Discover the best top things to do in Seine-et-Marne, France including Chateau de Montceaux, Chateau de Fontainebleau, Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Chateaux de Ferrieres, Chateau de Blandy-les-Tours, Chateau-Musee de Nemours, Chateau de Brie-Comte-Robert, Abbaye royale Notre Dame du Lys, Chateau de Chavaniac, Chateau de Charnesseuil.
Restaurants in Seine-et-Marne
5.0 based on 2 reviews
4.5 based on 3,411 reviews
With over 1500 rooms at the heart of 130 acres of parkland and gardens, Fontainebleau is the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. A visit to Fontainebleau opens up an unparalleled view of French history, art history and architecture.
I visited this place... with my wife, Mrs. H. It was her choice and decision to come here- full disclosure: I’m not sure that I remembered or knew anything about this place from my knowledge of French history. We had been to Versailles in 1982 and I had read on TripAdvisor (hey-is there anything else that I do?) about the crowds and lines at the other place, so this became our destination. The palace is included in the Paris Museum Pass and the entire round trip journey is included in the weekly Navigo Decouverte pass. Total extra cost then for this excursion: zero zip zilch effes. As you know from reading my previous review, we departed from Gare de Lyon. Our train was cancelled and delayed, so we had some extra 30 minutes of waiting time (and you can see my photos of that to know what I did and saw during that time). So we took the 40 minute train journey and the city bus (passing a sign regarding a historic synagogue that we did not visit). The mansion boasts 1500 rooms and it is obvious that only a section is in use for exhibition. Mrs. H and I had a disagreement as to whether we visited either forty or fifty rooms. At the entrance, there are key pad lockers to store your stuff- be sure to do that- it makes the wandering quite bearable. Now overall, the place and the palace and the building and all the rooms and all the amazing stuff on display are quite remarkable. But the lighting leaves quite a lot to be desired- maybe the goal is the actual illumination during the days and era when the place was in active royal use. As is known and as is stated in my headline for this review, this was the famous and beloved and very frequented palace and royal residence of the one and only Napoleon Bonaparte himself (see my reviews and photos of the magnificent painting of his coronation in my Louvre review and my comments and photos of his sarcophagus and tomb in my Musée de l’Invalides review- both submitted within the last month or so (December 2019). Anyway- being a person quite interested in history and who simply loves and craves being in historical places, this visit was outstanding and amazing and breath taking- primarily because- and I admit- I didn’t know what I was going to be seeing. So now I am about to ruin the shock value for you- read on, my friend. The rooms and the stuff in them were amazing and unbelievable. To chance upon an amazing historical piece that I did not expect- so exciting and incredible- leaving me almost breathless- and here are four of the things: Napoleon’s original tri cornered hat!! What’s more incredible than that? I spent some time posing for many selfies with that hat prompted squarely on my patê (you can see his hat in my attached photos, but don’t look for me in my photos submitted here though). And then his guest rooms and the bedroom and baby cradle of his beloved son, and stuff of his wife and then- so amazing and what a fantastic surprise- his throne room with his throne chair, his bedroom with his small bed (hey- Wikipedia says that he was 160 centimeters- not so bad), and then the document room, where he resigned before going into exile. All of this and more were amazing- causing Mrs. H to start sending me WhatsApp messages again, to extract me (just as she had needed to do in the three Monet museums of Marmottan, d’ Orsay and L’Orangerie). Once she succeeded in forcibly extracting me from reveling at being in the very presence and location of iconic Napoleonic history, we went outside to the top of the gardens and lake. Yes- we saw the rowboats. After that, we departed. So please sign up follow me on TripAdvisor to see of my continuing Paris adventures. So please enjoy my many photos showing what I’ve described. And hey- doesn’t this very extensive and detailed review deserve a “like” from you?
4.5 based on 4,441 reviews
Vaux le Vicomte is the creation of three men brought together by Nicolas Fouquet, Louis 14th's finance minister, the landcape architect Andre le Nôtre, the architect Louis le Vau and the painter-decorator Charles le Brun. The perfect harmony between architecture and landscape is the result of their collaborative genius. From its unveiling at the famous fête of august 17th, 1661, Vaux le Vicomte aroused the envy of the Sun King and became the model that inspired the whole of Europe, including Versailles.Vaux le Vicomte can be visited during the day or at night with 2000 candles (on Saturdays from may to beginning of october)Easy access by train or by bus from paris.
Breathtaking chateau SE of Paris reached by train and free bus.Finished in 1661 by architect Fouquet in Louis IV style, it blends magnificent landscaping and interior design with the classic architecture. An audible tour is available and worthwhile. Most of the chateau including the top tower and the ornately decorated rooms can be accessed. Much of chateau at Versailles was copied from here. There were not too many visitors when we went. A quaint little cafe and a tempting shop are also available.
4.0 based on 67 reviews
4.0 based on 257 reviews
Restored by the Conseil Général de Seine-et-Marne, this castle, rare example of medieval military architecture in Île-de-France, strikes up a permanent dialogue between patrimony and contemporary artistic creation.
This was my first visit to Blandy, but I hope not my last. I took the chateau bus from the station in Verneuil l'Etang and, after the stop at Vaux le Vicomte, I was the only one left on the bus, and once at the chateau, felt like I had a wholly personal experience, completely alone in this medieval-era marvel. Truthfully, there was a handful of other visitors, but our paths never intersected, so I was able to pretend I was a 12th century inhabitant of Blandy. There are stunning views of the region from the top of the "donjon" and the audio guide added much understanding to the history and drama of the chateau/fortress. The woman at the welcome desk was charming and complimented me on my (very rusty) French, which made me feel special. I loved everything about my visit and the lovely town of Blandy that surrounds the castle. I'm putting it down as a must-visit.
4.0 based on 47 reviews
Major medieval building in Ile-de-France, the Castle built in the 12th century is classified historical monument. It houses a fine arts museum since 1903, with about 20,000 works: sculptures, paintings, graphic arts (drawings, prints) and iconic photographs of the art of the second half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century
4.0 based on 1 reviews
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