We can't decide between these two chateaus. Our kids are 1.5 and 3.5 year olds. Any suggestions? We'll be going in Mid April, most probably on a Sunday. Another consideration for Chantilly is that it's included in the museum pass, and I think they'd love the horses at Chantilly. Thank you!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
I will be brutal.. it will make little difference to your young kids which one you go to... choose the one that appeals more to you.
I love Chantilly.. but you will have to arrange transport from train station to Chateau.. your children will be too young to walk.. and taxis are usually not at the station.. there is a bus but its not super frequent,
Chantilly is lovely however, never crowded.. there is a small childrens playground on the grounds.. and a café .. The Chateau is one of my favorite as it contains an amazing Museum Conde.. a painting collection second only to /Louvre ... but I cant see kids caring about that at all.
There are horse shows.. but they are all in French. however they are still interesting to watch. The Royal Stables are interesting.. as is the Horse Museum.. but there is ( or was ) no English really..
I have not been to Vaux de Vicomte.. I would consider the commute logistics.. you are braver then I bothering to do such a trip with tots..
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
I thoroughly agree with Pat about the quality of the collection at Chantilly, the long walk from the train station, etc. One difference is that Vaux-le-Vicomte has little golf carts you can rent to get around the grounds. It's all on foot at Chantilly. I remember taking my 2.5 year old through Vaux-le-Vicomte back in 1980 when we lived in France and had a car. Note: the paths at both chateaux are impossible for pushing a stroller--gravel, whereas back in the last century I was able to push a stroller in the Versaille gardens, which had less gravel.
Posted by
OP
38 posts
Thank you! I'd rather thought Chantilly would be nice for us, but then when I read Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte is much better preserved, I wavered in my decision. Plus, the Rick's Paris guidebook doesn't recommend Chantilly at all.
Do you recall if there's any mannequins in period costumes at Chantilly? I think my eldest would love to see some of those.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
Chateau de Chantilly doesn't have mannequins and is a very adult environment, though school groups do go there on field trips. It's really a fine museum and has elegant rooms to visit on a guided tour. I wouldn't judge it one way or another based on whether Rick Steves has written about it. Perhaps he hasn't gotten there yet.
Having gone to both chateaux in recent years, Vaux-le-Vicomte is less formal and is visited on a self-guided tour.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
The Conde Museum in Chantilly Chateau is considered to contain an amazing collection of paintings.. whether Rick Steves books recommend or not means absolutely nothing because he likely has never been there.. fair enough.. he can't go everywhere.. and at least he doesn't write about places he hasn't personally been.
There are no dressed up manniquines in any chateau I have been to yet.. there are some in the Conceirge in Paris however.. but they are not very good..
I think the point about the gravel walk ways at Chantilly is a very good one however.. not stroller friendly at all...