Fontainebleau y Vaux-le-Vicomte

Discover two of the most beautiful castles in the Paris region. You will first visit the palace of Fontainebleau with your audioguide and then, enter the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte in a traditional way or by following the Fouquet plot. Sett off from our meeting point in the center of Paris at 9:15am for the first stop of the day : Fontainebleau castle. After an 1 hour and 15 min ride you will enter the forest of Fontainebleau to directly get to the impressive castle. Fontainebleau is the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. Dating back as far as the 12th Century, it was one of the residences of the rulers of France from the reigns of Francis I to Napoleon III. Mediaeval, Renaissance and classical in style, several kings have left their mark on the château's history and construction. During your audio guide visit, explore the richly furnished château, its unique collections, and key pieces such as the throne of Napoleon I and the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase. You will also visit the château's spacious private apartments, which enjoyed all the comforts of the age. After the tour, explore the vast park surrounding the château on your own, as well as its three picturesque gardens. You can NEXT have lunch freely on the lawns or at the restaurant on the site of Fontainebleau. At the begining of the afternoon, we will leave for Fontainebleau for the second part of the tour, which is only 45min away. Vaux le Vicomte inspired King Louis XIV to build Versailles. 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 audio guided route, you will discover Nicolas Fouquet’s private apartments, the state rooms, and the château's great kitchens and vaulted cellars. The commentaries offer you an incredible experience with 3D sound that gives your visit to the castle a whole new dimension. Throughout the rooms, you will plunge into the heart of the Fouquet affair, during which you will hear significant figures such as Molière or Louis XIV. You will live a unique experience by listening to scenes from the era in the atmosphere of yesteryear. Children will be delighted to be able to dress up for a fun visit to Vaux le Vicomte. Enjoy the access to the dome of Vaux le Vicomte to contemplate the superb view over the castle park. Also take time to stroll in the splendid French garden of the 35-hectare estate with its sculpted shrubs, water features and splendid multicoloured flowerbeds. You can NEXT have lunch freely on the lawns or at the restaurant on the site of Vaux le Vicomte. Departure from Vaux le Vicomte is scheduled for 5pm for an arrival around 6:30pm in the center of Paris.