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Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris

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Paris, France
Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris
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Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris
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From $119.15

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icon9 hours  (approx.)
iconOffered in: English and 10 more
Good for avoiding crowds

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Overview

Take a day trip from Paris to Fontainebleau to visit two castles once home to members of France’s extravagant aristocracy. First, explore Château Vaux le Vicomte, said to have inspired the Palace of Versailles. Then head to Château de Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose history dates back to the 12th century. You have free time at each castle to look around on your own via provided audio guides, checking out the ornate architecture and opulent gardens, or upgrade for a guided tour.
  • Visit two French castles in one day on a full-day trip from Paris
  • Discover the opulence of Vaux le Vicomte Castle, admiring the extravagant interiors that put its creator in prison
  • Hear tales of French royalty from an audio guide while exploring Château Fontainebleau—a UNESCO-listed site
  • Transport from Paris by luxury, air-conditioned coach
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Air-conditioned vehicle
Audioguided Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle with a new immersive experience in 3D ( if Audio Option selected)
Access to the dome of the Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle & free Time in the French Gardens
Period costume rentals for children to transport them back to the 17th centur
Audioguided visit of the Castle of Fontainebleau ( if option selected )
Free time Visit of the Gardens at your leisure
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Food and drinks
20 Pl. des Vins de France , 20 Pl. des Vins de France, 75012 Paris, France
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Metro Station : Cour Saint Emilion - Line 14 (Exit N°1 - 2) Straight Across the Bercy Village, meet our representative with a Pariscityvision sign BUS : N°24 + 111 + 109 Stop Terroirs de France

9:15 AM
This activity will end right where it started.
Your day trip starts as you depart Paris on board a luxury coach for the drive southeast to Château Vaux le Vicomte, a baroque castle that is said to have been the inspiration for France’s most famous royal residence, the Palace of Versailles.

When you arrive, you are free to explore independently using your provided audio guide or, follow your guide, if you've upgraded. See elaborate interiors and vaulted cellars, and learn about the man behind this massive home, Nicholas Fouquet, who was King Louis XIV’s minister of finance. After Fouquet commissioned Vaux le Vicomte to be designed by a top architect, the king felt upstaged and threw the minister in jail. When you’re finished inside, walk outside to discover the castle’s 99 acres (40 hectares) of grounds made up of fountains, flowerbeds, and sprawling lawns. If you’re hungry, grab some lunch from the onsite café (own expense) before returning to the coach.

Then make your way south to Château de Fontainebleau, the only royal castle in France to be continuously inhabited for more than 700 years. With its Renaissance architecture, ceiling frescos, 15th-century furniture, and detailed wood carvings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a great alternative to visiting Versailles. Tour the building independently via the audio guide, listening to tales about the French royalty who once lived here.

Château de Fontainebleau is also home to extensive gardens and lakes, so take time to wander the grounds before hopping back on your coach for the return drive to Paris, where your day trip ends.
Itinerary
Pass By:  
20 Pl. des Vins de France
Metro Station : Cour Saint Emilion - Line 14 (Exit N°1 - 2) Straight Across the Bercy Village, meet our representative with a Pariscityvision sign BUS : N°24 + 111 + 109 Stop Terroirs de France
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Pass By:  
Le Styx, Riviere des Enfers
On board a luxury coach, you will drive to southeast and reach Vaux le Vicomte ( approx,35-miles (55-km))
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Stop At:  
Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte
Its star attraction is the Vaux le Vicomte Castle – the impressive Baroque chateau that allegedly inspired the Palace of Versailles – so hop off your coach and head inside for your audio-guided tour.When you arrive, you are free to explore independently using your provided audio guide. See elaborate interiors and vaulted cellars, and learn about the man behind this massive home, Nicholas Fouquet, who was King Louis XIV’s minister of finance. After Fouquet commissioned Vaux le Vicomte to be designed by a top architect, the king felt upstaged and threw the minister in jail. When you’re finished inside, walk outside to discover the castle’s 99 acres (40 hectares) of grounds made up of fountains, flowerbeds and sprawling lawns. If you’re hungry, grab some lunch from the onsite café (own expense) before returning to the coach.
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Duration: 2 hours 
Admission Ticket Included
Pass By:  
Fontainebleau Forest (Foret de Fontainebleau)
Then at 1.15/1.30pm,make your way south to Château de Fontainebleau, the only royal castle in France to be continuously inhabited for more than 700 years.
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Pass By:  
Tourist Fontainebleau
With its Renaissance architecture, ceiling frescos, 15th-century furniture and detailed wood carvings, this World Heritage site is a great alternative to visiting Versailles. Tour the building independently via the audio guide, listening to tales about the French royalty who once lived here.
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Stop At:  
Chateau de Fontainebleau
Château Fontainebleau. The only royal castle to be continuously inhabited for over seven centuries, Fontainebleau is one of the country’s more exceptional palaces – deservedly taking a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list Tour the building independently via the audio guide, listening to tales about the French royalty who once lived here. Château de Fontainebleau is also home to extensive gardens and lakes, so take time to wander the grounds
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Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Pass By:  
1st Arrondissement
You will return in Paris at 6.30PM
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  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • The access to the dome of the Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle is reserved to people over 1.35 m
  • Costume rentals for children at the entrance of the Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle
  • Departure from Vaux-le-Vicomte to Fontainebleau: 1.30 pm
  • Departure from Fontainebleau: 5.00 pm
  • Arrival in Paris around 6:15 pm
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Paris CityVision
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
See all safety measures taken by Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris?
A:The policies on sanitization are:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris?
A:The policy on social distancing is:

