Vaux le Vicomte Day Trip from Paris
A Vaux le Vicomte day trip from Paris brings you to the chateau that made Louis XIV so jealous he imprisoned its owner for life. The baroque palace and formal gardens were so magnificent that the Sun King copied the entire concept for Versailles - same architects, same designers, same vision but bigger. Vaux le Vicomte tickets get you into the original, the prototype, the place that started it all.
Vaux le Vicomte sits 55km southeast of Paris near the town of Melun. Finance minister Nicolas Fouquet built it in the 1650s, hiring the best talent in France - architect Le Vau, painter Le Brun, and landscape designer Le Nôtre. The chateau was completed in 1661. Three weeks after Fouquet threw a lavish party for the king, Louis had him arrested and threw him in prison for the rest of his life. Then Louis hired the same team to build Versailles.
This chateau near Paris day trip feels different from Versailles. Smaller scale, fewer crowds, privately owned, more intimate. You can actually see the rooms without fighting tour groups. The gardens are perfectly symmetrical but walkable in an afternoon. It's what Versailles would feel like if 10,000 tourists weren't there.
Tip: Vaux le Vicomte runs candlelight evenings on Saturday nights May-October. The entire chateau and gardens are lit by 2,000 candles. It's spectacular but requires advance booking.
| Factor | Details |
| Distance from Paris | 55 km southeast |
| Travel time | 1 hour by car; 1.5 hours by train+shuttle |
| Time needed on-site | 3-4 hours for chateau and gardens |
| Best season | April-October when gardens are full |
| Entry | Ticketed - book online recommended |
| Crowds | Moderate - far less than Versailles |
| Difficulty | Easy - flat walking, well maintained |
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte Tickets - How to Book
Vaux le Vicomte requires entry tickets. The chateau is privately owned and maintained through ticket sales, so there's no free entry.
Ticket Types
Standard tickets include the chateau interior, gardens, and Carriage Museum. Audio guides are included in the ticket price - available in multiple languages via smartphone app or rental devices.
Candlelight evening tickets (Saturday nights May-October) cost more but include the full property lit by candles plus access to the gardens until midnight. These sell out weeks in advance for summer dates.
Family tickets and reduced rates exist for children, students, and groups. Check the official Vaux le Vicomte website for current pricing - rates change seasonally.
Where to Buy
Book tickets through the official chateau website. Online booking is recommended, especially for weekends and candlelight evenings. You can buy tickets at the entrance but risk longer waits and potential sellouts on busy days.
Some tour operators include Vaux le Vicomte in combo packages with Fontainebleau or Barbizon. These handle transport and tickets together.
Booking Tips
Book 1-2 weeks ahead for summer weekends. Weekdays have better availability and smaller crowds. Candlelight evenings require advance booking - they sell out fast for July-August dates.
The audio guide is included, so don't pay extra for it. Download the app before you go if you have your own phone - it works offline once downloaded.
Note: The chateau closes certain days for private events. Check the calendar on the official site before planning your visit.
How to Get to Vaux le Vicomte from Paris
Shuttle Bus from Verneuil l'Etang Station
The easiest public transport option is the Chateaubus shuttle. Take a train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Verneuil l'Etang station (35 minutes). The Chateaubus meets specific trains and runs directly to Vaux le Vicomte (15 minutes). The shuttle is timed to train arrivals and costs a modest fee.
Check the Chateaubus schedule on the Vaux le Vicomte website - it only runs on weekends and holidays, and only during the chateau's open season (roughly April-October). Weekday visitors need other transport options.
Rental Car
Driving from Paris takes about 1 hour via A4 and A5 motorways. Parking at the chateau is free and plentiful. This is the most flexible option - you control timing and can combine Vaux le Vicomte with nearby destinations like Fontainebleau or Barbizon.
The drive is straightforward on highways. GPS works fine. Parking is right at the entrance.
Organized Tours
Several companies run day tours from Paris to Vaux le Vicomte, often combined with Fontainebleau. Tours include round-trip transport, tickets, and guide. They cost more than DIY but eliminate logistics.
Tours typically spend 2-3 hours at Vaux le Vicomte, which is enough for the main sights but doesn't allow lingering. Book through tour operators specializing in Paris day trips.
Taxi or Ride Service
A taxi or Uber from Paris costs significantly more than other options but works if you're traveling as a group or want door-to-door service. The ride takes about 1 hour depending on traffic.
One Day Itinerary for Vaux le Vicomte
9:00-10:00 AM: Depart Paris
If driving, leave Paris around 9:00 AM to avoid rush hour. If taking the train, catch a morning departure from Gare de Lyon to Verneuil l'Etang, then transfer to the Chateaubus shuttle.
10:00-10:15 AM: Arrive and Entry
Arrive at Vaux le Vicomte around 10:00-10:30 AM. The chateau opens at 10:00 AM most days. Enter through the main gate, show your tickets, and pick up audio guide devices if you didn't download the app.
10:15-11:45 AM: Chateau Interior
Start with the chateau interior. The self-guided audio tour takes you through the Grand Salon, Fouquet's bedroom, the King's chamber (prepared for Louis XIV's visit), dining rooms, and service areas. The rooms are furnished with period pieces and the ceilings are painted by Le Brun.
The audio guide explains the story of Fouquet's rise and fall, the chateau's construction, and the artistic details. Allow 75-90 minutes for the interior tour. The rooms flow in sequence - you won't get lost.
Key rooms: the Grand Salon with its oval dome and painted ceiling, Fouquet's bedroom with the squirrel motif (his family symbol), and the King's chamber where Louis XIV stayed before arresting Fouquet.
