When To Go

When To Go

With its extensive forests, Ile-de-France is especially beautiful in the fall, particularly October. May and June are good months, too, while July through August can be sultry and crowded. On a Saturday night in summer, however, you can see a son-et-lumière show in Moret-sur-Loing and make a candlelight visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte. Be aware when making your travel plans that some places are closed one or two days a week: the château of Versailles is closed on Monday; the Musée Tavet-Delacour in Pontoise and the château in Auvers are closed both Monday and Tuesday; and the châteaux of Chantilly and Fontainebleau are closed Tuesday. In fact, as a rule, well-touristed towns make their fermeture hebdomadaire (weekly closing) on Monday or Tuesday, when museums, shops, and markets may be closed -- call ahead if in doubt. Disneyland Paris gets really crowded on summer weekends. So does Giverny (Monet's garden), which is at its best May through June and, like Vaux-le-Vicomte, is closed November to March.