Barb_in_Ga

We've made several visits to Paris, but have never gone to these chateaux. Paris Vision has a motor coach tour that combines guided tour to both sites with transportation. Our options for the week we are there in October are Weds, Fri, or Saturday.

We want to go to the Friday night performance of "Don Giovanni", so that would be too tight a schedule. Curtain time is 7:30, and the tour doesn't return until 6:30. We may want to do something using museum passes on Wednesday. Are the Saturday crowds likely to be a problem at the chateaux October 17th?

.Thanks for the input.
Barb.

FrenchMystiqueTours

The best part about any château near Paris not named Versailles is that they are never crowded so if crowds were your only concern then you need not worry.

Christina

I took Parisvision to Vaux le Vicomte and it was a very good experience, but that was the only thing we did. I believe it was an afternoon trip, though (you can't spend all day there). The guide was excellent.


Do you intend to go to the OPera in the clothes you are wearing for sightseeing all day, without changing or cleaning up? Then you could probably make it as I presume they drop you off at Pyramides metro stop, where there office is? YOu'd just have to take the metro one stop to Louvre and transfer to the line going right to the Bastille Opera house. That shouldn't take more than maybe 20 minutes, so I think you'd be fine.

YOu know that is a pretty long opera, you'll be there until around 11 pm, and it is a contemporary production, perhaps you know. I admit I just have trouble sitting in performances for 3 hrs or more, but especially after a long day like that.

Happygoin

It's pretty easy to take the train to Melun and then a taxi to the Vaux le Vicomte. You can spend as much time there as you like, and go on any day that suits you. Or pick a day that the weather is fine.

The taxi driver will give you a business card with the number to call for a taxi when you've finished your visit.

I've done it twice, and it's perfectly simple.

djkbooks

We did the Paris Vision tour a few years ago and were very pleased. It was nicely done and well paced. You won't have to worry about crowds at either.

While you can do both on your own, you do have to familiarize yourself with the logistics and transit details, particularly for Vaux le Vicomte.

SemiMike

Vaux le Vicomte makes a great day trip from Paris, For a preview, here is my photo album from May of this year: https://goo.gl/photos/vfB3qve6MNuctD4t5 (To view the captions, on any photo, click on the lower case i in the white circle.)

stokebailey

Fontainebleau would be a day trip where you could take your time and make your curtain easily, and it's well worth it. Splendid, historical. Minimal lines.

I think for a day trip you want a Mobilis pass for the RER. From Gare de Lyon 45 min to Avon/Fontainebleau, find #1 bus marked "Chateau." Pretty frequent bus takes you there in 10 min. Lots of places for refreshment across the street in town, near the carousel.

stokebailey

Oh, I see that you're doing both with a tour. Never mind!