11:45 AM-12:30 PM: Carriage Museum and Basement
The basement houses the Carriage Museum with historic carriages and sleighs. It's interesting if you like that sort of thing, skippable if you don't. The basement also has the old kitchens and service areas showing how the chateau functioned.
Allow 30-45 minutes for the museum and basement, or skip it to spend more time in the gardens.
12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch
Vaux le Vicomte has an on-site restaurant (L'Ecureuil) serving French classics. It's convenient but pricey and the quality is decent, not exceptional. Reservations help on weekends.
Alternatively, bring a picnic and eat in the gardens. There are designated picnic areas. The nearby town of Melun has cafes and restaurants if you want to leave the property.
1:30-3:30 PM: Gardens
After lunch, explore the formal French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. The gardens are the highlight - perfectly symmetrical, with parterres, fountains, canals, and sculptures. Walk the central axis from the chateau to the far end for the full perspective.
The gardens are huge but the main paths are clear. Walk to the Hercules statue at the far end (about 20 minutes), then return via side paths to see different angles. Climb the grotto hill for elevated views over the gardens and chateau.
The gardens are best in spring and summer when flowers are blooming. Fall has nice colors. Winter is stark but still impressive for the geometry.
Allow 1.5-2 hours to walk the gardens properly. You could spend longer if you're into garden design or want to sit and relax.
3:30-4:00 PM: Final Chateau Time or Gift Shop
Use remaining time to revisit favorite rooms, browse the gift shop, or have coffee at the cafe. The gift shop sells books about the chateau, reproductions, and French products.
4:00-5:00 PM: Return to Paris
Head back to Paris. If you're on the Chateaubus, check the return schedule - shuttles are timed to trains. If driving, allow 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic. You'll be back in Paris by early evening.
Things to Do - Beyond the Main Visit
Candlelight Evenings
Saturday nights from May to October, Vaux le Vicomte lights the entire property with 2,000 candles. The chateau rooms glow, the gardens are illuminated, and fountains are lit. It's magical and completely different from a daytime visit.
Candlelight tickets are separate from regular tickets and cost more. The property stays open until midnight. Many visitors bring picnics and eat in the gardens as the sun sets. Book well in advance - these evenings are popular.
Christmas Season
December brings Christmas decorations throughout the chateau. The rooms are decorated in period style with garlands, candles, and festive touches. It's charming but the gardens are bare in winter.
Combining with Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau chateau is 20 minutes from Vaux le Vicomte by car. Some visitors do both in one day - Fontainebleau in the morning, Vaux le Vicomte in the afternoon. It's ambitious but doable if you have a car and start early. Both chateaux deserve full days on their own, but the combo works if time is limited.
Barbizon Art Village
The village of Barbizon is 15 minutes from Vaux le Vicomte. It was home to the Barbizon school of painters in the 1800s. The village has artist studios, galleries, and museums. Nice for an hour if you're interested in art history.
Fontainebleau Forest Walks
The Fontainebleau Forest surrounds the area. If you have extra time and like hiking, there are trails through the forest with rock formations and scenic paths. Not necessary for a Vaux le Vicomte day trip but available if you want nature time.
Why Vaux le Vicomte Feels Different from Versailles
Vaux le Vicomte is smaller, quieter, and more human-scaled than Versailles. You can see the rooms without fighting crowds. The gardens are walkable in an afternoon without exhaustion. The whole experience feels more intimate.
Versailles is grander, more famous, and more impressive in scale. But Versailles is also mobbed with tourists, overwhelming in size, and exhausting to visit. Vaux le Vicomte gives you the baroque chateau experience without the chaos.
The story is also more interesting. Fouquet's downfall, Louis XIV's jealousy, the direct inspiration for Versailles - it's dramatic and tragic. Versailles is about royal power. Vaux le Vicomte is about ambition and hubris.
If you've already seen Versailles and want something similar but calmer, Vaux le Vicomte delivers. If you haven't seen either, Versailles is more iconic but Vaux le Vicomte is more pleasant to visit.
Practical Tips
What to Bring
- Comfortable shoes - the gardens require walking on gravel paths
- Sunscreen and hat for summer visits
- Water - there are fountains but bring your own to save money
- Picnic if you want to save on lunch costs
- Camera - the chateau and gardens are extremely photogenic
- Phone with audio guide app downloaded
Timing Your Visit
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Morning arrivals (10:00-11:00 AM) give you the chateau before afternoon tour groups arrive. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) have good weather and fewer crowds than summer.
Avoid visiting on days with private events - the chateau sometimes closes for weddings and corporate functions. Check the calendar on the official website before going.
With Kids
Vaux le Vicomte works well for kids. The gardens have space to run, the Carriage Museum interests younger children, and the chateau isn't too large to cause boredom. Family tickets offer savings. The audio guide has a children's version with simplified explanations.
Accessibility
The chateau has some stairs but ground floor rooms are accessible. The gardens are flat with gravel paths - manageable for wheelchairs but bumpy. Contact the chateau in advance if you have specific accessibility needs.
Comparing Vaux le Vicomte to Other Chateau Day Trips
vs Versailles
Versailles is bigger, more famous, and more crowded. Vaux le Vicomte is smaller, calmer, and more intimate. Choose Versailles for the iconic experience, Vaux le Vicomte for a pleasant visit without chaos.
vs Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is larger with more history - it was used by French kings for centuries. Vaux le Vicomte is more focused - one owner, one era, one story. Fontainebleau has more to see but takes longer. Both are excellent and can be combined in one day if you have a car.
vs Chantilly
Chantilly has the chateau, gardens, and a world-class art collection. It's further from Paris than Vaux le Vicomte. Choose Chantilly if you want art museums, Vaux le Vicomte if you want the baroque chateau experience.
