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Vaux-le-Vicomte Summer candlelit evenings

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Merry Christmas & Happy holidays

So in addition to Chantilly, I've decided that I'd love to visit Vaux-le-Vicomte on my last night in Paris ...I can't think of a more spectacular way to end my stay. But, I have a few questions:

I believe the chateau itself closes at 5:45-7pm to prepare for the candlelit evening, but the grounds are open. Should I arrive at 5:30, explore the garden, and then tour the chateau at 7pm or after? Then have a late dinner?

Which relates to this question:

**Sunset won't be until 10pm when I'm there - so wouldn't dinner essentially be in broad daylight? Or do people just eat very late that night?

Speaking of dining, has anyone dined at Les Charmilles? There's also the casual restaurant, but Les Charmilles looks so Romantic**

More:

It’s going to be pitch black by the time the fireworks end, which makes me slightly nervous about retuning to Paris. I know there's a shuttle to the train, but I read an older review indicating that staff had called a taxi for this person to take her directly to the station. Is this still true?

Lastly -

Are the electric carts worth it?

Thank you SO much!!

Posted by
518 posts

Here’s what we did one year to see an outdoor opera at VLV our last night in France. We picked up a rental car at Gare du Nord in the morning. Drove to chateau and toured it. Checked in to simple motel nearby I think it was a formula one. Went back to see opera. Stayed the night at motel. Drove to airport and dropped off the car the next morning. That all worked great.

Posted by
322 posts

Laurie, I’m so glad that worked out for you, but I’m not renting a car…so all I do is based on public transportation

Thank you!!

Posted by
322 posts

So I’m shamelessly bumping this ….

Has anyone experienced a sumner candlelit evening at Vaux-Le-Vicomte?

Would it be complete overkill to do this in addition to Chantilly and Fontainebleau?

Just to clarify…

I have 5 full days in Paris

** Part of my arrival day (by train from London)

5 full days

Then most of my departure day to London (also by train)

I’ve been to Paris before, so it’s not my first time. I sketched out an itinerary just so I’m organized. This preliminary itinerary includes both days at Chantilly & Fontainebleau. I’ve got a few museums, but I’m spending time exploring markets & areas I haven’t been before

Doing the Summer evening at Vaux would not require any real change to my itinerary …it’s just a matter of how comfortable I I feel returning to Paris in the pitch dark. But, I imagine that I’d hardly be alone in that

Thanks!

Posted by
10732 posts

I can only tell you my experience with a taxi. When we arrived by RER at the station in Melun we took a taxi to the chateau. When we were ready to leave we asked a staff member, I think in the gift shop, to call a taxi for us. We then waited outside until it arrived. This was in April 2022.

Posted by
322 posts

Andrea, thank you - that is very helpful!

How did you love the chateau?

Posted by
15135 posts

Yes, I was at Vaux at night once, candlelit and all that, true...pitch black. This was in January 2007, it was a teachers' function. As such the logistics were taken care of. The other times visiting Vaux were day trips in the summer.

Posted by
322 posts

Fred, thanks!

I think being that dark at night wouldn’t be an issue if the staff can call me a taxi to take me to the station…

I think I really want to go this

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