  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
See all safety measures taken by Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
See all safety measures taken by Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip from Paris.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "It's recommended that once at Fontainebleau, take the train/cart to tour the area." See review
  • "Long day with lots of walking and stairs but well worth the effort." See review

Reviews by Viator travelers.  We perform checks on reviews

Reviews

4.0
star-4
271 Reviews
5 stars
142
4 stars
72
3 stars
30
2 stars
18
1 star
9

Reviews by Viator travelers

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 271 reviews
star-4
A great escape from the city
Marion_R
, Jul 2022
This was a very interesting tour, with lots to discover at both castles. It was great to get out of Paris for a while as well. We had plenty of time at Fontainebleau to explore and have a quick and tasty lunch at a restaurant in the village just outside the gates to the castle. We were also given ample time at Vaux, but perhaps a bit too much. Two hours there would have been enough and would have allowed for an earlier return to Paris.
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star-4
fountainebleau
miguel_r
, Jul 2022
The expert was good overall I would like the itinerary to be switched as I felt there was more things to do at Fountainebleau. This is not a guided tour you will not get any commentary on the bus. You do get audio guides at each Chateau.
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star-3
Our unrealized excursion
Edward_S
, Jul 2022
Bus broke down between the two places visited and we lost two hours, in addition to inconveniences of a rushed shorter stay, less time for conveniences and food. Moreover, there was not even an apology for the delay, much less an offer of a partial refund. I will remember this experience when booking further trips.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-2
The castles were...
Rebecca_C
, Jun 2022
The castles were interesting and beautiful. Things that disappointed me: there was a woman that gave us tickets before the bus ride and a bus driver that took us to the castles and dropped us off, but then everything else was up to us. I expected someone to be with us more. Also, there wasn’t clear direction on when to eat. Luckily we ate at Fontainebleau because there was little to eat at Vaux le Vicomte. Also, we had far too much time at Vaux le Vicomte. It would have been better if we had another hour at Fontainebleau to walk around town. But the part that was really disappointing was the temperature on the bus. It was cool in the morning, but on the way back, the outside temperature was 75 F while it got to over 90 F (33 C) in the bus. When we asked the driver about it, he said there wasn’t anything he could do. An hour drive with that hot of temperature was terrible, especially considering it was nice outside. The castles were interesting but the cost was higher than it should have been for what we got, and the other problems lead me to not recommend this trip to anyone.
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star-4
Estates on view
Fred_S
, Jun 2022
This tour combines two different types of estates providing an excellent opportunity to understand French history.
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Paris!
Jeanne_P
, Jun 2022
Great trip from start to finish. Tour left on time. Driver and person who checked is on were very accommodating. Highly recommend.
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star-5
Interesting and comfortable tour.
Dennis_N
, Jun 2022
Schedule was outlined and met. Audio guides worked well. Appropriate amount of time available at each location. Van was comfortable. Driver was very accommodating.
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star-2
A very disappointing experience.
MaryWingerd
, Apr 2022
Both chateaux were lovely and well worth a visit. However, this experience did not qualify as a "tour." Basically, after subtracting the cost of the tickets, you are paying about $70 for a bus ride. No representative of the company accompanied us. The bus driver was completely silent the entire trip--not so much as a hello or au revoir. He made no indication when we had arrived, not even opening the door until we figured out for ourselves that we were there. We had to ask him when we needed to be back and the passengers had to agree among ourselves to take a head count to make sure no one was left behind. To top it off, the driver took us to the wrong chateau first, and then we just sat there for 10 minutes--while he made no explanation -- and then headed off to the right destination, losing about 30 minutes of touring time at the chateau. And, by the way, if you have purchased a museum pass, Fontainbleu is included. This tour was over-promised and over-priced. I do not recommend it.
