Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=769075" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04076ba3.gif"> <div> <B><U>The highlights of the Itinerary:</U></b></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39_m.htm#fontstr" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Fontainebleau and VauxleVicomte"><U><B>The streets of Fontainebleau</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39_m.htm#thechateau_de_fontainebleau" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Fontainebleau and VauxleVicomte"><U><B>Chateau de Fontainebleau</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39_m.htm#parkfont" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Fontainebleau and VauxleVicomte"><U><B>The park of Fontainebleau</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39_m.htm#vlv" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Fontainebleau and VauxleVicomte"><U><B>Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte</b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39_m.htm#pvlv" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Fontainebleau and VauxleVicomte"><U><B>The park of Vaux-le-Vicomte</b></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04176bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>TRAVEL IN FRANCE</b></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>   |   </b></FONT><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TRAVEL IN FRANCE"><U><B>home</b></U></A><B>  </b><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Content"><U><B>contents</b></U></A><B> </b><B> </b><A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 40"><U><B>The PICS of the </b></U></A><B> </b><A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 40"><U><B>tinerary</b></U></A><B>     </b><A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 41"><U><B>Rambouillet and Chartres</b></U></A><B>  </b><A HREF="mailto:a_elbert@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:a_elbert@yahoo.com"><U><B>e-mail us</b></U></A><B>   </b><A HREF="http://www.castles.org/castles/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.castles.org/castles/"><U><B>World Castles</b></U></A><B>   </b><A HREF="http://www.allcastles.com/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.allcastles.com/index.html"><U><B>AllCastles</b></U></A><B> </b><B>         </b><A HREF="id39_m.htm#buy" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Fontainebleau and VauxleVicomte"><U><B>Books</b></U></A><B>           </b></div> <div> <B><U>Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte</U></b></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04176ba3.gif"> <div> <B><U>Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte</U></b></div> <div> Today we'll visit two castles. One of them was used as royal palace during a long period. Napoleon I liked to stay inside of its friendly walls. Another one had served a prototype of Versailles.</div> <bR> <div> If you want to walk a bit in the beautiful parks of the palaces, don't sleep too much. Awake up as earlier as possible to be at the train station of Gare de Lyon before 08:27 (the time of your train's departure).  The train will arrive at <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Avon-Fontainebleau</b></FONT> in 09:04. You have about half an hour before the palace open. So, I'd recommend you to give your feet a work. Avoid of the bus. The streets of Fontainebleau are nice and friendly. This is one of the rich Parisian suburbs. Clean and well-made pavements are adding to the comfort. The past-centuries buildings are everywhere. So, don't miss the opportunity of meeting the past.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rue</b><B> <A NAME="fontstr"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><B>Aristide Briand, rue Grande, rue Denecourt and Blvd Magenta </b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" >will lead you to the chateau. Take a look at the nice building of </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Hotel de Ville</b></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > (on your left at rue Grande, not far from the chateau).</FONT></div> <bR> <div> The entrance in the <A NAME="thechateau_de_fontainebleau"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Chateau de Fontainebleau</b></FONT> is from <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Boulevard Magenta</b></FONT>. The entrance is looking like mini-Louvre. The entrance is through the right wing of the palace. The price of the ticket is 5.3 Euros(3.5 - on Sundays). It open 9.30-17.00 (closed 12.30-14.00 Oct-May). Closed Tuesday. </div> <bR> <div> Bits of history before you begin your trip in the Wonder. The XII century chateau was reconstructed by Francois I. He had brought the Renaissance style from Italy. A lot of Italian artists worked here (the first school of Fontainebleau). The second school was created by artists of Henri IV's period (the husband of Medici's daughter, Margo; also he was known as Henri of Navarra (remember the night of St Bartholomew?)). Later, the chateau was beloved by Louis XIV and Napoleon. The chateau was one of a few French palaces not damaging by the revolutionary mobs. During WWII the German headquarters was placed here.</div> <bR> <div> The wonderful wood panels and the gold of walls and ceilings are blinding you. In the first large room you will find a lot of porcelain masterpieces. Most of tourists are skipping it out. I think, you have to be the exception of this rule.