Thanks - probably has something combining Fontaineblue and Barbizon too - way different experience. I've never been to Vaux-le-Vicomte and have every other conceivable day trip but it always seemed too hard to get to by public transit.

And, the burning Q on Fodors recently do you or did you tip the tour guide?

"And, the burning Q on Fodors recently do you or did you tip the tour guide?"

No, nobody gave you any info on the bus and you got an audioguide at both Chateau Vaux le Vicomte and Chateau de Fontainebleau. It's an easy day PQ, and we were back in plenty of time to be at our 8:30 reservations we'd made for dinner at my favorite, L’Ange 20

Two great sources for ideas are the Annabel Simms books An Hour From Paris (https://smile.amazon.com/Hour-Paris-...=annabel+simms), of which I have done most of her trips; and the just published Half an Hour From Paris (https://smile.amazon.com/Half-Hour-P...70_&dpSrc=srch) which i have just ordered and am anxious to use as well!

WOW!! Thank you for sharing your amazing photos!! I enjoyed reading your captions!
By the way you got a good deal from viator $80??! Does it depend on the month that you're visiting the place. I'm going next year May 2019. I should check their website.

Even $100 would be a deal for transit and admissions and audioguide - train fare, entry fees and audioguide would cost about that much I would think. That said if only going to Fonrtainebleu do it on your own at your own pace but if wishing to go to 2 places in different locales this is a deal. Especially neat for Vaux-le-Vicomte as it is so isolated. Chateaux of Loire trips could be great too at those prices.

We went to Fontainebleu and Barbizon on a tour years ago . Loved both - Barbizon is a small, charming little enclave that would be perfect for a leisurely lunch after Fontainebleu.

However, Tom's tour sounds good and I still have not made it to Vaux le Vicomte---someday.

You can have a look at the following link to see my list of two dozen easy to do and inexpensive day trips near Paris, including links to relevant websites and transport instructions.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi....html#87947453



I have this list in a word doc and before Fodors "improved" their website responding process several months ago I used to be able to copy and paste it into my responses here. Now the baffling array of response options (which are useless to a techie idiot like me) seems to have interfered with my ability to do so and no matter which button I press to respond (post quick reply, go advanced reply, etc.) it won't post and I just get an error message.

Due to this I'm pretty sure I'm done with Fodors. Goodbye everyone.

Vaux-le-Vicomte is more complex to get to by public transportation. I think you have to take a taxi from whatever the nearest train station is, but I forget how far that is. I did a bus tour also for convenience. This was some years ago, it was through Parisvision but was only half a day as that was the only place we went. We did have a personal guide for the tour who was very good (I think this may have been before audioguides were everywhere). There isn't really anything to talk about on the way, it's a fairly quasi-urban route, after all. I know I spent less than $100, it was worth it for me as there wasn't any other easy way to get there.


this was the company, they don't have a half day tour now but their full day to that place and Fontainebleau else is 79 euro and sounds like what maitaitom did. That's their normal price. They are one of the major day trip providers in Paris so I'm sure they are on Viator.

https://www.pariscityvision.com/en/p...aux-le-vicomte

I figured once Vaux-le-Vicomte was about a 6-mile walk from the nearest public transit stop - a bus I think but anyway taxi from Melun train station is easy. But still a tour bus makes sense there and also to combine with others - seems like a real steal for that price and not a group tour at all.

It's clearly explained on the Vaux-le-Vicomte website how to get there: Directions - Vaux le Vicomte

>>t won't post and I just get an error message.

Due to this I'm pretty sure I'm done with Fodors. Goodbye everyone.<<

There is a technical forum where they have been VERY helpful helping folks work out all sorts of posting problems.

You probably should try posting there -- as far as I can see most everyone who has had issues has learned the reason/solution.

Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau.

Not Fontainebleu.

And the end of the name is pronounced BLOW and not BLEW.

Blue Fountain?

It has nothing to do with the color blue, which is why it's not Fontainebleu. If it did, it would be Fontainebleue, anyway, as fontaine is feminine.

Bleau is an old noble French family name, originally Belleau.

FrenchMystiqueTours, < Due to this I'm pretty sure I'm done with Fodors. Goodbye everyone. > I certainly hope not! You have given so much great information and I have always
enjoyed your posts and learned from them.

ditto to gomiki!

FMT is an internet treasure, and we must also know when to let go of a treasure. There will always be other places to find him.

Plus with Fodors.com dying on the vine...

I don't think it is known for a fact where the name Fontainebleau came from, there are numerous theories, one of which is from an old family name, but not that one which I've never heard of in any source (Bléaut or Blaut is one I've read or Bréau, which Mabillon claimed), another was from a dog of St. Louis by that name, and another from the family name Bleaudi. all those are mentioned in this old book

https://www.amazon.com/Description-H...434833&sr=1-11