With the very unlikely possibility of ever visiting The Parisian area of France again, I would like to visit both of the Chateau’s southeast of Paris, Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau, during the one free day of the France My Way tour. Since both are visited via a rail trip to Melun, whole or in part, is it feasible to go early and see the Vaux-le-Vicomte in the morning and then go farther southeast and view Fontainebleau or am I just kidding myself? I am coming into Paris via Eurostar the day before (very hard to change the date) and an alternative would be to take either an 0701 or 0801 train out of London, arrive late morning, and then continue on at Gare du Nord out to Melun and visit Vaux-le-Vicomte, but then I would have to find somewhere to store my carry-on in Melun. Having to go through the EES procedure (first time ever) in London, how much time before-hand should I allow for being at the St Pancras station in London that time of day for boarding the Eurostar for either the 0701 or 0801 departure to Paris?
Posted by
USA
404 posts
I don't know if this is helpful to you logistically but my husband and I used Paris city vision bus to take us to both chateaux in a long day.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1950 posts
For the Eurostar your ticket will show exactly when you should be at St Pancras station. Generally it will be about 75 minutes, less if you are traveling in Premier class.
In addition to CityVision, Blue Fox also offers tours in 1 day to both. It's pricier, but a much smaller group.
Yes, you could potentially do both in 1 day yourself if you're comfortable navigating public transportation, both train and buses with a possible Uber/taxi between Melun and Vaux le Vicomte.
If this is your first visit to Paris, don't short change it. There is enough to see and do in the city for weeks. Especially since you'll be visiting the Loire Valley on your tour.
Posted by
OP
Ohio
9 posts
Thank you both “pbscd” and “jeanm” for your suggestions. I was not aware of these tours. This should give me most of what I want to see at these two sites, hoping that there is enough time to walk some of the landscape as well as the buildings. Roughly 2 – 3 hours at each site is not much but that is offset by the convenience and much diminished “foreigner” transportation anxiety.
Posted by
Chicago
9523 posts
we are slow travelers who really like to sink into a place and we spent a full day at Vaux le Vicomte and could have used another hour or so. Consider picking one rather than rushing through two.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/vaux-le-vicomte-our-last-chateau/
But if you must do both then a tour is probably the easiest way to get it done.
Posted by
USA
404 posts
My husband and I used the Paris city vision bus with audio guides this October and I'm doing it again this May with my daughter. We had time to explore the gardens. And you don't have to stay with the group , just be back on the bus by the meeting time. I especially liked the gardens at Vaux le Vicomte but Fontainebleau was important for history (including Napoleon I). It's about $250 USD for 2 people for the all day excursion.