Versailles or Fontainebleu?

It depends on a lot of things. At Versailles, the lines are very long to get inside, and the crowds can be suffocating (unless you just go into the gardens). Some people find the opulence amazing, others find it over the top. Fontainebleau is a much more relaxed setting. It is more subtle, and does not get in your face the way Versailles does. But it takes a bit longer to get to than Versailles. Peter

Good first reply. They are not really comparable attractions. On balance, Versailles is, to me, more important. In season, the gardens are an outstanding supplement to the interiors. The RER is also a convenient travel means, not requiring getting to a particular rail station.

they are equally easy to get to. IMHO you need to do Versailles once -- and plan to spend time with the grounds as well. It is such an historically and architecturally significant monument.

Neither. I don't do splendor or crowds or waiting in line. I'd rather buy the video. I prefer visiting Chateau de Vincennes at the end of Metro line 1 in the gorgeous Bois de Vincennes or Malmaison at the other end of Paris reachable by bus from La Defense But this answer does not really go with your question.

I love Malmaison and Fontainebleau but for me, Versailles is #1. When are you going? We walked right in to Versailles in Feb, but holiday times it's uber crowded inside as others have said. It's history, for Americans, is more about Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette and Louis XV whereas Fontainebleau is a must see for Napoleon history fans. While Napoleon did spend time at Malmaison with Josephine, it's not as historically significant as Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau will be much less crowded than Versailles, and I thought pretty spectacular (especially if you know the history), but the gardens can't compare to Versailles. No gardens can. Renting bikes in the gardens of Versailles, by the Grand Canal, is an affordable and fun way to see everything.

Hi,

If it's just one of them, then choose Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau is older than Versailles, which was built politically motivated and lavishly by Louis XIV as a "playground" for the aristocracy, but still close enough to Paris.

When the Allies moved on Paris in 1814, Napoleon was close to Fontainebleau, where he eventually signed his first abdication. You'll see that room and desk on the tour.

The courtyard, "Cour des Adieux" is the site of Napoleon's farewell to the Guard, "les grognards" witnessed by the four Allied Commissioners. There is also the Napoleon museum ca 30 mins walk from the Chateau, "Napoleonic Musée of Art and Military History" located at 88 rue Saint Honoré. It's closed on Sun and Mon.

I like going to both Versailles and Fontainebleau, the crowds are always less at Fontainebleau, if that is a consideration.

Crowds at Versailles can be completely stifling, Fontainebleau was very empty of visitors when we visited in late May 2010. Versailles is more spectacular, but our experience on out last visit (on the same trip, in early June 2010) was so horrible because of the crowds, I don't know whether we will ever go again. Don't visit on Sunday, that was our mistake and we should have known better based upon Rick's advice. Another one is Vaux-le-Vicomte, which is not quite as easy to get to. I wanted to visit this one on our 2010 trip but it was closed on the day we passed through that area with rental car. One more thing about Fontainebleau, the town seemed very pleasant.

It's Fontainebleau... as in "blow" not "blue"...

My last time in Fontainebleau was in early June of 2010. At the time was featured a special exhibit on Napoleon which I only found out by seeing it advertised in the Paris Metro. Any plans I had went out the window so as to get to this exhibit before flying back here. True, the morning, I went to the chateau it was pretty empty.

I would not recommend going to Versailles during the summer. The place is truly enormous and it will take 6 -8 hours to do it justice, after which you will be exhausted. Go in the autumn or early spring, if possible.
Fontainebleau is the best alternative for the summer.

Thanks for all the feedback. The majority seem to think Versailles in the summer means contending with a lot of crowds, while Fontainebleu is almost overlooked.

Hi,

Over the various trips I have been to Versailles (always in the summer) when it was inundated with tourists and conversely when the crowds were diminished to where I found it tolerable. If there are specific sights on your "to see" list, it's a lot more taxing (I won't say aggravating) wading through the crowds to see those sights. Yes, Fontainebleau is a different story, I've never found it as crowded as Versailles, and I've always been there in the summer.

If you're still open to going to Versailles The Chateau de Versailles website has a lot of helpful info. They recommend not visiting on weekends and Tuesdays when it's most crowded.

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/visit-routes-and-advice?mois=06&public=10

You could book a private tour of the King's Apartments at Versailles, and would go through Security then to a dedicated entrance for Pass holders. You'd see things that the masses don't get to see and when done with the 90 minute tour can enter the rest of the chateau and gardens at your leisure. If I really had my heart set on going to Versailles this is the only way I'd do it.
Bring hats or small umbrellas and small bottles of water. There's not much shade in some places. Wear your sneakers - lots of gravel.