduled
for 5 pm, arriving back to central
Paris at around 6:15 pm.
The price includes:
* Transport to and from Paris by luxury
air-conditioned coach
* Audio guide tour of the château at Vaux le
Vicomte and a visit to the formal gardens
* Audio guide tour of the château at
Fontainebleau
* Admission to both châteaux
The price does not
include:
* Transfers to and from your accommodation
in Paris
* Lunch
