Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte Castles Private Full Day Trip From Paris

Participate in one of our small group full day private tours departing from Paris and heading to some of the most enchanting castles located outside the town. In the morning, we will come and pick you up at your Paris accommodation. At first, your English Speaking driver guide will introduce the itinerary and program of the day. This includes the visit of Fontainebleau  and Vaux le Vicomte castles.

Begin the day with the Visit of Fontainebleau Palace

The construction of the Donjon dates back to 1137 and the presence of the Kings and Queens of France within the Chateau will last until the 19th century. During the Renaissance period, King François 1er asked Gilles le Breton to reorganize the old hunting lodge. Fontainebleau then becomes an official residence of the Kings of France and at the time, six of the children between Henri II and Catherine de Medici, are born at the chateau. The other most important monarch to have left a print here is Napoleon. The Imperial court will remain in the Chateau during three long stays and it will be here that Napoleon will say farewell to his loyal gardes in April 1814.

After a short drive from Paris, arrive at the castle of Fontainebleau. Here you will benefit with the skip the lines entrance tickets. It will be time to begin your personalized guided tour of the castle. This is a live commentary tour not an audio guided visit. After the visit, you will have some time for personal discovery of the chateau and its grounds. Highlights of the tour include the throne of napoleon I and the famous horseshoe shaped staircase.

Free time for lunch in Barbizon

Located just a short drive away from the forest of Fontainebleau, the small village of Barbizon is famous since the 19th century. The location became very popular with landscape painters such as Rousseau or Millet who had been influenced by the works of John Constable. The Art movement that emerged from these type of paintings became known as the Barbizon school. It is here that you will have some time for lunch. Your guide will suggest some local restaurants depending on your wishes and budget.

Visit of Vaux le Vicomte Chateau

Built by famous architecte Louis Le Vau, stunning Vaux Le Vicomte castle is known as the castle that inspired the Palace of Versailles. The castle is one of the most splendid of the 17th century. On the 17th of August 1661 the owner, Nicolas Fouquet, invites Sun King Louis XIV to a most sumptuous party. Jealous, the King will have Fouquet imprisoned for life. He will call upon all those who had worked on the building of chateau to come and work for him in at Versailles such as decorator Charles Le Brun or landscaped gardener André Le Nôtre. As you arrive, you will skip the line and begin the tour of the Chateau. This is not an audio guided tour but a personalized tour of the château and its grounds. So follow your guide and visit the highlights of the Chateau including the apartments of Mr and Mrs Fouquet, the games Cabinet and the Kings room. The French style Gardens are also not to be missed as they represent the perfect harmony between architecture and landscape of the 17th century.

After the visit of the castles and gardens that inspired Versailles Palace, return to Paris and end of our services.