Hello all: We are fortunate to be making our 8th trip to Paris. We've done many wonderful things and seen many fabulous sites there - and in France in general. Love the country!! We want to do a day trip to either Vaux le Vicomte or Fontainebleau and would appreciate recommendations from those who have visited both. They both sound worth a visit! I think I am leaning toward VIV because the gardens should be spectacular in May. We will be doing the trip on Sunday May 17. No flexibility on the day/date. Additional info: we are 79 and 80 yrs. old. No problem walking, standing, etc. Knees aren't great for lots of stairs. Both love architecture, history and hoping either or both have tours (or at least audioguides). I especially enjoy French gardens and I understand VIV has a special one.
Thank you for your time and any suggestions. Susan
Posted by
Chicago
9639 posts
Note that the gardens are architectural rather than floral similar to Versailles (and designed by the same guy). If you can make the climb be sure to go to the dome of the chateau for a view out over the geometric gardens of Vaux le Vicomte. I think it is much more interesting than Fountainbleu. Here was our visit long ago to give you an idea. The gardens are huge so leave plenty of time for that.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/vaux-le-vicomte-our-last-chateau/
This was 16 years ago so undoubtedly things have changed. We did enjoy the restaurant and the historic displays which were in English as well as French. Of course those displays may be different now. Our trip was in spring.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
11495 posts
I have been to both chateau and I personally would choose to return to VlV. While I enjoyed Fontainebleau last fall I don’t feel any need to return. I would happily return to VlV.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
11495 posts
Since you enjoy gardens, are you planning to go to Giverny?
Posted by
USA
482 posts
If it's one or the other and Napoleon I isn't a big draw, then I'd vote for VlV. My husband and I visited both with Paris city vision last October and I'm glad we saw both but the gardens were definitely more amazing at VlV.. they're both beautiful, though.
I'm returning to Fontainebleau due to Napoleon I significance with my daughter, though.
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2380 posts
If you are purely interested in French royal history, plus that of Napoleon I, Fontainebleau is the place to go. Since Renaissance every generation has added or changed something making it bigger and more impressive, but not more beautiful.
If you want to visit a stunningly beautiful place with an interesting, but tragic story than I would go to Vaux-le-Vicomte. From a historical point of view it’s not so interesting as Fontainebleau, but the arrest of owner Nicolas Fouquet commisioned by Louis XIV there is intriguing as it gets. It’s well displayed inside the main building.
Vaux-le-Vicomte is as a whole a nice Baroque style package. Fontainebleau with all it’s different styles misses this, makes it to my opinion lesser appealing.
I have visited both several times. Certainly will do this again, anyway Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Posted by
Los Angeles
5570 posts
Youtube is full of videos comparing and contrasting the many daytrip options for chateaux, check them out
Posted by
309 posts
Just be aware that getting to Vaux is not easy-peasy without a car. You have to take a train to the nearest town, then catch a taxi to the chateau. and at the end of your visit you need to get a taxi, so try to arrange that with your taxi driver. And pay attention to the train schedule - I am not sure they run that often. But Vau is well worth it.
Posted by
Chicago
9639 posts
In high season there is a shuttle from one of the train stations to Vaux le Vicomte. We did the taxi and it was not easy -- the gift shop at the chateau called us a taxi to get back to the train station, which was a lucky thing as we were a bit clueless. It all went fine. Their web site should have information about the shuttle and if it is available when you want to go.
Posted by
19 posts
I haven’t been to Fontainebleau - too big, too overwhelming - but I have been to Vaux a number of times and I simply love it. The chateau has a unity of style and elegance that are breathtaking, and it’s full of small details that give it a kind of personal quality that you won’t find at chateaux like Versailles. The little dining room, a real innovation in a time when dining rooms didn’t really exist as a concept, has some glorious enamel floral paintings in the door surrounds, of a delicacy and beauty that fascinate me. It’s odd to say of a place this sumptuous, but it does feel like a home , if your idea of a home is a splendid chateau created by the leading architects and artists of the time. Lots of grandeur, but also small details that claim a visitor’s attention.
And then there’s the garden . . .
Posted by
Paris
11388 posts
Another thing that has changed from 16 years ago is the advent of Uber and Bolt, making it quite a bit easier (because there are so many more drivers) to get between the train station in Melun and the chateau at Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Also, the château runs a shuttle service to meet up with a couple of trains.
Information on their website, advance reservations required, cost is 12€ each way (on top of the RT train ticket from Gare de Lyon to Melun)