I've only read about the troves of people that go to the Palace of Versailles and it had deterred…read moreme from wanting to go there. We found Chateau de Fontainebleau as a great alternative that is less crowded and decided to go. This palace is MASSIVE. Actually, massive is still an understatement. The courtyard itself is the size of a small town and the gardens behind the palace are the size of a small city. Unfortunately, we arrived with only a 2-3 hours before closing so we had to rush through the majority of the palace without reading the descriptions just to be able to see as much as we could. Be aware that the ballroom closes earlier than the Chateau so if you are visiting towards closing, you may be diverted elsewhere and miss out on certain rooms. We were one of the last ones admitted to the ballroom before they closed and then continued our self guided tour after we left.

Great palace to visit in France. This place is a residence of king, meeting the emperor Napoleon,…read moreand source of inspiration and treasures. This palace built during 12th century as medieval palace. It has been through many kings. It was build bit by bit to current palace. The chateau contain building, museum, garden, and park. It is difficult to complete entire park. The building only open certain sectors. It is part of UNESCO world heritage site. The grand apartment hallway is beautiful and same as the library. The king and queen room is beautiful. There is very details museum for Napoleon. It includes the emperor campaign. The tent and room use by Napoleon. The collection includes the Marie Louise personal item and more. The palace is well decorated. Furnitures are look prestige. The garden is huge. But I think the garden is very bare.

Fantastic place. Like a little oasis of happiness in this world. Unbelievable. Theater and live,…read morenature and human being to become one in this amazing creativity lab. Thank you for this possibility to feel it. Rusya and Rita

Orleans has a good collection of Jean d'Arc. This is very much she make her name know as a brave…read morewomen that pick up the sword and fight. This hotel also has some of the collection of Jean d'Arc. The hotel is built with Renaissance style mid 15th century. The entrance has an statue of Jean d'Arc. It is sculpture by princess of Orleans. The courtyard is beautiful. It is photo spot. The day we visit the hotel was use by photo shot of wedding. I can imagine it is good place to be with photo for important day. The hotel interior is like a small size palace. The wall put many Jean d'Arc pictures. The ceilings is beautiful. To visit this place only take 1/2 hours. It is easy access. Because of Covid condition, they make the visit route one direction.

From the owner: La beauté du verre à couper le souffle La verrerie d'art de Soisy-sur-Ecole est une attraction…read moretouristique indéniable. On voit même défiler de petits Anglais en uniforme d'écolier venus s'enquérir des capacités pulmonaires des souffleurs de verre du site. Cinq verriers travaillent en effet quotidiennement à l'élaboration de lampes, vases, presse-papiers et bibelots aux couleurs, formes et éclats étonnants et variés. Après une visite libre de l'établissement artisanal, la boutique permet d'emporter un souvenir du savoir-faire local.

Visiting the Château de Versailles was truly a dream come true. The architecture is absolutely…read morestunning--every detail, from the grand halls to the intricate ceilings, is a testament to the opulence of the French monarchy. The grounds are just as impressive: beautifully kept gardens, sparkling fountains, and perfectly restored landscapes that make you feel like you've stepped back in time. As someone who loves history, I was in heaven. The palace is filled with artifacts from the Sun King himself, Louis XIV, and the stories about his many mistresses add an extra layer of intrigue. I could have spent hours just wandering the Hall of Mirrors and imagining the lavish parties that once took place there. Marie Antoinette's area, with its charming hamlet and gorgeous gardens, was a highlight for me--so peaceful and picturesque. We spent an entire day exploring and still barely scratched the surface. There's just so much to see and experience! I also have to mention the restaurants on the grounds. The food was surprisingly good--fresh, flavorful, and honestly better than most of what I get back home in America. If you love history, art, or just want to be wowed by breathtaking beauty, Versailles is an absolute must-see. I loved every minute and can't wait to go back!

Of everything we did in Paris, this was top five for sure. I booked tickets in advance and we took…read morethe RER C train right to the Versailles station. From there it is a 7 or 10 minute walk to the entrance. You do need to plan for several hours if not the majority of a day to explore the chateau and the gardens. Also, it is very, very crowded, so expect to be shuffled along in a current of people, especially in popular areas like the Hall of Mirrors. We had kids with us that were not impressed by the gilded treasures, so we spent probably more time in the gardens than the palace. Let me tell you - the expanse of these gardens is impressive. At one point it looked like they go on for eternity. Just take your time strolling through and exploring all of the different little alcoves. We did do a boat ride in the Grand Canal lake and enjoyed some snacks and drinks in one of the cafes tucked into one of the gardens. One thing we did not know, is that if you want to book a ride on the train, you will have to do that when you are still at the chateau and they do sell out. You can also rent a golf cart in the same way. Overall I greatly enjoyed all the splendor and grandeur of this magical place. Worth the time and the travel.

I'm not a history buff I rather enjoyed my visit here. As is the case with most French museums, go…read moreEARLY - go too late in the day you'll be elbowing your way just to get a view of anything. For me, the gardens were the real standout. Unfortunately, we were there just before the spring bloom so it had a wintry feel to it but they were still amazingly impressive. At my urging, we toured the gardens via golf cart and I'm so glad we did. (You're likely to be doing a lot of walking on a France trip so save your feet when you can.) We were able to see more in less time this way and it's a bit easier to get away from the crowd.

Wonderful place to visit. The art and scenery was very nice here…read more Would return if back in France. Recommendation

From the owner: L'abbaye ouverte à tous Au fond du parc s'étire cette abbaye fondée en 1228 par Saint-Louis, qui…read moreabrite notamment un cloître, un superbe réfectoire et une bibliothèque. Un magnifique parc ainsi qu'un jardin d'inspiration médiévale viennent compléter ce lieu. Plus qu'un musée, c'est un vrai lieu de vie. Un festival de musique y est organisé de juin à septembre, une Fondation soutient son activité et 4 jours en octobre, des ateliers sont proposés aux enfants (tailleur de pierre, danse médiévale...). Royaumont organise aussi des séminaires et des réceptions d'exception (minimum 10 personnes) avec possibilité de manger et dormir sur place.