I'll be in Paris the week of Christmas and cannot decide between the two. Does anyone have experience with either or both of the chateau? Thanks in advance.

I would vote for vaux le vicomte---for grandiosity, it is impossible to beat Versailles--vaux is a beautiful little gem that also allows a visitor to learn the very interesting story behind how it became for a time a royal residence

I went on a one day tour and saw Fontainbleau, Vaux la Vicomte, and Versailles. I LOVED Vaux la vicomte the best, then Fontainbleau...Versailles was my least favorite..... I did all three easily in the one tour....Fabulous day!!!!!!!! The grounds at VlV are fabulous!!!!!!!

Vaux le Vicomte is a wonderful place to go. You take a short train ride from the Gare de Lyon to Melun, then a cab to the chateau.

While I might agree that Vaux le Vicomte is great that is not what Michael asked. He wants to know about Chantilly and Fountainbleau.<BR><BR>I'd vote for Fountainbleau - having been there a couple of times and to Chantilly as well I just think Fountainbleau is far superior to Chantilly. There is just something about Fountainbleau that appealed to me I guess. No matter which you go to remember the days are "short" in December, it gets dark very eary so that does cut down on sightseeing times. I've been there at Christmas time and it's lovely.

Michael,<BR><BR>We have been to both, and prefer Fountainbleau over Chantilly.<BR><BR>We found Chantilly to be poorly maintained in comparison to Fountainbleau. <BR><BR> Additionally, Fountainbleau had an interesting town immediately adjacent to the palace. Chantilly stands next to a series of parking lots with carnival-type food trucks set along the perimeter. <BR><BR>The gardens and grounds at Fountainbleau were meticulously maintained, and Chantilly's looked like the maintenance staff had been on extended holiday.<BR><BR>I would go back to Fountainbleau in a heartbeat, but wouldn't bother driving to Chantilly again.<BR><BR>We also enjoyed Vaux le Vicomte.<BR><BR>Do remember that part of the splendor of these chateaux/palaces are there grand gardens---which will not be quite as alluring in the month of December.

Vaux-le-Vicomte is great, and if you haven't considered putting it on your list, I encourage you to consider it fully before deciding not to go there.<BR><BR>Fontainebleau is a piece of French history, full of echoes of the monarchy and the empire of Napoleon. Some critics ridicule the place because it is a hodgepodge of architectural styles and furnishings. I found the mix to be appealing in its eclecticism. (I am sort of a hodge podge myself.)<BR><BR>I think you can also gather that most of us are rating these two attractions, Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte, ahead of Chantilly.<BR><BR>In December with its short days, you might do both if you got an early start from Paris because they are on the east side of Paris.<BR><BR>If I could only do one, I am not sure which to pick. Fontainebleau appeals to my historian side; Vaux appeals to my artistic side. I would say that if you are going to pick Fontainebleau, you will enjoy it more, and appreciate what you are seeing more, if you prepare well ahead of time. <BR><BR>If you decide on Vaux-le-Vicomte, you will have picked a winner. Let me put it in put it this way. I will be in Paris in a few days. I am wrestling now with a decision to try and visit both places on the same excursion. I have seen both before, and long to return. <BR>

I like Bob's comments above. What gives the edge to Fontainbleau over Vaux to me is that the community of Fontainbleau provides a nice little bonus to the visit. Vaux is kind of off by itself and while it is elegant and impressive, you will not have the same kind of neighborhood to explore. While it's true that you could explore Melun a bit, it's not in the same proximity to the chateau you would be visiting and it is simply not the same kind of place as the more charming Fontainbleau is, IMHO.

In December, I'd recommend Fontainbleau because it's a huge building & you can spend a couple hours looking around. Chateau Chantilly is quite small & I'd recommend it for a warmer time of the year so you could also enjoy the grounds & stables....if you go by train, it's a very long walk from the station to the Chateau when you're freezing. Since the gardens at Vaux-La-Vicomte are one of the highlights, December may not be the month to visit there.

Just another vote for Vaux, and...<BR>I think there are candlelit evening tours in December, the website should have the information.

Oops,I checked the website myself and I was wrong above. Not only does Vaux not have its candlelight tours in Dec, it closes to tourism as of mid-Nov until the spring.

Regarding the post from Irish, at Chantilly you can take a bus from the station that will drop you a short distance from the chateau.