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2 travelers found this review helpful
star-3
Not what I expected
Jeffrey_C
, Apr 2022
The very nice lady, who met us at the meet point, wished us a nice day and disappeared. We were left with the bus driver, who seemed clueless and often lost.
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2 travelers found this review helpful
star-3
Meeting time
pyemenidjian
, Apr 2022
Driver should use an appropriate method of counting passengers. Water should also be provided on the bus
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3 travelers found this review helpful
star-5
France Chateaux Excursions
Marv K
, Nov 2019
This excursion was well conducted and well worth the time and cost. A great experience! Tour conductor was very knowledgeable. We highly recommend it!
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star-4
A nice day
Jojo0413
, Oct 2019
This was an interesting day trip from Paris The properties were lovely.. Our guide was excellent and the transportation was satisfactory,
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star-5
BEAUTIFUL!!
Rita_B
, Oct 2019
We originally wanted to go see Versailles but were unable to as it is closed on Mondays and that is the only day that we could go. Instead we opted for this tour and we were not disappointed. The grounds and gardens of the Vaux le Vicomte were expansive and awe inspiring. We were impressed by the statues, layout and overall beauty of the area. I would absolutely recommend this tour. Fontainebleau was great but it was under construction so some of the beauty of it was lost.
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star-5
A great exploration of the past
Ray_P
, Oct 2019
Having wanted to visit Vaux le Vicomte for a number of years, I was delighted with this visit in spite of the rainy weather that made visiting the gardens less than ideal. And we were not disappointed; even had a lovely lunch here. Our guide, Jean Louis, was excellent both here and at Fontainebleau. (although the scale of the latter is truly overwhelming). Lots of details about what we were seeing, all the answers to the questions folks asked. A great way to visit distance destinations painlessly.
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star-5
Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux Day Trip
Veronica_S
, Sep 2019
Wonderful day out of Paris. Nice comfortable coach ride. Wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Highly recommended
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star-5
Great experience
Sean_J
, Aug 2019
We absolutely loved Vaux le Vicomte, from the great audio experience to the gorgeous gardens! Plenty of time to wander and take it all in. Can rent golf cart to cover more acres. Beautiful! Also enjoyed Fontainebleau. Front desk was a little unorganized that morning and one of our headsets was faulty. Enjoyed the tour and strolling the gardens. Would highly recommend.
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star-5
Spectacular!
Eric D
, Jul 2019
Two wonders of man's architecture achievements. Plenty of time to see everything and not feel rushed.
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star-4
Two lovely Chateaus
Marion_F
, Jul 2019
Long day with lots of walking and stairs but well worth the effort. Vaux-le-Vicomte is stunning and with an interesting history. Lovely gardens which inspired Versailles. Fontainbleau was shrouded in scaffolding and wooden fences but the curving staircase still looked magnificent. The only draw back was our driver appeared to wish he was somewhere else and even had a person on board after we left Vaux-le-Vicomte that wasn't on our tour
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star-4
Fontainebleau
Amy_L
, Jul 2019
The driver was nice, but we were a bit surprised that with an English speaking group, you did not send an English-speaking guide or at least signs with bus departure times. I am a French Teacher, so I translated.the AC vents on bus should be cleaned -they were filthy. Otherwise, good driving, great audio guides!
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star-5
Very Interesting
Nancy W
, Jun 2019
These two palaces are great to see, and the sad story of the builder (Fouquet) of Vaux le Vicomte really stayed with me. We were given very good audio headphones which knew which room you were in and proceeded with the story accordingly. The audio at Fountainbleu not quite as good, but adequate. However, when I realized on the bus that the guide would not be staying with us throughout, I rather regretted booking this without a guide, as I felt like we would be missing a lot of information as well as the ability to ask questions. Hard to say without experiencing both ways.
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