Admire two magnificent Castles at short distance from Paris.
A short distance from Paris, there are two castles that are authentic architectural jewels and where important events in the history of France have passed. Enjoy with us this marvelous private day trip and visit two of the most fascinating Castles in France.
Meet our driver and our tour guide at the reception of your centrally located hotel and get a relaxing journey in a comfortable vehicle toward Fontainebleau. It is just 55Km away from Paris and in approximately one and half-hour drive you will be in the destination. Embraced by 130 hectares of pretty parks and gardens, Château de Fontainebleau has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, although the first recorded reference was in a royal charter back in 1137. It is a joy to behold, but you need an expert guide to fully enjoy the visit. With over 1500 rooms Château de Fontainebleau was - and still is - a magnificent maze of French beauty, history and architecture.
The walls cannot talk, but they can show you what it was like during the heydays of French royalty. To visit here is to soak up imperial atmosphere. You will be awed by the opulent décor in the sovereign apartments, designed for the Court of Napoleon III. See Marie Antoinette's bed, Napoleon's throne, and François Gérard's 1807 portrait of Empress Josephine in her coronation regalia. Stroll through the galleries in which the court would socialize, gossip and promenade, and visit three decadent chapels and four art museums. Napoleon himself refurbished the Château after the revolution in 1814 and, in his memoirs, he referred to it as "the true home of Kings." Louis XIII spent a happy childhood here, learning how to hunt, play tennis, and draw. With over 1500 rooms Château de Fontainebleau was - and still is - a magnificent maze of French beauty, history and architecture. After an immersive visit in the best rooms in the castle, we will enjoy a very pleasant stroll in the exterior as well. In fact, a visit to Fontainebleau can not be complete without an explanation of its outstanding exterior areas. The imposing horseshoe staircase alone is worth a visit! Wander over to the beautiful Pavilion on Fontainebleau famous Carp Pond, or stroll through the English Garden – lined with pristine lawns, shrubs and trees.
After the visit in Fontainebleau, you will have a short time for lunch before joining the second part of this memorable day. The Castle of Vaux the Vicomte, that inspired King Louis XIV to build Versailles, is a masterpiece of mid-17th Century classical architecture. The château and its grounds were created by three talented artists working for Nicolas Fouquet, a rich, high-ranking French official and Louis XIV's superintendent of finances: the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, the architect Louis Le Vau,and the painter and decorator Charles Le Brun. By following the expert guide, you will discover Nicolas Fouquet’s private apartments, the state rooms, and the castle's great kitchens and vaulted cellars. Throughout the rooms, you will plunge into the heart of the Fouquet affair, during which you can imagine significant figures such as Molière or Louis XIV. You will live a unique experience with your imagination and you will live the atmosphere of yesteryear. Time permitting, you can have a chance to access the dome of of Vaux le Vicomte to contemplate the superb view over the castle park. The ticket to the dome can not book in advance and you can buy the ticket directly on the spot. Finally, do not miss the chance take time to stroll in the splendid and elegant French garden of the 35-hectare estate with its sculpted shrubs, water features and splendid multi coloured flower beds.
After the visit in Vaux le Vicomte, it is time to meet our driver again and back in Paris. We are sure that this immersive experience in the French nobility of past centuries will remain in your memory for a long time.