Fontainebleau or Vaux-le-Vicomte?

I don't remember the differences in the interiors, but do you like flower gardens with your chateaux? Vaux le Vicomte has gardens. We did not see any gardens at Fontainebleau, more of a walk in the forest. We preferred Vaux le Vicomte.

If I was forced to pick one, it would be Vaux. Absolutely love it. I really enjoyed Fontainebleau because of the amazing history of all that's taken place there, and that it was Napolean's main residence. The more history you know of any chateau that you visit, the more enjoyable it is.
I never get chateau'd out, but that's just me.

Vaux le Vicomte is my favorite Chateau. There are gardens at Fontainebleau that are rather similar but not as engineered or as large. Here is our trip:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/vaux-le-vicomte-our-last-chateau/
We particularly enjoyed going to the cupola on top of the Chateau -- it is worth the couple of Euro extra it costs. The view of the grounds is spectacular. Since le Notre designed the gardens with forced perspective, they are larger than they look and you get interesting views unfolding as you walk through them. We loved spending a day there. The historic tableaus in the basement are also interesting and there are large English descriptions between the scenes since the scenes themselves are voiced of course in French.

Both are nice visits and neither is crowded like Versailles. The same architects designed Versailles's gardens after Louis XIV observed Vaux le Vicomte (and imprisoned the owner after his housewarming party)

If you're going to be in the Loire Valley on this very trip, I don't know that I would bother with either one. I like Vaux, but it's more like the castles in the Loire Valley, and more of a pain to get to (in my opinion). Fontainebleau is different because of its history, and easier to get to, so it might be worth it if you are really into Napoleon or whatever. But honestly if you will have spent 5 days in the Loire, I would really consider spending my Paris time otherwise. In April, how about a visit to Monet's home and garden in Giverny? A day trip to Provins?

If chateauxed out there are dozens of great day trips from Paris; consider Auvers sur Oise, Chartres, Giverny, Senlis or Rouen or any of the small quaint towns easily reached by regional train in an hour or so. Some of our favorites are here:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/day-trips-from-paris/
But historically Vaux le Vicomte is as interesting as Fontainebleau and has more impressive grounds. We particularly like to vary the Paris urban scene with visits to smaller towns and villages but since you will have been in the Loire you may have already done a bit of that. If you don't have much time in Paris, then the great museums alone there will be worth your focus and the parks of Paris and the neighborhoods are also very engaging. Think about getting a 'Paris Walks' type book with a variety of self guided walking tours of neighborhoods. And don't forget St. Denis which is IMHO the most overlooked great sight in Paris (it is just over the border but on the metro at the St. Denis Basilica stop.) On view are the incredible tombs of the Kings of France (their bodies were trashed during the Revolution but the tombs were spared as works of art by one far sighted revolutionary)

I also prefer Vaux...it's beautiful and the grounds are quite stunning. I think after seeing the other chateaux you may be ready for a chateau on a smaller scale! I think it's unique in that Versailles was modeled after it but on a much larger scale. If you go starting in May they have their candlelit evenings but I think you're too early for this! You'll still love it though.
I would also suggest Chenonceau in the Loire...it's different from the others in that it straddles a river and it not huge. It's one of my favorites in France.

Thank you all so much for the feedback and ideas! The one thing I'm really looking forward to on this trip is being very flexible and doing exactly what we feel like doing on any given day.

As Kim said, after seeing all of the chateaux in the Loire, we may not feel like seeing any more once we are in Paris. I do love gardens, so if it's a nice day and we feel like seeing another chateau, then it sounds like Vaux-le-Vicomte is the way to go. If we want more of a history and Napolean fix, then we'll head to Fontainebleau.

We will also have a navigo pass, so heading to Provins or Auvers-sur-Oise would be an easy and inexpensive side trip. We've been to Giverny already, but that was in the fall so I'm sure a spring visit would also be fun.

So many wonderful things to see and do, and only 10 days to do them. Looks like we will be planning trip #4 shortly! I have to say, before we went to Paris the first time, I would read so many posts here about how people were so in love with Paris and kept going back year after year. I thought to myself, why go back to a place you've already been when there are so many other great places to see? Well, this will be our third trip in 2.5 years.... I guess I get it now!

I went to both on the same day last year. If you only chose one, I'd say Vaux would be more different than the others you mentioned in your OP.

I'd also add my vote for Chennonceau -- in the Loire.

I can't believe I inadvertently left off Chenonceau from my Loire list. We are definitely going there - it's the one I'm most looking forward to!

Chenonceau and Vaux tie for second place as my favorite chateaux. They're very different from each other though.

I've been to both Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte on the same day twice on two different trips (I went with different people both trips who all wanted to see the chateaux outside of Paris). It's easily manageable in one day. But if I had to pick only one, I'd say Vaux-le-Vicomte because it's more intimate and tends to have smaller crowds that Fontainebleau.

Hi,

If you had to choose only one, (grim decision !), I would choose Fontainebleau mainly because of the history connection. I've been to Fontainebleau numerous times since the first visit in 1977, never ceases to amaze me. See the Courtyard of Farewell where Napoleon said farewell to the Guard, where they were in tears at that event. . The numbers differ as to how many of the Guard were present on that occasion, Imagine 500 to thousand in that courtyard. About a 30 mins walk from the chateau is the Napoleonic Museum.

Vaux-le-Vicomte is well worth you time, I've visited it twice during the day, on one occasion at night. It all depends on your interest. Ideally you should see both of them.