Castles to visit in Paris
We are in Paris 2nd week of April. I understand that the Palais de Versailles is magnificent, but it is a bit out of the way. We are staying in the 5th and won't have a rental car. Also, we don't want to necessarily dedicate a full day to visit the Palais de Versailles.
Is there a castle open to visitors in central Paris? Thanks Julie |
Yup - the Louvre. As much a 'castle' as Versailles - both being in fact palaces and not fortified castles. And the Chateau de Vincennes is on the eastern edge of Paris.
But it takes but 30 minutes by RER C right to the gates of Versailles - needs only take a couple of hours there if you just want to see the Palace of Versailles though to me the park and gardens are equally pleasant. |
Of course, the Louvre was built as the Royal Castle. The Napoleon III Apartments within the Louvre come next to that what is considered a castle.
However, I strongly suggest to change your mind about visiting Chateau de Versailles - it is magnificent indeed and no visit to Paris is complete without a trip to Versailles. You can reach Versailles conveniently with the RER train. The train takes just 30 minutes or so, depending on the Metro connection. |
It takes maybe 30 minutes to get to Versailles on the RER. But yes, obviously, the Louvre was/is a castle, as well as the Château de Vincennes.
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there are also many chateaus d'eaux scattered all over Paris!
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<i>there are also many chateaus d'eaux scattered all over Paris!</i>
There certainly are châteaux d´eaux scattered all over Paris but I am not sure that JulieGilman is asking about visiting water tanks. |
Here is a photo report that I made about the Château de Vincennes, which is at the eastern end of metro line 1: http://www.anyportinastorm.proboards...u-de-vincennes
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Then there are also loads of châteaux within an hour or so from Paris by local trains such as Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Chantilly, Saint-Germain-en-Laye (well, a museum now), Pierrefonds, Malmaison, Compiègne, Champs-sur-Marne, Maison-Lafitte and a few others that aren't coming to mind right now.
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>>We are staying in the 5th and won't have a rental car.<<
No one 'must' visit Versailles of course . . . but it sort of sounds like you assume having a car would make it more doable/easier . . . Renting a car should never be part of the equation re visiting Paris. No need, and public transport will get you everywhere . . . even Versailles. |
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