mde

I can do ONE of these chateaux, not both, else I may have a mutiny from my kids (15 and 11 years old). Which one, in your opinion, should we visit on a day trip from Paris in June? I'm leaning toward Fontainebleau due to Versailles renovations, but can easily be swayed one way or the other.

Travelnut

What renovations are being done, other than the Hall of Mirrors? (at Versailles)... there is more to do outside the chateau itself at Versailles, and is a tad easier with transportation. Fontainebleau is a nice town, chateau is impressive, grounds are lovely but I didn't see the same kinds of things outside as at Versailles.
Versailles has bikes for rent, canoes for rent, additional maisons (the Trianons), whatever is left of Marie's "hameau" (farm) and a tram that will take you around to everything.
Take the RER-C to "Versailles-Rive Gauche", exit train station, turning to the right to the next intersection (boulevard). Look to your left to see the Chateau and then walk toward it.
I guess the fountains are still only displayed on Sundays..?

Otherwise, train to Fontainebleu/Avon, then catch bus A/B in front of the train station to the Chateau(sign on front of bus will confirm). The chateau is in the middle of town, just across street from the bus stop. Do everything in reverse to return to Paris.

Patrick

This is a no-brainer. Versailles is THE palace to which all others are compared. Don't miss it. Fontainebleau is interesting when you've done the others.

ira

Hi md,

The fountains at Versailles are on on Sundays during the season.

mde

thanks for your opinions. Travelnut, Versailles is undergoing a multi-year renovation including gardens, utilities, roof, visitors' entrance, fontains etc. I hate to see scaffolding, so I hope the repairs are discreet.

Michel_Paris

I've been to both. Versailles is very grand, opulent, large rooms, huge gardens, fountains (and fountain shows if you plan it right)..it makes you appreciate the lives kings and queens led. It does, however get quite busy. If you go on your own (take train, easy to do) you could avoid crowds somewhat and take the same guided indoor tours. Fountainbleau is much smaller, when I was there they were still upgrading some of the rooms, but the lady took me on a tour anyways (neat)...no crowds, small town (I drove to get there), gardens/grounds not particularly exceptional.
If I had to pick one that would impress the kids, Versailles would be it. Other people have talked about Vaux Le Vicomte, you could also look into that:
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/
Another castle alternative would be to do a day trip to the Loire:
http://www.graylineparis.com/sightseeing.cfm

Hope this helps
Mike

ira

Have you considered Malmaison. It's where Napoleon and Josephine hung out.

Take RER line A to the La Defense arch and then th no. 258 bus to the Chateau.

See http://www.chateau-malmaison.fr/

SharonG

Ira, I love Malmaison. When I was there a few winters ago, my sister and I were the only ones there except for the staff. I'm a Napoleon and Josephine addict so it was wonderful. Also loved Fontainebleu the most because it felt so intimate and again, my sister and I were the only ones there that day. And the town was fun too.

clairobscur

I'm going to give a little suport to Fontainebleau. It's not as impressive as Versailles, the gardens aren't as beautiful (but there's a forest nearby)and it's a bit less easy to go to Fontainebleau.

However, the main interest of this castle is that it dates back to the late middle-ages, and has been a royal residency since, many parts being rebuild or added over the centuries. As a result, you can see there a summation of decoration, furnitures, etc.. from the renaissance to napoleonic times. You can visit for instance a wood decorated hall build for Francis I, a Louis XIV parlour or a Napoleonic bedroom.

To sum up, Fontainebleau offers a diversity that you won't find in Versailles (I would add that I don't like much the style of Louis XIV times, nor in architecture, nor in furnitures, so I'm no great lover of Versailles).

Concerning the Malmaison, yes, it's interesting and pleasant, especially for people interested in Napoleon (and more importantly his first wife). But it's a rather small building and can't compare with Fontainebleau, let alone with Versailles.

Wayne

Even when Versailles had no significant renovations going on, I preferred Fontainebleau. Not that Versailles wasn't elegant and interesting, but Fontainebleau seemed more like home. We have a state park in my home state named Fontainebleau Park, but I'm sure that didn't affect my opinion. Good luck.

bob_brown

I think I would put down the mutiny, and go where I darn well chose.
Both are a slice of French history.
If you take the right tour, you can do Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau on the same trip.

I freelanced them. Fontainebleau is easy.
Vaux is not on a bus route and requires a taxi ride that is not cheap.

Versailles is usually a very crowded tour. I have no suggestions as to strategy. Mid afternoon might be the time to do it. We tried early in the day and it did not help at all.
We got there before the doors opened, ticket in hand. But the mobs caught us at the Kings Bedroom, and by the Hall of Mirrors, we were swamped.

Christina

I would also vote for Fontainebleau. I really liked it, and given your parameters (whiney kids etc) it sounds like a better idea. It's more manageable and very pretty.

mde

Thanks for all our comments. Another thing that makes me wary about going to Versailles is that I'll be in Paris the week of the Air Show. I read that Paris can be very crowded during that time, and I think that would also therefore mean more crowds at Versailles (bad news for my short kids). Can anyone comment? After doing some more research I'm now leaning towards Chantilly instead of either Fontainebleau or Versailles.