Hi,
Which chateau in Paris are the most worth going? We will definitely go to Versailles. And since most of them are closed at 6pm, is it possible to go to two chateau on the same day? What's the best combination of 2 chateaux to go in one day? or should we go to one chateau in the morning then come back to Paris for the museums in the afternoon? Will it be very crowded during the first free Sunday of the month? Thanks!
Are you confusing Paris with the Loire Valley (which is not where Versailles is located)? The Loire Valley is not recommended as a daytrip from Paris, although possible.
I know that most of the chateaux are outside of Paris in Loire Valley, but I'd to go to as many chateaux as possible while I'm in Paris. Is it not possible to have a one day trip to visit more than one chateaux?
Well, the Louvre is a chateau, so there's one. Then there's Chantilly, Fountainbleu, and Vaux-le-Vicomte, all close to Paris.
I find a little of that stuff goes a long way, but go to town.
What chateau would you recommend besides Versailles and the Lourve?
Jenny, please read Adam's post, above your last post, he's listed 3 more chateaux, that makes a total of 5 in the Paris area.
Jenny, my favorite chateau is Vaux-le-Vicomte. Love it! It's in Rick's Paris guide.
The Louvre, though once a palace, is now an art museum. Just outside of Paris is the Chateau Malmaison and you can get to it in about 40 minutes from central Paris. The Empress Josephine used to live there.
There is also the Chateau de Vincennes at the end on the Metro Line 1, in Paris.
You could visit both Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau on the same day. Melun (the closest train station to Vaux-le-Vicomte) and Fontainebleau-Avon (the closest station to Fontainebleau) are on the same train line from Paris and the stations are less than 15 minutes apart.
If you're planning to see the cathedral at Chartres, you could combine that with a trip to Versailles. Go to Versailles in the morning, eat a picnic lunch on the one-hour train ride to Chartres, and see the cathedral in the afternoon.
Hi Jenny:
I would recommend the Chateau de Vincennes which is at the east edge of Paris (one of the RERs will drop you off within walking distance). This was the summer palace of the king before Versailles was built. When I toured the castle in 1995 there weren't too many American tourists, and the guided tour was conducted in the French language though they had a written guide. In one of the moats, now dry, around Chateau de Vincennes Mata Hari executed.
Here is a link to this site:
http://en.chateau-vincennes.fr/
Enjoy.
I loved Chantilly and Fontianbleau...I would return to either in a heartbeat. Both have the advantage of NOT being mobbed by other tourists too.. so you can actually enjoy them without being elbowed along by a tour group etc.
If you like Horses then the nod goes to Chantilly as the Royal Stables are across the street from it and house a great horse Museum.
