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Vaux-le-Vicomte Summer candlelit evenings

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
498 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
181 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!!