From Paris Château de Fontainebleau Vaux-le-Vicomte Guided Tour

Duration9h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish

Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Château de Fontainebleau is one of France's largest and best-preserved royal palaces. While Versailles often captures the spotlight, Fontainebleau offers an equally remarkable experience with fewer crowds, allowing you to fully appreciate its grand architecture, lavish interiors, and fascinating royal history. Unlike Versailles, Fontainebleau was continuously inhabited by every French monarch from the 12th to the 19th century, making it a unique witness to nearly 900 years of French history.

Just a short distance away, discover the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a masterpiece of 17th-century French architecture and the inspiration behind the Palace of Versailles. Created by visionary figures including architect Louis Le Vau, painter Charles Le Brun, and garden designer André Le Nôtre, the château showcases exquisite interiors, harmonious design, and magnificent formal gardens that represent the height of French elegance.

Options

Châteaux de Vaux-le-Vicomte

Two French Castles in One Day

Two Castles in a day.

What's included

Entrance fee
Public transportation
Licensed Professional Guide

Lunch
Breakfast
Dinner
Snacks

What to expect

Chateau de Fontainebleau
15m

Introduction to Fontainebleau Palace

Your visit begins with an introduction to the fascinating history of the château. Learn how a medieval fortress evolved into a Renaissance masterpiece under King Francis I, who transformed the palace with the help of renowned Italian artists, including Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio.

Discover how successive rulers—including Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon I, and Napoleon III—each left their mark on the palace, creating one of the richest royal residences in Europe.

Hear the dramatic story of Napoleon Bonaparte's abdication in 1814 and his emotional farewell to the Imperial Guard in the Cour d'Honneur before departing for exile on the Island of Elba.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
35m · Admission ticket included

The Royal State Apartments

Explore the magnificent Grands Appartements, where generations of French kings and emperors lived, governed, and entertained.

During the tour, you will discover:

- The Royal Chapels
- The Royal Apartments
- The Pope's Apartment, where Pope Pius VII stayed during his captivity
- The Renaissance Rooms, showcasing masterpieces of the French Renaissance
- Napoleon I's Imperial Apartment
- The elegant 19th-century galleries

Your guide will explain the symbolism, architecture, artwork, and royal traditions that shaped court life through the centuries.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
35m · Admission ticket included

Explore Napoleon I's Fontainebleau Palace

Step into the palace that Napoleon I called the "True Home of Kings." Accompanied by your expert guide, explore the magnificent Imperial Apartments, including the only surviving Napoleonic Throne Room still preserved in its original location. Discover how Napoleon transformed the château into his favorite imperial residence after the French Revolution, welcomed Pope Pius VII before his coronation, and governed the French Empire from these historic rooms.

Hear the dramatic story of Napoleon's final days in power, from his abdication in April 1814 to his emotional Farewell to the Old Guard in the Cour d'Honneur before departing for exile on the Island of Elba. Throughout the visit, your guide will bring the palace to life with fascinating stories about Napoleon's rise, reign, and fall, making Fontainebleau one of the most significant sites of the First French Empire.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
35m · Admission ticket included

Napoleon I Museum

Continue your visit to the Napoleon I Museum, home to one of France's finest collections dedicated to the First Empire.
Admire an exceptional collection of:

- Imperial furniture
- Paintings and sculptures
- Ceremonial weapons
- Royal costumes
- Decorative arts and Sèvres porcelain

Through hundreds of remarkable objects, you'll discover Napoleon's rise to power, his coronation, military achievements, and his final days at Fontainebleau before his exile.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
30m · Admission ticket included

The Palace Gardens and Park

End your experience with a walk through the beautiful gardens and park surrounding the château.

Covering over 130 hectares, the estate features:

- The Grand Parterre, one of the largest formal French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre
- The elegant Diana Garden
- The picturesque English Garden
- The Grand Canal, created during the reign of Henry IV
- Historic courtyards and panoramic viewpoints perfect for memorable photographs

Your guide will explain how each garden reflects the artistic styles and tastes of different royal periods while highlighting the evolution of landscape design over several centuries.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
1h · Admission ticket not included

Lunch break for 1 hour
Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte
2h · Admission ticket included

Spend two hours for guided tour at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Melun
20m

We will head back to Gare de Melun and end the tour here.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The guide will be holding a Wandria flag or board for easy identification. This is famous "Gare de Lyon" station in Paris. The exact coordinates are: 48°50'42.6"N 2°22'23.4"E

End point

This is Gare de Melun train station. From here, the passengers can either take public transportation (train) or private taxi to return to Paris or other destination hotel or home.

End point

The Wandria guide will accompany the tourist's group to the station, help them board the train back to Paris, and then conclude the tour there. The exact coordinates are: 48°24'59.2"N 2°43'34.0"E

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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