Visit the magnificent châteaux of Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau on a full-day day trip from Paris. Marvel at the opulent interior of Vaux-le-Vicomte, and UNESCO-listed Fontainebleau, dating to the 12th century. Explore the stunning gardens as well.
About this ticket
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- Covid-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 9 hours
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Skip the ticket line
- Instant confirmation
- Host or greeter
- Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian
- Optional audio guide
- Spanish, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese
Experience
Highlights
- Visit 2 French castles in 1 day on an excursion from Paris
- Marvel at the opulence of Vaux-le-Vicomte Château, and the extravagant interiors that put its creator in prison
- Tour Château Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the gardens
Full description
This full-day trip from Paris takes you to the Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau châteaux for guided tours of the castles and a chance to explore their gardens.
Set off from Paris at 09:15 on the hour-long drive to Vaux-le-Vicomte, the château that inspired King Louis XIV to build his Versailles Palace. A masterpiece of mid-17th century classical architecture, the château and its grounds were created by 3 talented artists working for Nicolas Fouquet, a rich, high-ranking French official and Louis XIV's Superintendent of Finance.
The 3 artists were the painter and decorator Charles Le Brun, the architect Louis Le Vau, and the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre.
With an audio guide you’ll explore Nicolas Fouquet's private apartments, the state rooms, and the château's great kitchens and vaulted cellars. Enjoy a stroll through the stunning French-style formal gardens on the estate’s 86-acre grounds, featuring sculpted bushes, lakes, and multicolored flower beds. If you like you can eat lunch on the lawn or in the Vaux-le-Vicomte restaurant.
You’ll leave Vaux-le-Vicomte at 13:30 for the second part of the tour, heading to the heart of the forest of Fontainebleau.
Fontainebleau is the only royal château to have been continuously inhabited for 7 centuries. Dating back to the 12th century, it was one of the residences of French rulers from Francis I to Napoleon III.
During your audio-guided visit, you’ll explore the richly furnished château, admiring its unique collections and key pieces such as the throne of Napoleon I and the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase. You’ll also see the spacious private apartments. After the tour, you’ll have time to explore the vast grounds surrounding the château, as well as its 3 lovely gardens.
Departure from Fontainebleau is scheduled for 17:00, with arrival back in central Paris at around 18:15.
Includes
- Round-trip transportation from Paris by luxury air-conditioned coach
- Audio-guided tour of the château at Vaux le Vicomte and a visit to the formal gardens
- Audio-guided tour of the château at Fontainebleau
- Admission to both châteaux
- Hotel transfers
- Lunch
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
Covid-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
Traveler requirements
- You must bring your own headphones
- You are required to bring and wear a mask
- All participants who are over 18 years old must present either proof of full vaccination, proof of a Covid-19 infection in the past 6 months, or a negative test taken no more than 48 hours before the activity starts
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Meeting point
PARISCityVISION Agency 2, Rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris
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What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
Not allowed
- Pets
- Luggage or large bags