Has anyone been to the Musee de l'ile de France Museum at Chateau Sceaux?
 

In looking at places I have not been when in Paris, I came across a few mentions of this place near Fontenay aux Rose. There are only a few snippets of information I can find on line, so has anyone been there that can give me a reason to travel that far out? I used to go out to meetings at the nuclear research facility in Fontenay many years ago, but never saw this place or even heard it mentioned.

The Chateau looks interesting in photos, and the gardens look wonderful. Why are there so few reviews?

The chateau is a 19th century reproduction. I do not recall the museum as being that interesting. The gardens are mainly alleys except for the parterre facing the chateau. It's good for a Sunday outing after the mid-day meal, but there are better places to visit from a tourist point of view.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57623316531799

I agree with Michael. It was nothing special.

https://www.google.com/search?q=parc...=1600&bih=1074

the Parvc de Sceaux is known as one of the finest in the Ile de France!

<i>the Parvc de Sceaux is known as one of the finest in the Ile de France!</i>

No better than Vaux-le-Vicomte or Versailles, and both of these locations have more to them than just the <i>parc</i>.

Thank you all for your prompt responses. It looks doable: 35 minutes via RER-B, and 192 bus. If there are really interesting things on display in the museum - the history of the I'lle de France opens awesome possibilities -- I might invest the time. I don't think I would go just to see the gardens. Has anyone here been to the museum itself?

I didn't visit the museum, but I certainly visited the park. Here's the report I made: http://tinyurl.com/o6xnlbf

<i>the history of the I'lle de France opens awesome possibilities </i>

Keep in mind that Paris is in the Île-de-France, and generally the important historical shows which center on Paris would then be in the Carnavalet in Paris proper.

As for getting there, we took the RER to the Sceaux train station, not the Robinson leg, and walked from there.

I don't know if you found it or not but here is the official website and it has info about the domain, the collections, and various aspects of the visiting experience:

http://domaine-de-sceaux.hauts-de-seine.net/

I should have realized Kerouac had been there. Like Kilroy, he has been everywhere in Paris and its surrounds.

Lovely as the grounds appear, I probably will skip it on the next trip, even thought the listing of both painting and sculpture seems extensive. I have a feeling, however, that the really good things are probably displayed at places in the center such as the Carnavalet, as Michael suggests, with the spillover getting delegated to the suburbs. I will check back later to see if there will be interesting exhibitions in the Spring.

Anyway, thank you all for your help!

BTW, a big thanks to you, Kerouac, for your help with the pronunciation! I can imagine the mess I would make trying to ask directions to Sceaux. I would get blank looks asking for "Skiow", which is the way it would have come out of my mouth.

Hi nukesafe, sorry for stalking you on your thread but could you give me approximate directions to Marcel Marceau's grave site in the cemetery. I couldn't figure out how to send you an email on T.A.. We are going there on Sunday and I would like to pay my respects. ziggypop58 at gmail dot com

Oh, boy, Zig, I got so lost in there I don't think I can give you accurate directions, but I found this link which will get you close. http://pariscemeteries.blogspot.com/...vision-21.html

Luckily we arrived at Pere Lachaise at the Gambetta Metro stop, so most of the exploration was down hill. We picked up a map at a news stand just after we left the Metro station. Also, my lovely wife had her iPad with her, so we used the GPS feature to see where we were; no internet connection needed, as we linked it to an app by Ulmon http://www.ulmon.com/ she got through the Apple Store for a few bucks. Well worth the price, as we could just look at the little blue dot that showed where we were and by walking a few meters in any direction know which direction to walk in order to get to a particular grave.

Hopes this helps, as the cemetery can get confusing. The place is really laid out logically, though. There are streets and cross streets laid out just as in a city, and you can at least get close to a particular grave site before leaving the path and scrambling off among the jumble of headstones and monuments.

Have a great Sunday, and give Marcel my regards, too!

Actually, I just checked and that app I mentioned is a free one, and it works on iPad and iPhone, etc.

Thanks a bunch nukesafe, I have stayed away from the auction house as I have had a twitchy elbow this week. :). I will download the app and give it a go. Sunday plans are services at St. Chappell and a walk in Pere Lachaise cemetery, that outta put my mortality in perspective. Well, that and my aching knees and feet. I'm starting to love the buses.