Day tour to Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte

Prepare for a royal day out. Departing from Paris, you’ll head first to the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a masterpiece of mid-17th-century classical architecture that inspired Versailles. Commissioned by Nicolas Fouquet, the Superintendent of Finance under Louis XIV, the estate is the work of three talented artists: the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, the architect Louis Le Vau and the painter and decorator Charles Le Brun. Over the course of your audio-guided visit, you will discover Fouquet’s private apartments, the ceremonial rooms, the castle’s great kitchen and its vaulted cellars. Make time for a walk around the formal French-style gardens, whose focal point is a splendid axis that stretches over three kilometres and commands a magnificent view.

Fontainebleau, a jewel in the forest

After lunch on the vast lawns of Vaux-le-Vicomte or at the castle restaurant, it’ll be time to head to the Château de Fontainebleau (about 45 minutes away by luxury coach). One of the French sovereigns’ most beautiful residences, figures from François I to Napoleon III all left their marks here. Equipped with an audio-guide, take your time visiting the richly furnished palace, whose unmissable features include Napoleon I’s throne and the celebrated horseshoe-shaped staircase. Don’t forget to visit the private apartments, before admiring the vast park that surrounds the château, as well as its three charming gardens.

Tour duration: 9 hours