</div> <bR> <div> Visit the Grands Appartements. The Renaissance-decorated <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Gallery of Francois I</b></FONT> (by Michelangelo's follower) and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Chapelle de la Trinite</b></FONT> impress everybody. The Chapel was a witness of the marriage between the daughter of the last Polish King and the father of the last pre-Revolutionary French King in 1725. The last French emperor (Napoleon III) was christened here too.  </div> <bR> <div> Later, visit the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Petits Appartements</b></FONT> of emperor and empress. Don't miss an impressive XVI century <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Sal de Bal</b></FONT> and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Chambre de l'Imperatrice</b></FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> At the end of your trip I recommend you to pay an additional 16 FF to visit the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Musee Chinois</b></FONT> (Chinese Museum). The wonderful ceramics from the Far East will complete your impression by the chateau.</div> <bR> <div> Now you can walk between the chateau's courtyards (<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cour de Cheval Blanc</b></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cour des Princes</b></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cour Ovale</b></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cour des Cuisines</b></FONT> and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cour de la Fontaine</b></FONT>. Later, walk around the Canal. Visit Medici's <A NAME="parkfont"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jardin de Diane</b></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jardin Francais</b></FONT> and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jardin Anglais</b></FONT>. If you go to the palace at the non-Sunday morning you can win privacy. Imagine yourself as Catherine de Medici or Loius XIV. Only you and the gardens. Nobody else. This is the main plus of the place in compare with Versailles.</div> <bR> <div> Although you can go to walk in the nearby <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Foret de Fontainebleau</b></FONT>, I'd recommend you to follow by feet or by bus in the Gare's direction. You have to take your train to <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Melun</b></FONT>. You have trains at 12:08, 13:26 and 15:16. The travel will take about 12 minutes.</div> <bR> <div> To reach chateau <A NAME="vlv"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Vaux-le-Vicomte</b></FONT>, take a taxi at the train station, although you can walk all those kilometers. The price of one-way taxi is about 100 FF. It's not cheap at all, but at the end you will be rewarded.</div> <bR> <div> LOIS XIV's Finance Minister, Nicolas Fouquet, constructed the palace. The best of French masters were evolved in the works. The names of Le Brun and Le Notre are known in other sites too. Later, they built Versailles as the answer to the Vaux-le-Vicomte's wonder. The beauty of Vaux-le-Vicomte made Louis jealous. His minister was thrown into the prison. There he died some 20 years.</div> <bR> <div> The place open April-October 10.00-18.00. The price depends by the services you bye (around 10 Euros).</div> <bR> <div> Visit the partly furnished room of the castle. Walk through its rooms and breathe the atmosphere of the XVI century. </div> <bR> <div> After leaving the castle walk around the <A NAME="pvlv"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Grand Canal</b></FONT> (the father of the one in Versailles). In some Sundays you can be lucky to see fountain's performances. The place is not very visited by the foreign tourists. You will find mostly the French weekenders. So, there are a lot of silent alleys with green trees and lawns. You don't need a map. Just walk. You can take a boat trip around the Grand Canal. If you are tired the mini-car will help you to surround the entire area, although there are some zones which are closed to the cars. </div> <bR> <div> Before you leave the gardens, visit the horse coach museum. Don't miss it. </div> <bR> <div> In the exit you can easily find a taxi. Pay the same 100 FF and you are in the Gare.</div> <bR> <div> The relevant trains to Paris are leaving at 18:19 and 18:49.</div> <bR> <div> Have a nice trip.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://voyages.sncf.fr/horaires_seuls?url_action=affiche_form_saisie_od_date_heure&langue=GB&ecran=-1&code_pays=FRTCX" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://voyages.sncf.fr/horaires_seuls?ur"><U><B><U>CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE TRAINS' TIMETABLES</U></b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Books to buy</U></b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Arial" > <A NAME="buy"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1740592913/travelinfrance0d"> Lonely Planet France (France, 5th Ed)</A>     The world-best guide book about France. Lonely Planet's books will take you safely to every place.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1740593065/travelinfrance0d"> Lonely Planet Paris (Paris, 4th Ed)</A>     Go to Paris only? Buy the Lonely Planet's book about Paris and suburbs.</b></div> <div>    </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>