We've visited Versailles (although during high season!) and would like to check out one of the other near-Paris palaces/chateaux. Does anyone have recommendations of these other three?
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9423 posts
We LOVED Vaux le Vicomte. The chateau and gardens are amazing, the history fascinating, the stables interesting, the gift shop very nice, and they have a wonderful cafe and outdoor seating. There was hardly anyone there both times we went which made it all the more enjoyable. Didn't care for Chantilly. It was small, and boring. And the gardens were nothing special.
Haven't been to Fontainebleau since I was a child, so I can't speak to that.
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
We also loved Vaux-le-Compte and seeing it can be combined with a visit to Fountainbleu. There is a shuttle running between the two but we were there in October and it was not in service so we had to use taxi--definitely worth it to see Vaux.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
I hate chateaux. Unfortunately, I have also seen most of them at one time or another. When traveling with others who insist on seeing one, I drop them, go into the village for coffee/beer and then come back.
That being said, the absolute, very best of all is Fontainbleu, Also, it has much more history over a longer period than Versailles. Given a choice, I would go there than anyplace else, including Versailles.