Viginiafish,
Can you write about the details of your Chantilly trip? I am thinking doing the exact same loop this fall. When did you leave Paris, what mode of transportation did you take between towns, etc.


As for Versailles, it depends on your interest. It take quite a lot of time and almost always very crowded. The outdoor garden favors good weather days, and for fountains, you must be there on a weekend. If you have interest in French history, garden, or architecture, this is a key destination.

Here is the fountains schedule:
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/prepa...ndes-eaux-1-en

Sidny - kerouac wrote a bit about that in a post last December: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-the-snow.cfm

I would just advise knowing the hours for both locations and any tours you might want to take...

Versailles takes about half a day to see, all things considered. It's nice if you like fancy historical buildings. The lines are sometimes very long.

The gardens are beautiful and you can walk for hours within (although it's no longer free as it once was). The palace is moderately impressive, although it mostly lacks furnishings; the guided English tours are much more interesting than the self-guided tours.

A great deal of walking is required, which is why it takes half a day. Wear good shoes, otherwise you'll sprain or break something on the many rough cobblestones over which you'll have to walk.

Whether or not Versailles is worth it depends on your personality and interests. I only go out there with people who are visiting Paris; I haven't been there on my own in many years.

It was a few years ago, so here is my best recollection: we took an early train from Gare d'Nord to Chantilly and walked to the Chateau Chantilly, Musée Vivant du Cheval (with the 30-minute Présentation Équestre Pédagogique-a lovely show) and to lunch at restaurant across the street and towards town from the Musee. We then took a bus to Senlis (also near the musee). This is a picturesque, cobblestone town. Somehow, we arrived right before the Tourist Informaiton Office was closing and got a map with a walking tour and help in finding a B&B, to which we walked and had dinner in their restaurant. http://www.portebellon.fr/bellon-vir...-virtuelle.htm The next morning was Market Day, so we shopped and explored, visited the cathedral and headed back to Paris. Some may think both could be done in a day, but it is a 2 day trip.

I agree with Tom18 - skip Versailles and take day trip to the Loire Vally, Giverny, Chartres. My first choice would be the Loire - great little towns, wonderful wine (Vouvray!!) and incredible chateaux.

We (my hubby & my 2yo son) will be staying 7 nights at paris and have planned on what to do for the first 4-5days at paris.

We will like to do 2 day trip out from paris. Any recommendations that are within 1hr train one way journey from paris?

Many thanks!

As many on the thread have said, go if you really want to--maybe you'll like it and maybe not. I am not a Versailles lover. With only 5 days, again, Paris would have plenty for me to do (and have been a dozen times at least). We did LOVE Chartres also.

Louise--you would be better served starting your own thread.

The original thread is TWO YEARS OLD...and Gretchen, i think you'd be better off starting a new one yourself.